traditional meat processing with pigs

[whitecoast]

I'm not sure if this is up anyone's alley here, but a family member of mine recently shared an awesome crowd-funded documentary on traditional pig husbandry and butchery.

There are visual instructions for how to break down and quarter a pig to acquire the traditional cuts like hock, sirloin, ribs, tenderloin, as well as hams.What I found incredible was you break down an animal using only 4 kitchen tools (bone saw, cleaver, boning knife, and steak knife). Afterward there were instructions for how to make blood sausage, head cheese, pate, offal, rillettes, as well as how to cure bacon and other parts and render fat. The filmography and storytelling throughout the documentary is also aesthetic and entertaining.

_http://anatomyofthrift.com/

Intro video:

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Episode 1

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So far 3 of the 6 planned episodes have been produced. It's been fascinating to watch so far, and really raises my reverence and respect for the traditional arts and the animals themselves for giving their lives.

 

[Lilou]

Thanks for sharing. Very nicely done videos!

 

[Shared Joy]

Thank you Whitecoast for posting this,

it reminds me of my childhood experiences, when every year we sacrificed a pig or participate as a family to somebody else's pig butchery - so I learned how to prepare a carcass. Well, those days are gone...but who knows when I might use again this knowledge?

Joy

 

[davey72]

I have learned these techniques as well but found it much easier to let it slightly freeze or just hang for a day to dry a little and use a reciprical saw to cut into chunks. I like it better this way as for example cooking a roast you may get bacon and ribs with it.
My pig had 13 babies.
Here is the next batch of bacon.
Unfortunately i cant seem to embed a video. I find it goes mich easier ifi talk to my pig starting a few days before slaughter and let him know what is happening that he will be ok and pray for and with him. I kind of think they understand me. It keeps them very calm and willing.
Here is a picture anuways. I may have posted this somewhere else but im pretty excited for a first birth.