The remarkable nutrient gap between pastured pork and confined swine
Fresh air and sunshine with room to roam, or ammonia-filled air mixed with excrement in a tight, crowded space without natural light?
I’ve been more introspective over the past few weeks as I adjust to a new daily routine without pigs, and a freezer full of pastured pork. Recently I listened to a podcast where the guest explained what it’s like visiting a pig CAFO (concentrated animal feed operation). The guest shared that he had to bathe with a special soap, don a hazmat suit, ear plugs, and put on a respirator to tour the CAFO. These efforts are both for biosecurity efforts to prevent a pathogen from infecting the pigs, and also to protect visitors because the stench of ammonia and pig waste is so toxic to breathe. The ear plugs were to help dampen the sounds of the pigs screaming.
Vitamin D times 3
One of the reasons I started to support local farms almost a decade ago was because of animal welfare and to prevent my income from supporting CAFOs. Another reason was for health. Pigs in particular uniquely hold important nutrients, especially when raised in alignment with how they’re intended to live. Pigs hold more vitamin D in their fat than any other mammal, and pastured pork contains 3 times as much vitamin D.
Fat—the heart-healthy kind
The main fat present in pork is monounsaturated—the same fat in the spotlight of the Mediterranean diet—olive oil’s same heart-friendly fat. Monounsaturated fats reduce “bad” cholesterol, lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, and manage inflammation.
Immune booster
Selenium helps prevent infections, preserve cell function, and manage thyroid function, while vitamin E helps to further support cell function and immune health. Fat from pastured pork holds 74% more selenium, and twice as much vitamin E.
Lower omega-6 means lower inflammation
Higher amounts of omega-6 fatty acids are associated with heart disease, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and cognitive issues. Fortunately, the ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 in pastured pork is lower than conventional pork. Not only is the ratio more favorable, but pastured pork contains more than 2 times as many omega-3 fatty acids, the type that support heart health and lowers triglycerides. A study by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education in 2019 showed that fully grain-fed pigs that were rotated on pasture had a more favorable omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio, confirming pasture-based management increases nutrient richness. (The study also showed that pigs raised on less grain had an even better ratio.)
Understand food labels when choosing pork
Several area restaurants near me boast about their support of local farms, but when I research each farm I find that they’re raising pigs entirely in confinement. It’s hard for me to understand if the restaurant owners understand that, or if they’re just partnering with certain farms because of brand recognition and the lack of consumer awareness about inhumane practices.
The ASPCA created a helpful “pork guide” that compares common food labels and breaks down management practices associated with each one. Only one food label requires continuous outdoor access: Animal Welfare Approved (AWA). Of course, many small farms are unable to manage the administration of food label acquisition, so you can also ask your local farmers how they manage their livestock. They may practice better animal husbandry than AWA requires and just haven’t acquired the label. (Also, AWA also doesn’t allow antibiotics.)
If you’re curious about more food label information, check out my earlier post:
We used to have a free range pig farm and now just have a few pigs for meat - we buy them as weaners and finish them on grain, milk, whey and excess vegetables. They taste good and yes, like this they are a very healthy food. Interesting you mention the Mediterranean fats - some try to make out that the Mediterranean diet is mostly plant based, but historically the pig was a major input! It provided meat that could be stored - ham and salami and lard, which is probably the most important! Pigs in a cafo is many types of wrong - they are far too intelligent. No animal should be in a cafo!