Berkshire Pigs

Deer Run Farm has been home to many animals over the years. Early on the farm included several sows that produced over 100 piglets per year. These pigs were either showed by Josh and Joanna in 4H or sold to families for meat. The last of the original sows left the farm in 2003 when Josh went off to college.

In the fall of 2020 it was decided that the farm operations would expand bringing pigs back on the farm where they would be born and raised adding pork to the farm menu. 

We purchased our first bred gilt of the new venture in May 2021 from the superior genetics of Shipley Swine in Ohio. The first litter of piglets arrived in early July 2021.

The Berkshire is the Deer Run Farm pig breed of choice for their well-known meat quality and docile personalities. 

Originating in the English county of Berkshire, for which they are named, the Berkshire pigs first came to be in the 18th century. Originally they were large, orangish-brown colored pigs with floppy ears. Early cross-breeding with small black pigs imported from Asia resulted in the medium sized, black with white socks, snout and tail tipped Berkshire with erect ears known today.

On average a Berkshire boar can be expected to weigh around 600lbs with its female counterpart weighing around 500lbs. Of course, with any pig, maintaining a proper diet with intake restrictions is necessary to curb excess weight gain in their adulthood.

The biggest factor earning the Berkshire the breed of choice for Deer Run Farm is their incredible taste and meat quality. Berkshire pork is said to have a higher pH level than other breeds catapulting it to the top of it's class when it comes to flavor. The meat is generally a bit darker, firmer and heavily marbled attributing it to it's prized flavor and juiciness. 

Our Berkshire pork can be purchased off the farm or at our local farmers' market throughout the year.