Preserving Spanish Heritage Through Southern Stewardship
There are moments in life when you realize you are no longer building a business—you are building a legacy. Our relocation to the Alabama Wiregrass marks one of those moments.
After years of developing our breeding program and assembling some of the finest documented Spanish Ibérico bloodlines available in North America, Iberico Acres™ has found its permanent home among the rolling pastures, hardwood forests, and quiet countryside of Hartford, Alabama.
This was never simply a move from one farm to another. It was a deliberate decision to create an environment where authentic purebred Ibérico pigs could thrive for generations while preserving one of the world’s most celebrated heritage livestock breeds.
Every fence post, every paddock, every white oak tree, and every acre of pasture has been planned with one purpose in mind:
To become a steward—not merely an owner—of the Ibérico breed.
Why the Alabama Wiregrass?
People often ask why we chose Southeast Alabama after considering numerous locations across the country. The answer is surprisingly simple.
The Wiregrass offers many of the same natural qualities that have supported the legendary Ibérico pig throughout the Iberian Peninsula for centuries.
- Long growing seasons.
- Mild winters.
- Abundant rainfall.
- Open pasture.
- Hardwood forests.
- Native forage.
These conditions allow our pigs to express the behaviors that define the breed.
Rather than living inside confinement barns, our pigs spend their lives exploring woodlands, rooting beneath towering oaks, grazing native vegetation, wallowing during the summer months, and moving naturally across rotational pastures.
This is not simply better management. It is closer to the way Ibérico pigs have lived for hundreds of years.
A Landscape Inspired by the Spanish Dehesa
The famous dehesa of Spain is more than a place. It is an ecosystem. Scattered oak trees provide shade throughout the summer while producing the acorns that have become synonymous with traditional Ibérico husbandry.
Although Alabama is not Spain, we immediately recognized striking similarities. Our property is dotted with mature white oaks that produce abundant mast. Open woodland blends naturally into improved pasture. Native grasses, seasonal vegetation, and wooded areas create opportunities for the pigs to forage exactly as nature intended.
Watching an Ibérico pig disappear beneath a canopy of oak trees in Alabama is a remarkable reminder that good stewardship depends far more on respecting natural systems than attempting to control them.
Preserving Authentic Spanish Genetics
At Iberico Acres our mission extends beyond producing exceptional pork. We are dedicated to preserving authentic Spanish Ibérico genetics for future generations.
Our breeding program is intentionally small. Every breeding decision is carefully considered. Pedigrees matter. Temperament matters. Structural soundness matters. Genetic diversity matters.
We believe that heritage breeds deserve long-term stewardship rather than short-term production goals.
That philosophy guides every decision we make.
Stewardship Before Production
Our role has never been to produce the largest number of pigs. Our responsibility is to protect one of the world’s great heritage breeds.
Healthy animals require space, fresh pasture, clean water, natural behaviors and respectful handling.
By maintaining manageable herd numbers, rotating pasture, and allowing pigs to live as pigs were intended to live, we believe we are honoring centuries of Spanish agricultural tradition while adapting those principles to the American South.
A Historic Milestone
Perhaps the most rewarding moment since arriving in Alabama occurred only two weeks ago. Our first litter born on Alabama soil arrived safely. The sow delivered three beautiful gilts and three healthy boarlets, all vigorous, active, and thriving.
Watching these six piglets explore pasture beneath the shade of Alabama’s hardwoods has been one of the most satisfying experiences in our journey. Their curiosity is endless. Every fallen limb becomes an adventure. Each patch of fresh ground deserves investigation. Every new day reveals a little more of the remarkable instincts that make the Ibérico breed so unique.
For us, they represent far more than another successful farrowing. They are the first generation born entirely within the environment we carefully selected to preserve this extraordinary breed.
Building for the Future
Relocating Iberico Acres has involved far more than moving livestock. New paddocks have been constructed. Miles of fencing have been installed. Rotational grazing systems have been developed. Livestock infrastructure continues to expand with improved handling facilities, feed storage, and processing capabilities. Every improvement serves one objective:
Creating a sustainable farm that will continue protecting authentic Ibérico genetics for decades to come.
Sharing the Story
The story of Iberico Acres™ extends well beyond our fences. We are honored to work with responsible breeders, chefs, and culinary professionals who appreciate the extraordinary qualities of authentic Ibérico pork. Our relationships are built upon transparency, education, and respect for the animals entrusted to our care.
Whether supplying breeding stock that preserves genetic integrity or providing premium pork to chefs who value exceptional flavor, our commitment remains unchanged.
Stewardship before commerce.
Heritage before convenience.
Quality before quantity.
Looking Ahead
Standing beneath the Alabama oaks today, it is difficult not to think about the generations that came before us. Spanish farmers spent centuries refining one of the world’s most remarkable breeds. Our responsibility is simply to continue that work with humility and care.
The first Alabama-born litter is already exploring the pastures that future generations will call home. Their story is only beginning. So is ours.
Welcome to the new Iberico Acres™.
Welcome to the Alabama Wiregrass.
Where Spanish heritage meets Southern stewardship,
and where every new litter carries forward a legacy worth preserving.