FAQ
Q:What do your pigs eat?
A: Our pigs eat a perfectly balanced vegetarian diet prepared by our very own pig nutritionists. Yup, they even have a PhD. Their diet consists mainly of corn, grain sorghum, and soybean meal, plus vitamins and minerals (think your daily multivitamin) to support their best healthy growth. We’re happy to say that we grow 100% of the grain that feeds our pigs right here on our farm - which means we can say exactly where our feed comes from. Heck, we even mix it all ourselves, so we can insure the quality of the feed from the field right to the pig’s belly.
Q:How do I know Berkshire is better?
A: Because it is. Head back over here and see why.
Q: Who handles the harvesting/butchering of your animals?
A: We are fortunate to work with a couple of different USDA inspected butchers depending on our customers’ needs.
With that being said - if you’re looking at our private label pork being sold here on our website, we’ve partnered with the Krehbiel family with Krehbiel Specialty Meats in McPherson, Kansas. This family owned business is three generations strong in the art of butchering and are nationally renowned for their artisanal cuts and robust flavor profile when it comes to sausages and cured meats. Plus, we really love the fact that we are supporting another small, local business in Kansas.
Q: How are your pigs raised?
A: R Family Farms’ first priority is the health and happiness of our pigs.
Our pigs spend the majority of their lives outside in deep bedded hoop barns with access to a large paddock, lots of engaging activity with natural enrichment, and unlimited food and water. Fat & Happy is our motto. Sounds nice, right? For a short period of time around birthing and nursing, our mothers and babies are in a climate controlled maternity barn to ensure the best individualized care for both mom and babies in that critical time post-birth. This allows for the best start for our pigs with less exposure to the harsh mood swings that mother nature can send us in Kansas. We provide fresh straw for the pigs year round, and make sure that they are comfortable throughout every season which includes using water misters in the summer to keep them cool because pigs can’t sweat, and additional bedding in the winter for added warmth. We check on our pigs at least twice daily to ensure they are happy and comfortable.
Q: Does R Family Farms practice sustainable farming?
A: Sustainability is one of our main focuses. All of our major inputs on our pig farm are raised by us or by our neighbors. This includes the straw we use for bedding in our hoop barns, and the grain we feed our pigs.
In return, we use the manure and compost our pigs create to fertilize the soil that then nourishes the crops that are used for those inputs. And beyond R Family Farms, we strongly believe in regenerative agriculture, and routinely practice no-till and cover cropping to help improve the land that we hope to preserve for future generations.
Q: Who am I interacting with when I reach out via email, phone, or social media?
A: One of the two of us! (Yes, Really. There’s just the two of us.)
Unlike most specialty meat businesses you’ll find on the internet, you’re not talking to a salesman or someone in a call center - you’re directly reaching out to the farmers, Kaden and Emily, when you try to connect with us. Although we know you think this is an awesome concept (because we love what we do! All of it.) please be patient with us as we get back in touch with you. Some days on the farm require more of our attention than others, but we promise connecting with us is worth a little added wait.
Q: Are all of your shipping materials recyclable?
A: Absolutely! For all of our domestically shipped product, just follow the directions on the box. Our product is insulated with GreenCell Foam which uses cornstarch to create an insulation for our shipping boxes. The plastic and cardboard are both easily recyclable.
We take pride that every aspect of our shipping box can be easily recycled, leaving the days of using styrofoam coolers in the past.
Q: Will all of my friends think I’m the next Gordon Ramsey if I cook your Berkshire pork?
A: Highly likely.