Why do we drink cow's milk and not pig's milk...? We are, after all, very similar to pigs (both being omnivores and having similar internal anatomy and physiology):I came across an interesting response/reason, written by a representative of the Illinois Pork Producers Association to a query letter from Guy Petzall (a guy who became well-known for writing to companies asking strange questions) re. the possibilities of milking pigs.
'Porcine do lactate and their milk I will assume would taste great, because it is made of 8.5% fat in relation to the fat that makes up 3.5% of the components in cows milk. The other components such as lactose and water are found at nearly the same percentages in pig's milk. However, pigs will on average produce 13 lbs of milk in a day as compared to cows that produce 65 lbs of milk on average per day. Pigs unlike cows cannot become pregnant while lactating and therefore possess a severe economic problem to producers. While pigs consume less feed per day, economics does not allow pigs to be a viable source of dairy products.
The biggest challenge facing the porcine dairy industry is collecting the product. Pigs on average have fourteen teats as opposed to cows that have four teats. Pigs also differ from cows in their milk ejection time, a cows milk ejection is stimulated by the hoimone oxytocin and can last ten minutes, where as a pig's milk ejection time only last fifleen seconds as the suckling pigs stimulate the release of oxytocin. The technology of a 14 cupped mechanized milking machine that can milk a pig in 15 seconds is not available to pork producers.'
Is this the only reason we don't drink pig's milk, or could it be because of ancient dietary rules which saw the pig as unclean...? Has anyone tried sow's milk or would you even try it? And is this a joke, or not - horse milk? If it is true, would you drink mare's milk? Please let me know what you think.....
I'll let you know the reason for my sudden interest in milk in the next post....
30 comments:
Cow's milk does not agree with me, I didn't really drink much of it till I was in my twenties (except in tea). I've given up all dairy now, (after I had breast cancer). I use soya milk and I have been doing so for about seven years. All my allergies, hay fever, sinus problems, frequent chest infections, you name it they have disappeared. I always say that cows milk is for baby cows, not humans.
Horse milk is very popular in Mongolia isn't it? I've never tried pig's milk either, although love the sight of a row of little piglets suckling away. Pigs are so close to humans, it's probably more suited to us than cow's milk. I have tried a drop of sheep's milk though (out of curiosity one lambing time - like goat's, possibly richer). I don't think I'd be brave enough to put it in my tea though. I'll stick to rice milk!
I cannot drink Cow's milk, have an allergy, it also does not help my sinusitas, and hay fever, I am I see a tad like Cait. Apart from this I loathe the taste of milk, which is probably a good thing seeing as I have an allergy to it, I use soya milk.
Interesting though about Piggies producing the milk.
I'd try pig's milk, no problem. I love milk and I drink goats milk. Horse milk? Hhhmmm. I don't think so probably becasue the idea of horse meat is revolting. On the other hand I don't eat goat either so my reasoning doesn't make sense.
Looking forward to reading more:-)
Intrigued as to your reasons for a sudden interest in milk! Obviously horses and asses have been milked historically - just think of Cleopatra.
Fascinating stuff, Mootia, as always - food for thought - quite literally.
What instantly struck me is that we tend to go along with things because that is the way it is - had never ever thought of pig's milks. Don't actually like cow's milk although love yoghurts and stuff. Soya suppresses the thyroid (mine is already underactive) and also gives me migraines - so won't touch that.
Want to know now what your sudden interest in milk is - don't keep us waiting too long.
It’s interesting isn't it that we often feel squeamish at the thought of another mammal’s milk. But even stranger is our revulsion at drinking human milk.
When I was lactating I produced copious quantities of the stuff (don't know why, the vessels are no way near Jordan proportions, more nat bites). Backalong it used to be collected by SCBU to feed prem. babies. With bottles of the stuff in the fridge we often used it for our tea and cereal – much to the horror and repulsion of all visiting friends and family! It’s sweet and slightly metallic, different definitely! I had a Jersey dairy herd then and my children – when they weren’t drinking my milk – only ever drunk unpasteurised milk and when I no longer had milking cows or goats they couldn’t, for a very long time, drink pasteurised milk finding it disgusting.
