Beyond the Barn Beetles: Difficulties in Using Some Coleoptera as Indicators of Stored Fodder

Abstract

The intention of this paper is to provide possible reference points for archaeologists interested in the seasonality of pig meat production and livestock management, by discussing the seasonality of pig production and pig meat preservation in Ireland in the past 250 years. It looks at the role of the pig on Irish farms, concentrating on the native Irish Greyhound pig and Large White Ulster and examines the relationship between crop and livestock management by focusing on the influence of the potato on pig production. As well as discussing the suitability of the potato as a fodder for fattening pigs, it looks at the results of Irish farmers relying on the potato as a food source for both humans and animals, particularly during times of seasonal shortage.

The paper also assesses the influence of climate and technology on the seasonality of pig meat production, outlining methods of slaughtering, curing and storage. Finally, the paper discusses the effects of growing competitive markets on Irish pig production.