Linton Pasture Pork
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Farmer Jeff Linton overlooks the pasture at his farm.
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I wasn’t raised on pork, my dad has severe dislike for pigs due to the work he did as a young man in a big stinky pig barn. So needless to say I was hesitant to see Jeff’s pigs because I knew I wanted to like them because he’s an honest down to earth, no BS kind of guy. I also know the likelihood that I would be impressed with his pigs was very low.
After a full year of talking soils and animal health and marketing strategies here and there with Jeff I decided I’d venture out to see his newly built house as well as his pig operation. As I mentioned before it’s hard to impress me with pigs. To jump to the punch line.. I have never seen pigs so happy and healthy in my life!!! I was shocked at my self even!
We were in the kitchen and you look out the window to see pigs roaming around the field. The field even had green grass still! To me this means the pigs actually are eating grass and not just bathing in the mud (which inevitably happens with rain, dirt and pigs). They are getting significant nutrients from the grass, in addition to their feed ration.
After a full year of talking soils and animal health and marketing strategies here and there with Jeff I decided I’d venture out to see his newly built house as well as his pig operation. As I mentioned before it’s hard to impress me with pigs. To jump to the punch line.. I have never seen pigs so happy and healthy in my life!!! I was shocked at my self even!
We were in the kitchen and you look out the window to see pigs roaming around the field. The field even had green grass still! To me this means the pigs actually are eating grass and not just bathing in the mud (which inevitably happens with rain, dirt and pigs). They are getting significant nutrients from the grass, in addition to their feed ration.
We walked out to meet them, they were the friendliest pigs I’d ever seen. They came up and their eyes were curious. Their ears were perked up, they sniffed me curiously. To me this is how an animal that is well cared for behaves. As soon as they figured out who I was and that I came in peace, they couldn’t be bothered with me anymore and quickly returned to the business of eating, which is really the business of a pig I think.
Jeff is obviously very proud of his pigs, he watches them closely for the tiniest things, the subtleties. Just like a true farmer when you get him talking about the things he is passionate about he can go on for days. Although farmers often come across as quiet individuals, it is so clearly obvious it is their hearts work to work with animals and to always want to do better and be a better steward to the land. They are always finding ways to accomplish better soil, and better animal health and over all in the end, better human health. It is so evident it is the thing that consumes their thoughts daily. My heart is warmed when I get to listen to Jeff speak about his pigs (who would have thought?? Me, with a built in distaste for pigs could fall in love with the animal after so many years!).
Jeff is obviously very proud of his pigs, he watches them closely for the tiniest things, the subtleties. Just like a true farmer when you get him talking about the things he is passionate about he can go on for days. Although farmers often come across as quiet individuals, it is so clearly obvious it is their hearts work to work with animals and to always want to do better and be a better steward to the land. They are always finding ways to accomplish better soil, and better animal health and over all in the end, better human health. It is so evident it is the thing that consumes their thoughts daily. My heart is warmed when I get to listen to Jeff speak about his pigs (who would have thought?? Me, with a built in distaste for pigs could fall in love with the animal after so many years!).
Profile written by The Farmer's Daughter at Vibrant Farms, Melissa Baer.
Jeff brought me to where he houses his sows (big momma pigs), where they have babies and showed me some of the huts that he has gained serious international recognition for his innovative design. Again here there was plenty of grass, the space was big enough, you could tell where the feed bin was as the pigs stomp around in there. Everywhere else was green and lush. Lots of shoots to eat, and places to lay and roll and root around in the dirt. It’s a sort of magical experience to see an animal in its habitat doing its animal things, so at ease and at peace. Jeff talked to me about breeding to select for genetics that will have proper hoof structure for grass. This made me think we’ve domesticated pigs for so long that it’s interesting that the adaption has taken place where the hooves are not as conducive to grass as they once were. Jeff has found some good sows that he finds are hearty, and their piglets put on proper amounts of weight, and have good bone structure, even distribution of weight etc. These are all things Jeff thinks about, the health and well-being of the animal being first and foremost.
Jeff has worked with his ration to make it non-gmo and super high in absorbable nutrition for the animal. I’ve spoken about it before, how minerals for animals (and humans) are not all created equal. We use Bio-Ag’s mineral as does Jeff, we both agreed its evident that when you use a mineral that ACTUALLY gets absorbed (the proprietary process Bio-Ag owns is probably a long winded post for another day) that you can see it in the constitution of the animal, the condition, the health of the offspring, the weight gain, the immunity all of those things are so important in producing a top quality food product for us to eat.
It was such a pleasure after all this time of knowing Jeff to get to see the animal husbandry, the time he takes to get to know his animals, to learn about them and to do everything in his power and knowledge to do the best he can by them and by the people he serves. This is a true pasture raised pork product! I’ve even tasted it and I can assure you the proof is in the pork sausage.
Jeff has worked with his ration to make it non-gmo and super high in absorbable nutrition for the animal. I’ve spoken about it before, how minerals for animals (and humans) are not all created equal. We use Bio-Ag’s mineral as does Jeff, we both agreed its evident that when you use a mineral that ACTUALLY gets absorbed (the proprietary process Bio-Ag owns is probably a long winded post for another day) that you can see it in the constitution of the animal, the condition, the health of the offspring, the weight gain, the immunity all of those things are so important in producing a top quality food product for us to eat.
It was such a pleasure after all this time of knowing Jeff to get to see the animal husbandry, the time he takes to get to know his animals, to learn about them and to do everything in his power and knowledge to do the best he can by them and by the people he serves. This is a true pasture raised pork product! I’ve even tasted it and I can assure you the proof is in the pork sausage.
