Our Story - Why do we do it:

What we as producers want to do for you as a customer is provide a quality product produced in a sustainable manner.

Why G.O.S.?

We got our start with G.O.S. in 2004. Before this we raised crossbred hogs outdoors. We rotated the hogs/pigs on the fields and pastures of our 280 acre farm. The problem we were running into was finding replacement boars / gilts that could stand the extremes of southern illinois weather . You know the story ," Don't like the weather ? Wait about ten minutes and it will change ! " We were having a hard time keeping the breeding stock healthy and the shoats were so lean that even on a high protein ration they did not do well in the cold. Pork producers in Illinois were moving away from pasture based production systems. So rather than  building a better barn, we decided to build a better animal. We begin to look for some breeding stock that would lend itself to  our farming stlye.   

What traits do we breed for?

#1. An animal that will stand the extremes of pasture based production. Hot,cold, wet , dry, we never could figure how to control the weather. So we want an animal that can play the cards they are dealt.

#2. Maintain good health and flesh on a variety of feeding programs. Any time you leave the farm to buy imputs it cost money. We want an animal that will take advantage of excess and or undervalued forage/feild crops produced on our farm.

#3. Breeds easy. The best looking ,highest priced hog in the country that will not breed of their own free will and accord is nothing more than high priced bacon. 

#4. Farrows with out assistance.                                                                                                                           .

#5. Milks good.

#6. Raises at least 8 pigs per litter

 All our pigs are raised outdoors. The G.O.S. is very well suited for this environment. They are a " grazing animal". When fed a high protein/fat diet and not allowed enough space , they will put on what most people consider an excess amount of back fat. However by allowing the G.O.S. to do what they were designed to do, move around the homestead/farm and eat a varied diet . A carcass with not so much backfat will be the result. I have ate alot of G.O.S pork, and have tried many different feeding programs, all with good results. The main difference being cost/labor/fat content.