The Shire Homestead 
62 Fernald Rd
Freeport, Maine 04032
I(207)607-6038
Is Slow Growth, Heritage Pork worth the extra money?
April 7, 2026

Money is tight.  When it comes to groceries, we are all spending more. Which means, we must carefully consider what we are spending our money on.  For many, we need to get more bang for our buck. Food is fuel, food is medicine.  The saying, “We are what we eat” means that the food we consume has a direct impact on our health, well being, and overall condition.  Food as medicine, has a similar meaning with the addition that what we eat can impact our health, even treating conditions and diseases (like inflammatory conditions, type 2 diabetes, and digestive disorders/diseases, etc).   The industrial model of pig farming has proven to be very efficient and profitable, offering pork at a seemingly affordable price.  When you are only looking at the price asked at the store for your pork chops, it is a system that is highly successful. 


A deeper look at  the Industrialized Pig:
When considering the health benefits of eating Industrialized Produced Pork, one should consider the following:

1.  Use of Antibiotics:  Industrialized pigs are often treated with antibiotics as a preventative measure. Diseases like pneumonia (which can spread quickly among confined and cramped pigs),  gastrointestinal infections (like Swine Dysentery and Colibacillosis), skin infections (like erysipelas) and to enhance overall speed of growth and feed efficiency which indirectly reduces disease susceptibility. Over use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance in the pig and in the humans that eat them.
   
2. Hormones and Additives:  some producers use both hormones (while it is illegal to use growth hormones in the US, they do use an “alternative growth promoter” called Ractopamine (a beta-agonist) to increase lean meat and improve efficiency. They do use Reproductive Hormones (Prostaglandins, FSH/LSH) in breeding management, leaving concerns over long term consumption side effects in the persons who eat the meat. 
   
3. Processing Methods:  using higher levels of additives, preservatives and sodium in producing certain pork products like bacon and hams.
   
4. Animal Welfare Concerns:  The conditions in which pigs are raised can lead to stress and disease, potentially affecting meat quality and taste. Not to mention, a lack of concern in allowing a pig to enjoy its life prior to fulfilling its destiny as food. Treating an animal like an inanimate commodity without concern for its quality of life. No sunshine, no fresh air, no rooting, a monotonous diet, etc.  
   
5. Environmental Concerns:  Industrialized pork production contributes to environmental concerns in many ways. Leeching of antibiotics, hormones, medicines through waste, fecal and bacterial contamination on a massive scale, pollution and a lack of biodiversity as one type of pig is bred to fit one sized industrial mechanisms and elements of production. 
   
6. Food Supply Issues:  disease outbreak, food costs and availability (fertilizer shortages, etc), labor shortages, and transportation disruptions all contribute to food supply chain issues with industrialized pork.  
   

             As seen with the Covid 19 pandemic:  A. Disruptions in supply chains led to processing plant closures and reduced production.  B. Labor shortages caused by illness and added safety measures. C. Changes in consumption habits ( ie: reduction in eating in a restaurant, more demand on Grocery stores). D. The destruction of approximately 1.5 million pigs culled due to processing plant closures, labor shortages, and market specification issues (the pigs grew too big for market specifications due to reduced availability of processing). 
How does Slow Growth, Outdoor production differ from the industrialized model?

1.  Better animal welfare: Pastured pigs or pigs raised on the ground have more space to roam about in, a variety of natural environmental exposures (grass, woods, sunshine).  They are allowed to engage in more natural behaviors like rooting, basking and wallowing. 
   
2. Enhanced Flavor: Outside raised pork has a richer, more complex flavor than indoor (industrialized) raised pork. Pigs raised in the woods, on pasture and allowed to root enjoy a varied diet of many types of plants, grubs, trees and small animals/insects. 
   
3. Sunshine:  Has many positive impacts on pastured/outdoor raised pork! It helps pigs synthesize vitamin D which supports calcium and phosphorus absorption, enhances natural immune function and disease resistance, promotes overall growth and development in young pigs, aids in reproductive health improving fertility rates, reduces metabolic disorders (ie Rickets) and contributes to better feed efficiency and weight gain.
   
4. Nutritional Benefits:  higher vitamin and mineral content (pigs too, are what they eat!) and higher ratio of healthy fats like Omega 3 fatty acids!
   
5. Reduced Antibiotic Use:  Pastured pork or pork raised outside by smaller independent farms typically use few antibiotics. They require less. Having a healthier lifestyle promotes healthier pigs and healthier pigs require minimal intervention or antibiotics. Thus, the consumer avoids unnecessary exposure to antibiotics and resulting antibiotic  resistance.
   
