How To Kill a Pig, Honduran Style
Today I had the opportunity (or misfortune) to kill a 400lb pig. Here in Honduras, we don't have any modern tools or techniques to kill animals like they would in the States. Lethal injection or a single bullet seems like the most humane way, but in Honduras, we use a sledgehammer and a knife. I didn't participate in the killing today, but I will have plenty of chances later on.
How To Kill A Pig, Honduran Style:
1. Put food on the ground so the pig can enjoy his last meal.
2. While the pig's head is down, hit it on the top of the head with the sledgehammer. Depending on the pig, it will usually take 4-5 solid hits. Today's pig took about 10 blows.
3. Once the pig blacks out, use the knife to cut it's throat.
4. Lift the pig on the back of a Gator and drive to the slaughterhouse.
5. Pour boiling water on the pig and shave it's hair with a knife.
6. Hire a butcher to come in and cut off the legs, head, and insides. Give him the aforementioned items and 500 limpiras ($27 USD) as payment.
7. Cut all the meat off the carcass. Store the carcass in the freezer for ribs later.
8. Put all the meat in a meat grinder. Store in a a plastic bag and place in freezer.
Another Volunteer Using the Sledgehammer
While this all sounds terrible, the pig meat will be used to help feed over 400 children for the next month. I never used to think about the process involved when I would walk into the supermarket and pick up my pre-cut meat. I always took it for granted.
Driving To the Slaughterhouse in the Gator
Closer to Christmas time we will be killing roughly 60 pigs. Most will be for Christmas dinner here at the orphanage, but we will also sell some to the people of Guaimaca. Instead of cooking turkeys for Christmas, as is traditional in many American homes, Honduran people all roast a pig for their families.
Shaving the Pig
How To Kill A Pig, Honduran Style:
1. Put food on the ground so the pig can enjoy his last meal.
2. While the pig's head is down, hit it on the top of the head with the sledgehammer. Depending on the pig, it will usually take 4-5 solid hits. Today's pig took about 10 blows.
3. Once the pig blacks out, use the knife to cut it's throat.
4. Lift the pig on the back of a Gator and drive to the slaughterhouse.
5. Pour boiling water on the pig and shave it's hair with a knife.
6. Hire a butcher to come in and cut off the legs, head, and insides. Give him the aforementioned items and 500 limpiras ($27 USD) as payment.
7. Cut all the meat off the carcass. Store the carcass in the freezer for ribs later.
8. Put all the meat in a meat grinder. Store in a a plastic bag and place in freezer.
Another Volunteer Using the Sledgehammer
While this all sounds terrible, the pig meat will be used to help feed over 400 children for the next month. I never used to think about the process involved when I would walk into the supermarket and pick up my pre-cut meat. I always took it for granted.
Driving To the Slaughterhouse in the Gator
Closer to Christmas time we will be killing roughly 60 pigs. Most will be for Christmas dinner here at the orphanage, but we will also sell some to the people of Guaimaca. Instead of cooking turkeys for Christmas, as is traditional in many American homes, Honduran people all roast a pig for their families.
Shaving the Pig
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