RANCHO LLANO SECO
Two years before the Mexican-American war that led to California’s statehood, 18,000 acres of dry land “Llano Seco” just south of Chico was granted by the Mexican Governor to an Austrian trapper- cause that’s how things worked back then. A few years later and shortly after the civil war ended, the land grant was purchased by a San Francisco banker turn rancher. Now, six generations of responsible land stewardship later - Rancho Llano Seco continues a prideful tradition of sustainable land and animal management.
The pigs themselves are a cross breed of Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace. They are fed a blend of Non-Gmo vegetarian grain and legumes- 75% of which is actually grown on the ranch itself. Pretty freaking cool if you ask us. They are pasture raised. That means they spend their days between open hoop houses and pastures as they see fit. As you might imagine, the pigs live a life free of growth hormones, antibiotics, or any other nonsense- just an organic diet, water and pure California sunshine.
They are also part of a “zero waste” practice where the bedding (straw & pig waste) is composted and applied to the ranch’s open cow pastures (they raise cows too, but we’re covered there).
“Piglet to Parilla” or “Birth to BBQ” is the way Rancho Llano Seco runs the show. They oversee every step of production and their holistic and humane approach has earned them certification from the Global Animal Partnership- an organization with complex, strict standards for animal welfare.
They slaughter every Thursday at their small scale abattoir just up the road from where the pigs are raised. They hang till Monday and arrive at the shop by refrigerated truck every Thursday. On average and season depending, we get between 2-4 pigs a week.
We are proud to call Rancho Llano Seco partners and lucky to sell their beautiful pigs.