Wild boars
The Wild Boar – not so domestic
The wild boar is the ancestor of the domestic pig. Wild boars spread to Finland from Estonia and Russia during the mid-20th century. They belong to the Sus scrofa scrofa group, which is common across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia.
Our pigs
Our first wild boars arrived in the spring of 2008. Since then, our herd has varied between 20 and 100 individuals.
Every sow and boar on our farm is given a name, which they often recognize — coming to us when called (if they feel like it!).
Little "Gooseberries"
Sows give birth 1–3 times a year to litters of 3–9 piglets. The piglets are a sweet sight: weighing only 400–500g, these striped little “gooseberries” venture out of the nest for the first time at about three days old.
Mothers are moved to a private area to give birth in peace, joining the rest of the herd when the piglets are 2–3 weeks old.
We keep some boars separate from the young, as their instincts can sometimes be harsh in order to bring the sow back into heat sooner. Fortunately, piglet losses are very rare on our farm today.
Night owls
Our wild boars are "late sleepers" and prefer moving around at dusk. While their eyesight is poor, they have excellent hearing and an incredible sense of smell.
Despite their bulky appearance, they are agile and fast, reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h in just a few leaps.
The herd follows a strict hierarchy led by a dominant matriarch. Males hold the lowest rank in the social order.
During the mating season, a 300kg boar can lose up to 80kg because it is so focused on its "duties" that it forgets to eat!
Recognizing the caretaker
Wild boars are true foodies and definitely recognize the person bringing the treats! Young piglets, in particular, make a loud racket when they see a caretaker approaching.
While they are friendly with staff, we never forget they are wild animals. A wild boar "warns" by tossing its snout between a person's legs — more than one unwary caretaker has been sent flying through the air!
The omnivore's diet
A wild boar eats about a bucketful of food a day. Unlike other hooved animals, they are not ruminants (they don’t chew cud).
Their digestion is incredibly efficient; their stomach acid has even been compared to battery acid!
Their favorite treat is fish, though their main diet consists of grain. Using their powerful snouts, they love to dig for roots and worms.
It takes about 1.5 years for a wild boar to reach maturity — three times longer than a domestic pig. Our “Grand Old Lady,” Sohvi, is estimated to weigh well over 300 kg.
High-quality, ethical meat
Because they are classified as wild animals, we can process them right here on the farm. This ensures the animal remains calm at its feeding bowl, avoiding the "stress meat" issues caused by long transport times.
Every animal is inspected by a veterinarian and tested for trichinella. Because of their strong natural immune systems, they require no medication, resulting in pure, residue-free meat.
The meat is a deep dark red, leaner and higher in protein than regular pork. The taste is closer to game meat, like elk or venison, with a rich, slightly wild flavor.
You can taste our wild boar in many forms at our restaurant! We also sell canned and frozen meat to take home.