I have tasted most other domesticated stocks’ milk, but never, I must say, pigs. Off to find a lactating sow…
It would be a lot of work milking a pig, it's hard to imagine doing it. I think that horses, like sheep, are milked from behind if you're doing it by hand. In Mongolia the milk is fermented to make kumiss. I think the Mongolians couldn't afford not to use horse milk - they bled their riding horses, too, suggesting that the horses could subsist pretty well in a landscape that offered little sustenance for humans.
One of the bonuses of milking I miss is that when I milked a goat twice daily I never had chapped hands!
I would happily try pig or horse milk. I'm very fond of all dairy products, particularly cheese and love goat's cheese too. What are you thinking about out there Mootia?
I've had the "why don't we have pig's milk, pig's butter and pig's cheese" conversation many times, but this is the first time I've read about it and found some probable rationale. I remember a year or two back a TV programme about a horse milk dairy in Belgium, of which there are several (as google confirms). I absolutely loathe milk, but give me an extra thick scoop of double cream and I'll hunt out something to spoon it onto before you can shout "cow!".
Hmmm, fascinating......
having attended various courses in dairying in recent months, I was made aware that mares' milk is rapidly growing in popularity & that it is a very 'healthy' milk; in fact I think someone was considering setting up a stud to produce mares' milk in the UK recently.
I've discovered I have an intolerance to cows' milk, & I'm amazed at how much my health has improved since drinking milk from our herd of goats (we're setting up an artisan dairy to make goats' cheese & other dairy products). I've never felt better & find I have much more energy.
In fact having had to temporarily switch back to bovine produce whilst 'drying off' the goats prior to kidding, within a few weeks I'd picked up every bug going.
And the taste of cows' milk is not as pleasant, I find: it's far heavier & claggier. I find it such a shame that gots' milk gets such a bad press by people who assume it must taste 'goaty' - which it shouldn't, if it's handled correctly & the herd managed properly.
Ah, well; perhaps I should switch to milking horses instead - although I think our four would object, as they're all geldings!
Good questions, Mootia. I'd be game to try pig's milk or any other kind of milk - try anything once! Very curious in your interest in milk now!
Yes, it is EXACTLY because the Bible finds the pig to be an unhealthy animal, which God created to eat the scum of the earth and because it does not chew the cud like the cows, goats, sheeps(hooven footed animals)it contains an extreme amount of uric acid and other bacteria like Trichinosis which can take you to your death bed if the animal is not entirely disinfected of hermful larvae. This website can also aid to us being careful about the Pig..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichinosis and because of the large amounts of uric acid found in the pigs body later on by some scientists, they did not hesitate to tell the Goverment that pigs milk could infact be very harmful rather then helpful but since its now a big monetary and cultural part of the Christian and Catholic faith (even though some Bible followers still avoid it just like the Jews and Muslims)but the majority of Christian based religions are still consuming this unhealthy animal(even though they know good enough to not drink its milk even with the entire pasturization and clean up process that we scientifically posess in todays world)After all we do also consume goat and sheep milk especially in rural areas so why is it that we dont consume pigs milk?
I found this by way of another forum asking the same question and I find teh above post by Scott hilarious. Are you really going to cite biblical reasons (based on things supposedly happening 2000 years ago) as the main reason for not considering pigs milk? The author and subsequent comments gave more than enough viable reasons all of which were better than "the bible says it's bad". I can see where the health aspect came in, but that was a LONG time ago. Your average pig is a damn sight cleaner than your family dog. Koreans aside, you're better off eating that pig, milk and all, over your dog anyday.
it must be a historical question - the first cows certainly never gave so much milk - they have been bred over generations. Domesticated pigs have been around farms for a long time and unlike chickens (providing eggs) and cows (milk) only give one payback for all the feed invested once killed. It cant be the 15 seconds and the number of teats - both easily modified in breeding. Domesticated pigs have been around for so long that surely some curious or business minded farmer must have tried to milk one - what happened? My interest is really in powdered baby milk where the reference to its bovine source is well hidden. Wouldn't it be better to use a milk base from an animal with the same digestive system and biological needs?
