How Much Meat Is in a Half or Whole Pig?

It's one of the questions we're asked most: "If I buy half a pig, how much pork will I actually get?" It's a fair one — buying half or a whole pig is a big step if you've only ever bought pork by the pack. So here's an honest, farmer's answer, using the real weights from our own outdoor-reared pigs.

First, a word on our pigs

Our pigs are born and raised outdoors, free to root and roam here on our Derbyshire family farm. They're slow-grown for proper flavour and a natural covering of fat — the way pork used to be, and a world away from the fast-grown, intensively farmed pork that fills most supermarket shelves. That outdoor life is exactly what gives our pork its flavour.

Deadweight vs take-home weight (the bit that confuses everyone)

This is the key thing to understand. There are two very different weights:

• Deadweight — the weight of the whole carcass before butchery. Our pigs are typically 65–95kg deadweight.
• Take-home weight — what you actually receive, once it's been butchered, trimmed and prepared. This is always less than the deadweight.

When people quote big carcass weights, they're usually talking deadweight. What matters to you is the take-home weight — the pork that ends up in your freezer.

How much take-home pork you'll actually get

Here's what to expect from one of our pigs, packaged and ready for your freezer:

• Quarter Pig: approx. 11–17kg of pork
• Half Pig: approx. 23–33kg of pork
• Whole Pig: approx. 45–66kg of pork

The exact figure varies from animal to animal, and with how you choose your cuts — and whether you have some turned into sausages, which we can do for you.

What does that look like on the plate?

A half pig (around 23–33kg) typically gives a household a lovely mix of:

• Roasting joints (leg, shoulder, loin)
• Chops and steaks
• Belly (joints, slices or streaky bacon)
• Sausages, in your choice of flavour
• Mince and diced pork
• Gammon and hocks, if you'd like them

For most families, a quarter keeps the freezer stocked for a good while; a half is a proper stock-up; and a whole is ideal for a big family or to split with friends.

How much freezer space do I need?

A rough guide, so you can plan before it arrives:

• Quarter (11–17kg): around 1–2 standard freezer drawers
• Half (23–33kg): around 2–3 freezer drawers
• Whole (45–66kg): around 4–6 drawers, or a small chest freezer

Is it good value?

Buying half or a whole pig works out as excellent value per kilo compared with buying the same cuts individually — roasting joints, chops, belly, bacon and sausages all at one blended price. And you know exactly where it's come from, how it was raised, and that it lived a proper outdoor life. That's something no supermarket can offer.

The best bit: you choose your cuts

When you reserve a pig with us, you don't just get a random box — you tell us exactly how you'd like it butchered. More sausages and less mince? A whole belly for the smoker? Bacon and gammon, or leave them out? It's entirely up to you, and if you're not sure, we'll happily guide you or cut a lovely balanced selection.

That's the whole idea behind our Cut To Your Spec range — your animal, butchered your way.

Frequently asked questions

How long does half a pig last?
For most families, a half pig keeps the freezer well stocked for a few months, depending on how often you eat pork.

Can I have some made into sausages?
Yes! We can turn some of your pork into our proper butcher-made sausages, in your choice of flavour — just let us know when we discuss your cuts.

Can I choose my own cuts?
Absolutely — that's the whole point. We'll talk through exactly how you'd like it, or cut a balanced selection if you'd prefer to leave it to us.

Is it delivered fresh or frozen?
Your pork arrives fresh, vacuum packed and freezer ready — use what you'd like within a few days and freeze the rest on the day it arrives.

How our pigs are raised — and our welfare promise

We believe in complete honesty about how our meat is produced. Our pigs are born and raised outdoors, living natural lives with room to root and roam. When the time comes, they travel only a short distance to a licensed local abattoir, and are fully stunned in a non-reversible way before slaughter, in accordance with UK welfare legislation. Our pork is not halal or kosher slaughtered. No long journeys, no stress, and full traceability from our fields to your plate.

Ready to reserve?

If you'd like to fill your freezer with proper outdoor-reared pork, cut exactly how you like it, take a look at our Pork Reserve. Reserve a quarter, half or whole, and we'll be in touch to talk through your cuts.

Curious about our other meat? Read our guides on how much meat is in a cow and what hogget is and why it beats lamb.