What Do Pigs Make? From Pork to Pharmaceuticals

Pigs are highly versatile animals that contribute to human society in numerous ways, extending far beyond their traditional role as a food source. Their biological characteristics make them suitable for a variety of applications across different industries.

From Farm to Table

Pork is a widely consumed meat globally, known for its flavor and adaptability. It is segmented into primal cuts, then processed into retail products. Common cuts include pork shoulder (Boston butt, picnic shoulder), loin (chops, tenderloin), ribs (baby back ribs, spareribs), and belly (pork belly). These are utilized in dishes from slow-cooked pulled pork to grilled chops and roasts.

Beyond fresh meat, much pork is processed into other food products like bacon, ham, and various sausages. These items are often created through curing, smoking, or fermentation, enhancing flavor and extending shelf life. Pork’s inclusion in diverse culinary traditions makes it a global dietary staple.

Beyond the Dinner Plate

Pigs yield various non-food byproducts used across industries. Lard, a semi-solid fat from rendering fatty pig tissue, is one. It is used in cooking for frying, sautéing, and baking, especially for flaky pastries. Historically, lard also found use in soap making and as a cutting fluid in machining.

Another byproduct is gelatin, derived from the collagen found in pig skin and bones. This protein acts as a gelling agent in food products like desserts and candies, and as a stabilizer in various processed foods. Gelatin also plays a role in pharmaceuticals as a binder for capsules and tablets, and in cosmetics as a thickener for creams and lotions.

Pig bristles are valuable for various brushes. Known for flexibility, resilience, and paint-holding capacity, they are suitable for paintbrushes and art brushes. Their durability and cleaning ability also lead to use in industrial, cleaning, cosmetic, and hair care brushes.

Advancing Human Health

Pigs play an important role in medicine and biomedical research due to their physiological similarities to humans. Porcine-derived products, like insulin and heparin, manage diabetes and prevent blood clots. These applications utilize the biological compatibility of pig components with the human body.

Porcine tissues are also important for various surgical procedures. Pig heart valves, for instance, closely resemble human heart valves in structure and function, making them ideal for heart valve replacement surgeries. These bioprosthetic valves offer an alternative to mechanical valves. Additionally, pig skin is used in skin grafts for treating burns and other wounds, as its structure and composition are similar to human skin, aiding tissue regeneration and reducing scarring.

Pigs serve as important models in biomedical research for studying a range of human diseases. Their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans make them valuable for investigating conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes mellitus, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers use these models to develop new surgical techniques, test the efficacy and safety of new drugs, and gain insights into disease mechanisms, bridging the gap between basic research and clinical applications.

Enhancing Agricultural Practices

Pig manure contributes to agricultural sustainability as a valuable organic fertilizer. It contains essential plant nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, important for healthy plant growth and improving soil fertility. Using pig manure can enrich soil quality, improve its texture, and enhance water uptake and holding capacity.

Applying pig manure to croplands can reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers, contributing to more sustainable farming practices. This aligns with a circular economy approach in agriculture, where waste products from one part of the system become valuable inputs for another. While raw pig manure requires proper management, such as composting, to mitigate potential issues, its nutrient content makes it an effective and economical choice for crop production.

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