Feral Pig Meat Quality Question
- Thread starter Sparrowhawk
- Start date
I don't think it's really a castration thing per se. If you remove the testicles, urethra, and penile sheath, you significantly reduce the potential of nasty excretions getting on the meat while skinning/gutting the critter. Whenever possible, I like to wash the entire hog (with the skin on), then put the hog on his back in a skinning rack (those Texans know some stuff about skinning/gutting), and start skinning. I start low and leave all the parts I mentioned above attached to the hide. Skin them right off as soon as possible, then continue skinning and gutting.
For what it's worth, I do the same thing with the "nipple" gland on the back of javelina. Get those funky smelling excretions away from the meat!
For what it's worth, I do the same thing with the "nipple" gland on the back of javelina. Get those funky smelling excretions away from the meat!
chouse
New member
Originally Posted By: daddyfleaOK check out this one and give me a guess at its weight
This was a Boar and it was some of the best eating I ever had. We did Casterate it right away and used the above methods of soaking in Ice water with salt for a couple days before sending it to be processed.
150lbs.
This was a Boar and it was some of the best eating I ever had. We did Casterate it right away and used the above methods of soaking in Ice water with salt for a couple days before sending it to be processed.
150lbs.
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daddyflea
Active member
Originally Posted By: DesertRamOriginally Posted By: daddyfleaOK check out this one and give me a guess at its weight
This was a Boar and it was some of the best eating I ever had. We did Casterate it right away and used the above methods of soaking in Ice water with salt for a couple days before sending it to be processed.
That's a nice hog. Did the young fella in the photo kill him?
I'd guess him at about 160-175 pounds. I used to overguess, and now I've getten conservative, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was a bit more. Did you weigh him?
As far as meat goes, I've been prety fortunate with good meat. I usuually shoot smaller hogs (less than 150 pounds) and soak in ice water. I know a guy in Texas that swears by ice water - five days, change ice water every day, and add pineapple juice each time. Says that works wonders on even the rankest hogs. I've never tried it, but may this year.
Yes he did with a 223 right between the eyes. We did not weigh it.
This was a Boar and it was some of the best eating I ever had. We did Casterate it right away and used the above methods of soaking in Ice water with salt for a couple days before sending it to be processed.
That's a nice hog. Did the young fella in the photo kill him?
I'd guess him at about 160-175 pounds. I used to overguess, and now I've getten conservative, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was a bit more. Did you weigh him?
As far as meat goes, I've been prety fortunate with good meat. I usuually shoot smaller hogs (less than 150 pounds) and soak in ice water. I know a guy in Texas that swears by ice water - five days, change ice water every day, and add pineapple juice each time. Says that works wonders on even the rankest hogs. I've never tried it, but may this year.
Yes he did with a 223 right between the eyes. We did not weigh it.
guess
New member
Originally Posted By: DASI have seen this mentioned a couple of times. What does castrating them do after they are dead?
It does absolutely nothing unless it is done way before they die. It is like cutting the throat of an already dead deer. Once the heart stops beating it serves no purpose and yet many swear by it. I've done it all at one time or another, what is boils down to is either it is good meat or it isn't. there will be some differences among each species depending on what they have been eating.
If you use the method I use to get your meat off of the carcass you don't have to worry about any contaminates from urine or feces {poop}.
As far as soaking meat in this or that. I have tried many methods of soaking meat in everything mentioned above. all you get is meat that does not taste like meat at all it tastes like what you soaked it in. The best soaking method I have found is plain ice water. Some guys like the taste of Boar meat and that is fine, but some folks like liver also! YUK! nothing but an oil filter!
to each his own with the taste thing. I'll stick to eating sows and young boars. We have killed 20 something wild hogs so far this year and three domestic hogs. We can afford to be picky.
It does absolutely nothing unless it is done way before they die. It is like cutting the throat of an already dead deer. Once the heart stops beating it serves no purpose and yet many swear by it. I've done it all at one time or another, what is boils down to is either it is good meat or it isn't. there will be some differences among each species depending on what they have been eating.
If you use the method I use to get your meat off of the carcass you don't have to worry about any contaminates from urine or feces {poop}.
As far as soaking meat in this or that. I have tried many methods of soaking meat in everything mentioned above. all you get is meat that does not taste like meat at all it tastes like what you soaked it in. The best soaking method I have found is plain ice water. Some guys like the taste of Boar meat and that is fine, but some folks like liver also! YUK! nothing but an oil filter!
to each his own with the taste thing. I'll stick to eating sows and young boars. We have killed 20 something wild hogs so far this year and three domestic hogs. We can afford to be picky.
LiveTheHunt
New member
As a butcher I agree with you "guess" once the heart stops beating nothing can become contaminated and flow through the blood stream. All urine and fecal material can be trimmed off. The meat is either good or it isn't, once you are standing over your dead game its to late. Of coarse proper field dressing is the key and do the best to keep your carcass clean. I personally have processed thousands of deer and I always get a chuckle when a self proclaimed "professional deer hunter" comes in with a deer that is missing the dorsal glands, testicles, penis, or a mammory glands on a doe because they don't want their meat to taste bad. However they did not remove the anus and it has fecal material falling out of the little bit of large intestine into the body cavity and the deer has not been preserved well or washed out after their inproper field dressing. If you practice proper field dressing and take care of your game from time of kill to the time it is in the hands of your processor you will be pleased with the outcome, if you don't then there is nothing that I can do to make your meat taste better than the product that I had to start with. At this point I should apologize for the soapbox I got on, just my .02.
I've eat some big'uns and small 'uns from tenn and carolina, some taste more like pigs than others
some a little strong some down right good, I ain't got one yet, maybe this year, my friend who goes
alot says running 'em with dogs does something to 'em ?????? maybe? I don't know..I do know even if
it taste a little strong it's still good for you..and will probably add years to your life.... [/quote]
It's always best to not shoot a hog when they are excitedit it will change the meat.
best to leave the dogs at home. my dad was a butcher for a hog farm for 20 years
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