Frequently Asked Questions

Pasture pork means raising pigs outdoors on managed pasture, with room to roam, balanced nutrition, and careful land stewardship that improve the soil while producing flavorful pork.

 Yes. Pasture-raised pork is often healthier, with a better omega-6 to omega-3 balance and a more diverse nutrient profile, thanks to outdoor living, natural movement, and a varied diet that supports a healthier animal microbiome—just the way nature intended. 

Our focus is on nutrition balance between forage and feed.  Pasture compliments - but does not replace -balanced rations.  Our pigs consume a non-GMO feed that includes yellow corn, soy protein meal, ground oat, minerals, reed sedge peat and aloe pellets.  Well-fed pigs grow efficiently and utilize pasture effectively.

When we receive our piglets, they have received newborn vaccines.  However, once received we abstain from these practices and instead focus on immune boosting tactics.  Such as the sedge peat in the feed which is there to improve gut health and the aloe pellets boost the immune system and enhance gut health.  We add apple cider vinegar to the water; it is like a probiotic for the pigs.  This provides healthy bacteria, enzymes and is a natural antiparasitic.  

Yes.  Pasture-raised pigs at Ruger Family Farm are treated humanely becuase they are raised outdoors with space to roam, root, and express natural behaviors.  they are provided shelter, fresh, water, balanced nutrition and daily care, helping keep animals healthy and reducing stress.

 Our pig operation is seasonal because it aligns with what’s best for the pigs and the land. Pigs thrive when they can consume fresh, living plants, root in healthy soil, and move across actively growing pasture. The only time this is possible is during the natural growing season.

By raising pigs when grasses, forages, and cover crops are actively growing, the animals receive a more diverse, natural diet, develop healthier microbiomes, and live in conditions that allow them to express normal pig behavior. The land also benefits—pastures recover, soils build organic matter, and the system stays resilient without overuse.

Rather than forcing year-round production through confinement or artificial inputs, we choose to work with natural cycles. As a result, our pasture-raised pork is intentionally seasonal, ensuring healthier pigs, healthier land, and better pork.

 Yes. Pasture-raised pigs are able to root, graze, explore, and socialize—expressing their natural instincts in open outdoor environments rather than being confined indoors. 

Letting pigs be pigs is the best thing for their temperament.  When pigs get exercise, consume fresh forage, bask in the sun, root around in the dirt; they have a playful demeanor and tend to grow more stress-free. 

  Yes. Pasture-raised pork has deeper, more honest flavor—richer, juicier, and more complex—because the pigs live outdoors, eat a diverse natural diet, and grow the way pigs were meant to grow.  

Pasture-raised pork is naturally firmer yet more tender and juicy when properly raised and cooked—because healthy movement builds real muscle that stays juicier.   Think about the Thankgiving turkey.  The breast meat is soft and drier - it is unexcercised meat.  The thigh/leg meat is more moist and firm because it is excercise.

Pasture allows pigs to express instinctive behaviors such as rooting and grazing, social interaction, and wallowing to regulate body temperature.  Pasture promotes stronger muscles and bones, better joint health, and reduces lameness.  The outdoors build stronger immune systems resulting from sunlight for vitamin D and improved gut health from forage and soil microbes.  Pasture adds nutritional diversity through forage fiber, minerals and phytonutrients.  At the risk of getting too wordy I must add outdoor air quality benefits pigs through reduced respiratory issues and disease.  All of this translates into better meat flavor, improve fat quality and reduced stress leading to improved tenderness.

Pasture pork and organic pork are both good options, but they focus on different things.  Pasture-pork comes from pigs that are raised outdoors with regular access to pasture.  They are able to root, graze, and express natural behaviors.  

Pasture-Pork Benefits:  

• More natural diet including forage, grass, and roots.
• Higher animal welfare due to outdoor living and ability to roam - an excercised muscle is a more moist cut of meat.  
• A pig spending more time in biologically diverse soil will itself have a healthier microbiome.    Better health of the animal translates to healthier meat.
• When a larger percentage of the grain based diet is replaced by forage, the Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio decreases.  This is important because the closer the ratio is to 1:1, the less inflamatory the meat.

Organic pork comes from pigs raised according to USDA Organic Standards.

Organic standards require:

• Certified organic feed grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
• No antibiotics or added grwowth hormones.
• Access to the outdoors, though not necessarily pasture.

Both pasture-pork and organic pork are raised with higher standards than conventional pork.  

 Pasture-raised pork sometimes costs more because it takes more time, land, and hands-on care to raise pigs outdoors. Our pigs also recieve a more costly non-GMO ration, that is healthier for the animal.  Animal welfare, soil health, and quality over speed and scale are prioritized —producing pork the honest, old-fashioned way rather than the cheapest way. 

Our goal is to offer quality pasture pork to local customers, but what is local ...  In our mind local is within easy driving distance to either visit the farm or pick up meat at the locker.  This includes central Iowa, northern Iowa and southern Minnesota.  

 The best way to buy pork in bulk is to order a half or whole hog directly from a trusted local farmer. This allows you to choose based on the farms specific raising practices that best meet your goals.  At Ruger Family Farm we work with experienced local lockers who can make recommendations on cut options and coordinate meat pick-up. This supports your local community.

 Yes — we welcome visits! You’re invited to come see our pastures, meet the pigs, and observe firsthand how they are raised outdoors with plenty of room to root and roam. Just contact us in advance so we can schedule a tour and make sure someone’s available to show you around.