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What Is a Whole or Half Hog and Is It Right for Your Family? A Guide From a Berkshire Pork Farmer in Iowa

written by

Anna Pesek

posted on

August 5, 2026

We have been selling whole and half hog packages for years and if there is one thing we have learned, it is that most people have never heard of this option before. They find out about it, get a little curious, and then have a lot of questions.

This post is our attempt to answer all of them -- honestly and practically, from the perspective of farmers who have walked hundreds of customers through this process.

If you have ever wanted a freezer full of incredible Berkshire pork without having to think about ordering every week, keep reading.

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Iowa raised Berkshire pork ham

What Is a Whole or Half Hog Purchase?

A whole or half hog purchase -- sometimes called freezer pork -- means you are buying a portion of one of our Berkshire hogs directly from us, before it is processed. You place a deposit to reserve your hog, and once the animal goes to the butcher you fill out a cut sheet specifying exactly how you want your meat processed. The finished cuts are packaged and frozen, then delivered directly to you.

It is one of the oldest ways to buy meat. It is also one of the best.

Why We Love This Option for Families

Here is our honest pitch: buying a whole or half hog is the single best way to stock your freezer with high quality protein for months at a time -- and it is almost always more economical than buying individual cuts week by week.

Our whole and half hog packages average out to around $6.60 per pound for finished cuts. When you consider that our heritage-breed Berkshire pork chops retail at $8.99 to $13.50 per pound and our bacon runs $12.00 per pound, buying in bulk saves real money.

But the value goes beyond price. We genuinely believe meals are easier when you have high quality proteins already in the freezer. Protein is typically the most expensive and most effortful part of meal planning. When it is already there -- in a variety of cuts, ready to pull out and cook -- the whole rhythm of weeknight dinners changes.

You stop thinking about what to order. You just cook.

What Is Berkshire Pork and Why Does It Matter?

Not all pork is the same. Berkshire is a heritage breed known for exceptional marbling, rich flavor, and a tenderness that commodity pork simply cannot replicate. The difference between a Berkshire pork chop and a grocery store pork chop is not subtle. It is significant.

Our Berkshire hogs are raised in low-stress environments on our farm in Coggon, Delaware County, Iowa. No confinements. No gestation crates. We know every animal by sight. That care shows up in the quality of the meat.

When you buy a whole or half hog from us, every pound of it is heritage-breed Berkshire. There is no commodity pork in our supply chain.

Where Does the Butchering Happen?

We use Nimrod Meats in Iowa Falls, Iowa -- a local, family-run butcher we trust completely. When your hog goes in for processing, you fill out a cut sheet directly with Nimrod specifying how you want everything cut and packaged. They do exceptional work and they are easy to communicate with.

Working with a local Iowa butcher is part of what makes this feel so different from buying at a grocery store. The supply chain is short. The people involved are real. And the finished product reflects the care that went into every step.

How Does the Cut Sheet Work?

This is the part most first-time buyers find most exciting. The cut sheet is your opportunity to get the exact pork you actually want for your household.

Here are some of the decisions you get to make:

Chops: Do you want thick cut Iowa chops, perfect for the grill? Thin cut chops for quick weeknight cooking? Butterfly chops? You specify the thickness and the quantity per package.

Roasts: Do you want your roasts boneless for easy slicing and serving? Or bone-in for more flavor? Your call.

Sausage: Do you want your trim made into ground pork, or seasoned as Italian sausage, chorizo, maple breakfast sausage, or another flavor? This is one of the best parts of the whole hog experience -- you can have your trim turned into exactly the sausage your household uses most.

Pork Belly: Do you want your belly cured and sliced as bacon? Or uncured and whole so you can smoke it yourself at home? The whole hog is the only way to get this option.

Ribs Spare: ribs, baby back ribs, or country-style -- specify what you want and that is what you get.

If you have never filled out a cut sheet before, do not worry. Nimrod Meats will walk you through it and we are always available to answer questions. It is less complicated than it sounds and far more rewarding than you might expect.

How Much Freezer Space Do I Need?

A good rule of thumb:

Half hog: approximately 75 to 90 pounds of finished cuts. You will need roughly 3 to 4 cubic feet of freezer space.

Whole hog: approximately 150 to 180 pounds of finished cuts. You will need roughly 6 to 8 cubic feet of freezer space.

If you do not have a chest freezer, this might be the motivation to get one. A small chest freezer runs $150 to $250 at most hardware stores and pays for itself quickly when you are buying protein at $6.60 per pound.

How Does the Process Work, Step by Step?

Step 1 - Place your deposit. A $150 deposit reserves a whole hog. A $75 deposit reserves a half. You can do this directly on our website. The remaining balance is due at delivery.

Step 2 - We schedule the butcher. Once your hog is reserved, we coordinate the processing date with Nimrod Meats in Iowa Falls.

Step 3 - Fill out your cut sheet. We will send you the cut sheet and be available to help you fill it out if you have questions. This is where you tell Nimrod exactly how you want everything processed.

Step 4 - Wait for the magic. Processing typically takes a few weeks. We will keep you updated.

Step 5 - Delivery or pickup. Once your meat is ready, we coordinate delivery to your door or pickup. All your cuts arrive frozen and packaged, ready for the freezer.

Is a Whole or Half Hog Right for You?

It is a great fit if:

  • You eat pork regularly and want to simplify how you buy it
  • You want to stock a freezer for several months at a time
  • You want complete control over how your meat is processed
  • You want the best value per pound for heritage-breed Berkshire pork
  • You want to buy directly from farmers you know and trust

It might not be the right fit if:

You do not have adequate freezer space (though a chest freezer solves this quickly)

You are not ready to commit to a full half hog at once (individual cuts from our store are always available)

You need meat immediately -- the whole hog process takes a few weeks from deposit to delivery

A Note About Availability

We process hogs seasonally, which means whole and half hog packages are not always available. The best way to stay informed is to sign up for our newsletter at overthemoonmeat.com/newsletter-signup. We announce availability to our email list first, and packages tend to go quickly.

We will be honest with you: we have told customers "no more hogs until fall" and then had a group of pigs surprise us by being quite ready ahead of schedule. Farming involves a lot of estimation. The best way to not miss a window is to be on the list.

How to Reserve Your Whole or Half Hog

When packages are available, you can reserve directly on our website:

Whole Hog Deposit -- $150, balance due at delivery

Half Hog Deposit -- $75, balance due at delivery

If you have questions before you commit, reach out through our contact page or reply to any of our newsletters. We are real people and we actually respond.

Not Ready for a Whole Hog? We Have You Covered.

Our full lineup of heritage-breed Berkshire pork -- chops, roasts, bacon, brats, Italian sausage, chorizo, maple breakfast sausage, spare ribs and more - is available individually in our online store with local delivery every Thursday and nationwide shipping every Monday.

The whole hog is the best value. But every single order supports the same farm, the same farmers, and the same vision for a better Iowa food system.

Over the Moon Farm is a women-owned, LGBTQ-owned heritage Berkshire pork, pasture-raised chicken, grass-fed beef, and pastured lamb farm in Coggon, Delaware County, Iowa. We offer local home delivery across eastern Iowa every Thursday and nationwide shipping every Monday. Learn more at overthemoonmeat.com.

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