As the saying goes: "Old sows wear bras, one set after another."
This indicates that sows have more "nipples" to feed piglets.
Depending on the breed, sows have 8-16 of these nipples. In comparison, cows have only 4.
Pigs indeed have inherent advantages and dominate in terms of breeding quantities. However, despite this, we've never encountered or purchased pig milk. Even comparatively niche products like camel milk, horse milk, and donkey milk have achieved large-scale production, albeit at relatively high prices. So, why isn't pig milk produced? Is it because it doesn't taste good, or perhaps because it lacks nutritional value?
Can pig milk be consumed?
From a scientific standpoint, if pork can be eaten, then pig milk can also be consumed by humans.
As for its taste? That's best left to those who have tried it.
Online, some folks have shared their experiences: "Growing up with pigs at home, I once tried a sip when a sow gave birth. It tasted bitter."
Another person commented, "It had a rather gamey taste. I took one sip and immediately spat it out!"
However, there are those who find it palatable, noting a subtle almond-like flavor, reminiscent of almond jelly.
Renowned chef Edward Lee has used pig milk to make cheese, describing it as "delicious": compared to other cheeses, pig milk cheese is saltier, creamier, and has a more granular texture.
Such high praise for pig milk cheese led to a Dutch farmer's creation selling for a fortune, with a price tag of $2300 per kilogram, nearly 17,000 RMB, surpassing even the most expensive cheese—Pule cheese.
Pule cheese, made from donkey milk, fetches $1300 per kilogram.
Pig milk:
Cow milk:
Goat milk:
Why are pigs only used for meat and not for milk production?Despite being nutritionally comparable to cow's milk, why isn't pig milk available on the market?
Broadly speaking, there's no commercial value in using pigs for milk production.
Firstly, pigs don't like being milked; they can be aggressive.
Despite their appearance of being clumsy and silly, pigs are actually quite formidable in combat.
They are among the earliest animals domesticated by humans, but wild boar genes still persist in their bodies. Research suggests there has been genetic exchange between domestic pigs and wild boars, with no reproductive isolation between them.
This implies that even domestic pigs can be as tough as wild boars, and incidents of pigs attacking humans do occur.
In 2021, there were reports of a 69-year-old farmer who went out to feed his pigs and never returned. His family found partial remains in the pigpen.
With no witnesses, it's unclear whether the man fell and was eaten afterwards or was attacked and killed.
In 2023, a 66-year-old man in Heilongjiang collapsed while feeding pigs and was subsequently attacked by wild boars.
These incidents highlight that domestic pigs are not as docile as cows and can harm humans if they're unhappy.
After giving birth to piglets, research suggests that sows can experience postpartum depression, making them highly aggressive. Coupled with their protective instincts, this depression can escalate their combativeness, making milking a potentially dangerous task.
Secondly, the milk yield of pigs is too low.
Although a sow has 8-16 "teats," the yield from each is very low.
Unlike cows and sheep, which have udders to store milk that can be consumed as needed, pigs lack udders and produce milk only when piglets stimulate them. It takes 2-5 minutes after stimulation for piglets to start nursing.
Even when piglets can finally nurse, the amount of milk they receive each time is not much.
Sows typically secrete milk for only about 15 seconds at a time, yielding a small amount per session but with high frequency, allowing for feeding every hour.
In contrast, a cow can be milked for 10 minutes at a time, yielding up to 30 kilograms per day from two to three milking sessions, whereas a sow produces only around 5 kilograms per day at most.
Most importantly, cows produce milk continuously, especially in commercial settings, with a lactation period lasting around 10 months (approximately 300 days), even while pregnant. On the other hand, pigs have a much shorter lactation period of only 2 months.
Cows have a resting period, known as the dry period, which occurs only in the last 2 months before giving birth. During this time, they do not produce milk. This period is not because they cannot produce milk anymore but rather to protect their health and ensure smooth calving. The dry period is artificially induced to maximize profit.
Unlike cows, once a female pig becomes pregnant, it stops lactating. With only a 2-month lactation period per year and even if it produces two litters annually, the overall yield is not as high as that of cows.
Even smaller-sized sheep produce more milk annually than pigs.
While the daily milk yield of a ewe is slightly lower than that of a sow, at around 3.5 kilograms per day, the longer lactation period of over 240 days naturally increases the annual production.
These reasons suffice to demonstrate that pig milk is not suitable for commercial production.
A sow can give birth to 5-12 piglets per litter, sometimes unable to sustain them all. If all the milk were used for human consumption, piglets would starve, making it an unprofitable venture.
The economic value brought by a piglet, whether sold directly or raised and then sold, is much higher and more convenient than milking pigs.
As for why pig milk cheese, mentioned at the beginning, sells at such high prices, its deliciousness is one aspect, but the most crucial factor is its rarity.
Reportedly, the producers hired over ten people to milk the sows, working for over 40 hours to yield just a few kilograms of cheese.
In the end, though, sows should count themselves lucky to exist solely as meat pigs.
Because the situation for dairy cows isn't great. You see, cows only produce milk after giving birth, just like humans. They're not born already producing milk.
The milk we drink is actually calf food.
As long as their bodies allow, cows are kept in a perpetual cycle of pregnancy.
Pregnancy and birth - separation from the calf to supply milk to humans - artificial insemination - a two-month rest period during dry milk phase - then back to birthing again.
Days like these stretch out for 4-5 years for a dairy cow, after which milk production decreases, leading to eventual culling.
At least as meat pigs, they have a relatively swift end, without enduring ongoing suffering!