6. Environmental Impacts: sustainable farming practices lead to healthier ecosystems and soil.  Most outdoor farmers rotate grazing or housing to avoid over use and disease.  
   
7. Supporting Local Farmers: purchasing from your local farmer strengthens a communities economy. It keeps farmers in your community, which the Pandemic made clear was very important to food chain issues and production problems. 
   

So, IS Slow Growth, Heritage Pork worth the extra money?

At the end of the day, each person will need to evaluate how important the quality of pork meat and how important the animal welfare, environmental,  and supply chain issues are to you and whether or not devoting extra in your budget is worth it.
About OUR pork:
We at the Shire Homestead raise heritage breed pigs outdoors. We raise American Guinea Hog crossed with Idaho Pasture or KuneKune pigs. We occasionally grow larger heritage hogs, but prefer the medium and smaller breeds for easier handling. We rotate between the woods and on grass, but always outside in the sunshine and fresh air. We move their housing also.  Our pigs tend to be slow growth, taking a full season ( approximately 9 months) to size up. They enjoy at least three seasons of the year!  This deepens the flavor and nutritional value of our meat.  Our pigs are loved and treated with affection. Our goal being only one bad day. They get exercise, eat a variety of food-stuffs. From leaves, grass, wood, grubs, small animals they catch themselves to what we bring them, such as: milk, whey, animal scraps (we raise chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits and goats) that all contribute to “offal” the pigs prize), and food scraps we generate as a nine member, three generation farmstead!  We are very proud of our pork and invite you to give it a try!

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“The crushed leaves of all species exude a spicy, fragrant essential oil. Of the species examined in one study, M. didyma contained the highest concentration of oil.[7]
Several species, including Monarda fistulosa and M. didyma, have a long history of use as medicinal plants by many Native Americans, such as the Blackfoot, Menominee, Ojibwa and Winnebago. The Blackfoot recognized the strong antiseptic action of the plants, and used them in poultices for skin infections and minor wounds. Native Americans and later settlers also used it to alleviate stomach and bronchial ailments. A tisane made from the plant was also used to treat mouth and throat infections caused by dental caries and gingivitis. Bee balm is a natural source of the antiseptic compound thymol, the primary active ingredient in some modern commercial mouthwash formulas. The Winnebago used a bee balm tisane as a general stimulant. Bee balm was also used as a carminative herb by Native Americans to prevent excessive flatulence.[8] An infusion of crushed, boiled Monarda has been used to treat headache and fever.” Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarda


“M.didyma is most widely used. It's chemical constituents may provide protection from diseases of aging.” Medicinal Plants of North America, Jim Meuninck (2008)


“Due to the presence of a high thymol content which is a strong antiseptic (also in thyme), Monarda has been used in infusion form for a variety of ailments in its long past: colds, flu, upper respiratory problems, gas, diarrhea, nausea, fevers and whooping cough, and topically for skin problems and wounds. “
Herbal Academy of New England (https://theherbalacademy.com/benefits-of-bee-balm-monarda-fistulosa-and-m-didyma/)

     A “Materia Medica” is a body of knowledge that describes how plants have been used therapeutically today, yesterday and throughout history. This is the spot in which The Shire Homestead will describe the herbs used in it's Herbal Apothecary. Herbs are listed in no particular order. We will list our sources and references.


Arnica Montana:


Is an herb that “”has been shown to prevent and minimize bruising”” says Monica Halem, M.D. Specifically, arnica works as a topical treatment for bruising because it acts as an anti-inflammatory and it also helps dilate capillaries under the skin, which allows blood and fluid to move out of the injured area.” (The Big Doctors Book of Home Remedies, 2009 Rodale Inc. page 89) and “Arnica, an herb that comes from a European flower, has natural anti-inflammatory properties. German scientists found that it reduces swelling of the knee from surgery.” page 386 of Rodale's 2009 book.


WebMd “Arnica is applied to the skin for pain and swelling associated with bruises, aches, and sprains. It is also applied to the skin for insect bites, arthritis, muscle and cartilage pain, chapped lips, and acne. “


Herbal Academy of New England “It (Arnica) is an anti-inflammatory and vulnerary herb used to treat pain, swelling, and bruising associated with traumatic injuries such as fractures, sprains, bruises, and contusions, as well as muscular pain from overexertion. For this purpose it can be used topically on unbroken skin or homeopathically.  “