Fun Pig Facts and Pork Recipes from Backyard Farming
Every book about raising pigs eventually gets to the fun stuff. The weird trivia. The facts that make you stop and say “wait, really?” Kim Pezza saved some of the best material for the end of her book, and honestly, some of this is wild.
Let’s get into it.
Wall Street and Pigs
Here is one theory about how Wall Street got its name. Back in the 1600s, the Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam (what we now call New York) built a wall to keep their pigs from wandering off. The street that ran alongside that wall became known as Wall Street. Whether that is the only reason or just one of several, it is a fun connection. The center of global finance, named after a pig fence.
Pork and Religion
Pork was banned in Judaism around 1000 BCE. The reason? Pigs ate waste. In an era before modern sanitation, pigs consumed garbage and human waste, which made them unclean in the eyes of religious authorities. It was a practical decision as much as a spiritual one.
Chinese Pig Toilets
This one is exactly what it sounds like. In parts of China, outhouses were mounted directly over pig sties. The pigs ate the human waste. These setups were still found in some areas of China as recently as 2005, in India until 2003, and are reportedly still used on Jejudo island in South Korea. It is efficient in a very uncomfortable way.
Slaughter by Full Moon
Some farmers believe that slaughtering pigs during a full moon makes the meat more tender. Whether there is any science behind it is debatable, but it is a tradition that has stuck around in some communities.
How Many Pigs Are There?
As of 2013, there were approximately 977.3 million pigs worldwide. The biggest producers are China, the United States, and Brazil. That is almost a billion pigs. Think about that number for a second.
Pigs Are Immune to Snake Venom
Well, not completely immune, but pigs carry genetic mutations that protect them from certain snake venoms. They share this trait with mongooses, honey badgers, and hedgehogs. So if you ever wondered why a pig can get bitten by a rattlesnake and walk away, that is why. Their bodies are built different.
Pigs Do Not Really Sweat
You have heard the phrase “sweating like a pig.” It is a lie. Pigs have sweat glands, but they do not actually use them for cooling. That is exactly why they wallow in mud. The mud acts as sunscreen and air conditioning at the same time. Without it, pigs overheat fast. So next time someone says they are sweating like a pig, you can tell them pigs barely sweat at all.
How Pigs See, Hear, and Smell
Pigs identify each other primarily by smell. They also produce alarm pheromones, which means when one pig is stressed, the others can literally smell the danger. Their hearing is excellent too.
Their vision is interesting. Pigs have roughly 310 degrees of panoramic vision. That is nearly a full circle. They can see almost everything around them without turning their head. There is some evidence they can see color too, at least partially.
Teeth and Tusks
An adult pig has 44 teeth. Boar tusks never stop growing, which is why they can become dangerous if not managed. The tusks curve upward and outward, and boars use them for defense and dominance.
Pigskin Is Tougher Than You Think
Pigskin is one of the toughest hides in the animal world. It is used for leather, footballs, and all kinds of products. But here is the thing. A living pig’s skin is actually quite sensitive. They can get sunburned. They feel insect bites. The tough reputation only applies after processing.
Recipes Worth Trying
Kim Pezza included a solid collection of pork recipes at the end of the book. She covers a wide range of styles and cuisines. Here are some highlights.
Pork Roast with Cayenne Apple Glaze is exactly what it sounds like. A roast finished with a spicy-sweet apple glaze that balances heat and fruit.
Pork Pot Pie takes the comfort food classic and fills it with pork instead of chicken. Hearty, warm, and filling.
New Mexico Pork Tamales bring a Southwestern touch. Slow-cooked pork wrapped in masa and corn husks. These take time, but they are worth it.
Wiejska (Polish Kielbasa) is a traditional Polish sausage recipe. If you have ever wanted to make your own kielbasa from scratch, this is your starting point.
Baked Pork Chops with Apple and Caraway combines pork chops with sliced apples and caraway seeds. Simple ingredients, but the flavor combination works really well.
Mofongo is a Caribbean dish made from mashed plantains mixed with pork rinds. It is crunchy, starchy, and savory all at once. Not something most people have tried, but it should be.
Simple Sweet and Sour Pork gives you a homemade version of the takeout classic. No mystery sauces. Just pork, vinegar, sugar, and vegetables.
Babi Kecap is an Indonesian dish where pork is braised with garlic and onions in a sweet soy sauce. If you have never cooked Indonesian food, this is a great entry point.
Wine Glazed Pork Chops are pan-seared chops finished with a wine reduction. Quick and elegant.
Memphis-Style Ribs go with a dry rub and slow cook. Classic American barbecue.
Asian Barbecue Ribs take a different approach with soy, ginger, and garlic-based flavors.
North Carolina-Style BBQ Ribs use a vinegar-based sauce instead of the thick tomato kind. Tangy and sharp.
Steamed Buns with BBQ Pork are soft, pillowy buns stuffed with sweet barbecue pork. Think dim sum, but homemade.
Chipotle Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin combines smoky chipotle with sweet maple. The tenderloin stays juicy and picks up all that glaze flavor.
Asian Barbecued Pork (Char Sui) is the red-glazed pork you see hanging in Chinatown restaurant windows. Sweet, slightly charred, and addictive.
The recipe section alone makes the book worth keeping on your shelf. Whether you raise your own pigs or just buy pork from the store, these recipes cover enough ground to keep you cooking for a long time.
Book: Backyard Farming: Raising Pigs Author: Kim Pezza ISBN: 978-1-57826-621-0 Publisher: Hatherleigh Press, 2016