Is pig milk edible for humans? Can you drink it?
Yes, pig milk is edible in principle, but almost nobody sells or drinks it. Sows give little milk per milking, are hard to milk and have no milking machines made for them, so it is not produced commercially. We found no official guidance on drinking pig milk; as with any raw milk, the CDC warns that unpasteurized milk can carry harmful germs.
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In this article
Can you drink pig milk?
Nothing makes pig milk poisonous to humans, and some has been tasted: it is described as gamey, more so than goat milk, and a little watery next to cow milk. But it is almost never collected for people. Sources describe it as milk for piglets that is seldom obtained for human use. We found no health authority that gives advice on drinking it, so there is no official green light either.
Is pig milk poisonous to humans?
No source we read says pig milk is toxic. The real concern is the same as for any milk that has not been pasteurized. The CDC says raw milk can carry germs such as Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella, and that good farm practice cannot guarantee safety. Children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk. Pasteurizing milk removes disease-causing germs by heating.
Why is pig milk not sold in stores?
- Small yield: one estimate is roughly 13 pounds of milk a day for a sow, against about 65 pounds for a cow (estimates vary).
- Many small teats: sows have 8 to 16 nipples, each giving little milk for a very short time (around 15 seconds), so there is no workable milking routine.
- No equipment: existing milking machines are not built for a dozen small teats.
- Breeding cycle: pigs do not become pregnant while nursing, which hurts the economics.
How does pig milk compare with cow milk?
| Pig milk | Cow milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Fat | about 8.5% | about 3.5% |
| Taste | gamey, watery | mild |
| Availability | almost none | everywhere |
Figures are approximate, come from a general reference article and vary with the sow’s diet and stage of nursing.
Has anyone made cheese from pig milk?
Yes, as a stunt. A Dutch farmer made a few kilograms of experimental pig milk cheese after about ten people spent dozens of hours milking sows; it was described as chalky and a little salty and sold to an anonymous buyer for a children’s charity. One chef has also made a ricotta from it. These are curiosities, not products you can buy.
What should you use instead?
If you want an unusual milk, goat, sheep or buffalo milk are sold in stores. Choose pasteurized milk.
People also ask
Can humans drink pig milk?
It is edible in principle, but it is almost never collected or sold, and we found no official guidance on it. If you ever try milk from any animal, choose pasteurized.
Is pig milk poisonous to humans?
No source we read says it is toxic. The risk is the same as for any raw milk: germs that pasteurization removes.
Why is there no pig milk in stores?
Sows give little milk, have many small teats, are hard to milk and no milking machine exists for them, so it is not commercially practical.
Sources
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