I haven't been able to find anyone who processes pig skins.

Bruce / ebeyfarm.blogspot.com

 

I generally feed them back to the pigs, or make a "maggot farm" for the chickens. Of course being winter this would have to wait. Lay the hide out in the sun, and turn it over every couple of days. It will be covered with maggots and the hens will have a party. The hide will be totally consumed in a week or so.

 

I'm about to tell you something you may not want to know. Pig skins are liquefied by chemical means and then made into protein powder. The powder is used for diet drinks and protein shakes.

 

We dump our skins, guts, trimmings on the back 40 and in a few days they are eaten by scavengers.

 

If it wasn't so tasty when left on the pig, I'd think about making chaps or some article of clothing.

 

Make a football out of it, then sell the football.

Pete

 

Make a football out of it, then sell the football

Thats a good idea!!!!

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I have gotten rid of the skins on a small in the past - 1 to 10 a year.

I was more asking on a larger scale. Such as a small but busy slaughterhouse and butcher shop.

 

I generally feed them back to the pigs

Uhm... I wouldn't do that because if there was any disease it would be an issue. Specifically I'm thinking of pigs that went to a slaughterhouse and could bring disease back on the hide. But if your home slaughtering then it is less of an issue. Still, BSE was a big surprise and found this way. I would just stick with feeding it to other species.

We generally leave the skin on and sell it in many cases. Back fat skin on, roasts skin on, etc. Cracklin!

Also makes great dog treats and as Tinknal noted one can grow chicken food.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/csa

 

Also makes great dog treats

I like that. I have some nice beagles and they love the extras I give 'em.
Do you smoke 'em first? The skins ofcourse not the dogs ... lol...

 

Oh my goodness!! Ray Stevens "Old Hippie Class Reunion"... "We _smoked_ it!!" ROFL!!! Thanks for finding that old memory

 

The dog treat idea is a good one! Another bit of income with something most would pay to take away.

Will remember that one if and when I ever become a mobile slaughter person :bow:

 

I like [the idea of dog treats]. I have some nice beagles and they love the extras I give 'em. Do you smoke 'em first? The skins ofcourse not the dogs ... lol...

Not usually but I have tried both baking and smoking them. I'm not sure the dogs care. Smells delicious though to me.

 

is it ok togive 'em raw too then?

 

:shrug: can they be tanned like any other hide?

 

They mount wild hogs, so there has to be a way to tan it, I would think, but with how fat a pig gets, I can see it being a challenge. And I don't see much of a market? Not footballs, had to look that one up, and they used the bladder for the ball, which is where "pigskin" was used... Yuck

 

Pig skin is used on saddles so it can be tanned. Dont know how though.

 

I don't know how they tan pigs skins but the best work gloves I every had were made of pig skin, lasted twice as long as any other work I ever used.

 

Gloves is a great Idea too!
Wife might like to have that as a hobby.
I'll pitch it and let you know how it wrks out for me.... lol

 

Western boots and other styles are made from pig skin.

 

is it ok togive 'em raw too then?

Yes it is.

 

Yes it is.

Thank you

Im looking into tanning i'll let you all know what find.

 

This tanning talk has reawakened my memory. Years ago on a poultry forum, folks were talking about what to do with all the excess eggs that were laid -- different recipes to bake/cook, etc. -- and someone mentioned tanning hides. They used eggs and no caustic chemicals.

 

This tanning talk has reawakened my memory. Years ago on a poultry forum, folks were talking about what to do with all the excess eggs that were laid -- different recipes to bake/cook, etc. -- and someone mentioned tanning hides. They used eggs and no caustic chemicals

Now that has got my ears perked and my attention peaked. i've gotta learn a skill that useful.

 

I think the recipe for tanning with eggs was on backyardchickens.com

listed in 'recipes.'

But that was years ago. If it's no longer available, perhaps there's some long time member who may remember.

 

Historically, pig skin was made into raw hide and made the best shoe strings.

You can tan pig skin with the brains, egg whites, alum, and other concoctions. My boys regular use the pig hides for various things- knife sheaths etc.