What is pig milk?

Can you drink pig milk?

Sow’s milk is the natural food of piglets. We found no official source that approves it for human sale, and no commercial supply of it, so you cannot buy it in a store. Do not use it as a substitute for cow, goat or plant milks.

Why don’t we milk pigs?

• Anatomy. A sow has around a dozen or more small teats along her underside, so the milking machines made for cows do not fit.
• Low yield. Sows make far less milk than dairy cows, and nearly all of it is needed by the piglets.
• Behavior. A sow lets her milk down only in short bursts when piglets nurse, which makes milking hard.
• Breeding. Pigs are raised for meat, so farms aim to raise litters, not milk yield.
• Cost. Together these make the milk far more expensive to produce than cow’s milk.

These reasons are practical and economic, not health reasons.

How does pig milk compare with cow milk?

We did not find an official nutrition table for sow’s milk, so we give no figures and make no comparison with cow’s milk. Old claims that pig milk treats disease, aids digestion or cures allergy have no official support.

Is raw milk from any animal safe?

The CDC says pasteurization, heating milk to a high enough temperature for a certain length of time, removes disease-causing germs and is crucial for milk safety. Drinking raw milk from any animal carries this risk.

What milks can I drink instead?

Cow, goat and sheep milk are sold pasteurized, and so are plant milks like soy, oat or almond. If you are lactose intolerant, the NHS lists symptoms such as bloating, tummy pain and diarrhoea, and a pharmacist or doctor can advise on alternatives.