I go to a friends place,he has clydesdale mares and they produce lots of milk.There is one who is quite willing for me to milk her
Oh i meant to include that i am in new zealand and drinking mares milk is unknown of here so far altho mares milk is slowly being used around the world because of its good qualitys.If i had land i would definately get a few draft mares for milking.i used to have two milking goats and every day i milked them was a real pleasure
i have tasted dogs milk and it is quite sweet.i have yet to try pigs milk.i was given some sheeps milk and it was nice.i would also like to try camels milk.i am a milk lover too.Milk is nicest straight from the animal.i used to love having milk straight from my goats
oh i love all milk as well,doesn't matter what animal it comes from (within reason that is)
Hey milk lover,you might be interested to know that i breed great danes and some of the females have huge udders and if i run out of milk and there is a female with pups,i will go get a few drops for a cup of tea.It goes well with coffee as well
I love this entry. Thanks for answering such questions, that we don't like asking because we may sound stupid. Anyway, I will make a link on this website as one of my blog stops! I really enjoyed this entry, and I want to read more.
Well I have milked a pig to feed premature piglets. The milk is much nearer to human milk in colour and consistency. However I did not taste it.
I have also milked a mare to feed a foal, if I remember as it was over 30 years ago the milk was much thicker, but of course she had just foaled and it was the colostorum, the first milk, full of antibodies and calories to give the foal its kick start in life. I think in some cultures mares milk is used a lot.
We curently have a house cow and use raw milk in everything... it is really great stuff.
Folklore says that pigs can see the wind and that if anyone drinks pigs milk they too will see the wind. And then go mad.
"Pigs can see the wind 'tis said,
And it seemeth to them red."
There is a superstition that pigs can see the wind (Ireland). When they are seen hurrying about their stye or carrying a bunch of straw in their mouth then there is a storm on the way.
sah: if anybody milk a pig and take the milk, then they can see the wind, and they done tell it was red. Emma M. Backus. Animal Tales from North Carolina.
I have no idea why I just thought of the: why pig milk? question for the first time in my life. It sounds like all these sow lactation issues could be over come by Monsanto people in a few months of research. In a jiffy they couold create giant pig milking machines that simulated suckling in a way to stimulate the mother. It's a wide open market made for the milking. Suck them dry then fry them up.
I don't mean school people on religion but one of, if not, the main reason muslims do not ingest pig or pork by-products is because we believe that earlier civilizations that disobeyed their prophets and god were transformed into pigs. Amazingly as stated in this article humans and pigs have a lot in common especially when it comes to our anatomy... Just a thought ;)
I drank pigs milk and it cured all my ills.
I suffer with psoriasis and eczema and apparently mare's milk ie horsre milk is touted as the cure.. or at least a way of keeping it under control.
If anyone does find a mare's milk supplier in the uk I would be very interested as would the westonaprice foundation, there is raw mare's milk to be found in belgium and the netherlands, but I would prefer to go local.
anyone who does find one could they email me on henrynorthlondon at gmail dot com
"Pigs unlike cows cannot become pregnant while lactating"
Actually, this is false. I know because I have about 40 breeding sows on our pastured pig farm. One of our sows regularly jumps the fence to get to the boars a few days or so after she farrows (gives birth) and she rebreeds. She then gestates while she is lactating just fine. From her we have daughters and granddaughters who also get pregnant while lactating.
The original sow mentioned above is named Blackie - she has 16 teats (a bit more than usual) and bags most prodigiously. She produces very large litters of piglets (16 to 19) and one of her daughters set a record for our farm with 22 piglets. Here's Blackie:
http://images.google.com/images?q=site:flashweb.com+Blackie
We have also had one other sow of an unrelated line that bred twice while lactating. So it definitely does happen and the IL ag guy just isn't aware of it.
Cheers
-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/csa
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