How Big is Too Big For Whole Hog Roast?

[savaytse66]

I picked up a couple Durocs this Spring (born end of February) with the intention of putting one in the freezer and having a whole hog roast with a large group of friends and family. While I need to take a few measurements this weekend, I am estimating the boy to be about 300lbs and his sister to be around 225 - 250. I am not too worried about physical size, other than flipping and moving during/after the cook. I am planning to build the pit out of concrete block and having a steel frame w/ expanded carbon steel built to hold the hog. But even using the girl at 250+ pound live weight, she's bigger than I've seen used.

Any advice from those who have used a large hog like this? A couple alternatives might be splitting her in half and only roasting a half, or even breaking a whole or half into primals for a more even cook and more manageability. I'll be curious to hear your thoughts.

 

[SmokinEdge]

They usually will rail around 60% of hoof weight so 250x0.60 = 150 pound rail. Split in half and you have 75#. You have options here.

 

[radioguy]

We just did a 100 lb (dressed). We split him just to fit it on the cooker. Head and feet removed. This was a good call, made it easy to move, serve

RG

 

[unclebubbas bbq]

Even at 150 lbs dressed I hope you having 50-60 people over to help you eat it. That's a lot of pork there!

 

[savaytse66]

They usually will rail around 60% of hoof weight so 250x0.60 = 150 pound rail. Split in half and you have 75#. You have options here.

Yep, just trying to figure out the best one! Not sure if it is more challenging to get everything to cook evenly with a larger hog. I'd rather cook way too much meat correctly, than just the right amount poorly.

We just did a 100 lb (dressed). We split him just to fit it on the cooker. Head and feet removed. This was a good call, made it easy to move, serve

RG

View attachment 511999

Looks great!

Even at 150 lbs dressed I hope you having 50-60 people over to help you eat it. That's a lot of pork there!

Probably 75 or so. And there's nothing like being surprised by a vacuum bag of pulled pork you find in the freezer!