Large hogs enjoying their last days on an alfalfa/grass pasture.
Are you purchasing pastured meats for your health? Or are you more concerned that the animals are free-range?
Free-range is great fun for livestock. But without careful management, a pasture can quickly become a dirt lot, and the health benefits that come from eating quality pasture will disappear.
If you are purchasing pastured meats for your health, and want to verify that the animals are getting the majority of their nutrients from pasture, then there is one sure way to know. Observe the animals’ manure.
This is the picture of hog manure from one of the hogs pictured above. It is almost as green as cattle manure and contains less grain than the hog manure pictured below, which is from a hog receiving no pasture or forage.
Now that you have this knowledge, I’m sure most of you won’t use it. And I don’t blame you. The joke in the movie, “Tommy Boy,” is, “You can stick your head up a steer’s ass to find out how good the steaks are; but wouldn’t you rather take the butcher’s word for it?” I’m guessing most of you would rather take the farmer’s word for it, too.
I also have two nice pictures of contrasting cattle manure. If anyone is interested, comment or email.
Curiousfarmer 
The proof is definitely in that pudding! Thanks for the recommendation to REALLY know your food.
“The proof is in the pudding,” is what my pediatrician said to me at my son’s one month check-up. She was referring to his weight gain as proof he was receiving adequate breastmilk. The funny thing is she told me as long as he has enough wet and poopy diapers, we know he’s eating enough. Curious Farmer, you can keep observing the hog poop, I’d rather observe my baby’s.
Where do they go next? Into the hoop houses?