Pig milk
Pig milk is milk from pigs, and is typically consumed by piglets. It is similar in composition to cow's milk, though higher in fat and more watery. Pig milk is seldom obtained for human uses and is not considered to be a viable agricultural product. Several attempts have been made to produce pig milk cheese, some of which have been successful.[1]
Description
Pig milk contains 8.5% fat compared to 3.5% in cow's milk.[2] It has similar colostrum composition in terms of protein, fat, and lactose, when compared to cow's milk.[3] Pigs with high-protein diets produce more milk compared to those on low-protein diets.[4] It is also described as more gamy than goat's milk and seems more watery than cow's milk.
Difficulty in milking pigs
Pig milk is not considered suitable for commercial production for a number of reasons. Pigs are considered difficult to milk. The sow herself is reluctant to be milked, may be uncooperative or become spooked by human presence, and lactating pigs may be quite aggressive.
Human uses
Compared to more conventional animals such as dairy cattle or goats, a main issue is their omnivorous diet.[9] Also, the flavor of pig milk has been described as "gamy", more so than goat's milk.[10] The milk is also considered more watery than cow's milk.[10][7]
Cheese
Cheese produced from pig milk has been described as having a concentrated and intensified flavor of pig milk.[5] Chef Edward Lee prepared a ricotta cheese from pig milk, which he described as "delicious".[6]
A Dutch farmer produced one of the first experimental pig milk cheeses. As many as ten people worked to milk the sows for dozens of hours. Several of the attempts to produce cheese failed. They finally managed to make a few kilograms. It was reported that it tasted "chalky and a little bit salty"[11] and compared to other cheeses "saltier and creamier, yet grainier".[12] The cheese was sold to an anonymous buyer at a children's charity for $2,300 per kilogram. The price fetched was higher than the most expensive variety known as pule cheese, which is made from the milk of the Serbian Balkan donkey.
Health and beauty
References
- ^ Alberding, Felicia (24 August 2015). "Pig's Milk Cheese Is Tasty, But It Won't Make You Rich". Vice. Archived from the original on 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Why Don't We Drink Pig Milk?". 6 January 2015.
- ISBN 978-1-118-53422-9.
- ^ Hughes and Hart 1934, p. 312.
- ^ a b Hirsch, Jesse (March 10, 2014). "To Milk a Pig: One Chef's Obsession". Modern Farmer. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ a b Phelan, Benjamin (July 24, 2012). "Others' Milk". Slate. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ Village Voice. Archived from the originalon 21 October 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
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- ^ Gillingham, Sara Kate (January 12, 2009). "Why Don't Pigs Make Cheese?". The Kitchn. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
- ^ a b Sietsema, Robert (21 November 2011). "Why Not Pig Milk?".
- ^ "Dutch Farm: World's First to Ever Sell Cheese from Pig's Milk". 2015-09-14.
- ^ "We Are Unsure How to Feel Knowing That Pig's Milk Cheese Exists". 2015-08-25.
Bibliography
- Hughes, E.H.; Hart, Hugh G. (August 11, 1934). "Production and Composition of Sow's Milk". University of California Davis, College of Agriculture, Division of Animal Husbandry. Retrieved 20 October 2014.
Further reading
- Tao, Nannan; et al. (April 28, 2011). "Structural Determination and Daily Variations of Porcine Milk Oligosaccharides". PMID 20369835.
- Chen, Ting; et al. (February 5, 2014). "Exploration of microRNAs in porcine milk exosomes". PMID 24499489.
- Ogawa, Shohei; et al. (April 2014). "Shotgun proteomic analysis of porcine colostrum and mature milk". PMID 24450292.