Comments on: As fat as pigs http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/uncategorized/as-fat-as-pigs/ A critical look at nutritional science and anything else that strikes my fancy. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:38:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aaron Baugher http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/uncategorized/as-fat-as-pigs/#comment-2889 Aaron Baugher Thu, 07 Dec 2006 22:24:52 +0000 http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike_blog/?p=104#comment-2889 You're absolutely right about pigs "pigging out." Hogs are normally butchered at about 230 pounds or so, but if you continue feeding them all the grain they can eat, they'll just get bigger and bigger. They just don't normally live that long. What's especially interesting about the fact that farmers have increased the ratio of protein/fat suppplement to make leaner hogs, is that the supplement is much, much more expensive than grain, so they're doing it for a reason. However, some pigs do get to live longer lives -- the sows and boars who are kept for breeding purposes. These animals are <strong>not</strong> given all the grain they can eat; they're given a restricted amount of grain with extra protein and fat supplement. If they continued to fatten up on grain, they'd be too fat and unhealthy to breed and care for newborn pigs productively. Hi Aaron-- Thanks for an enlightening comment. Cheers-- MRE You’re absolutely right about pigs “pigging out.” Hogs are normally butchered at about 230 pounds or so, but if you continue feeding them all the grain they can eat, they’ll just get bigger and bigger. They just don’t normally live that long. What’s especially interesting about the fact that farmers have increased the ratio of protein/fat suppplement to make leaner hogs, is that the supplement is much, much more expensive than grain, so they’re doing it for a reason.

However, some pigs do get to live longer lives — the sows and boars who are kept for breeding purposes. These animals are not given all the grain they can eat; they’re given a restricted amount of grain with extra protein and fat supplement. If they continued to fatten up on grain, they’d be too fat and unhealthy to breed and care for newborn pigs productively.

Hi Aaron–

Thanks for an enlightening comment.

Cheers–

MRE

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