MuddyBoots287

Not OP, but a farmer who raises hogs and has worked in a butcher shop.

Generally, commercial hogs are fed a grain ration comprised of soy, corn, wheat, and minerals. They may be supplemented with other feeds, such as peanuts, cottonseed, spent grains, brewers mash, reject produce, and other items. Hogs are natures garbage disposal! Some types of pork eat a speciality diet, but that is more commonly found at farmers markets, health food stores, or high end grocers.

Pork that will be retailed to the public (via grocery store, direct from the farm, restaurant, school, etc) is processed under USDA inspection. This means a USDA trained/employed inspector is on site, and has to sign off that the carcass is safe for consumption. They are not paid by the plant, so have no incentive to allow unsafe meat to be processed further for consumption. Carcasses that do not meet these health standards, are rejected and disposed of.

There are also regulations about the condition of the animal prior to being processed. They must be able to walk under their own power, no obvious wounds/infections, etc.

Yep! Supposed to prevent business from bribing them or developing too close of a relationship. As short handed as they are (at least in my state)…we see a fair bit of the same one.