The Pig & The Butcher
Posted by Bobby Solomon • January 11, 2010 • Food & Drinks + Video
I love meat. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s delicious and I’m never going to stop eating it. If you don’t eat meat, that’s cool too, one of my best friends hasn’t eat meat in 18 years (he’s 30). One of the reasons that people choose not to eat meat is the cruel treatment of animals in regards to factory farming. I don’t really want to get into that aspect of it, what I do want to talk about is the people who do treat animals with respect.
The video above is a butcher named Vadim Akimenko who is butchering a 211 pound pig. After all is said and done, he’s left with only 1 pound of meat that he doesn’t use. To me that’s the ultimate sign of respect to an animal that was raised purposefully to feed us. I don’t know where the pig in the video above was raised, but my guess would be a local farm as the pig is pretty fresh. And while the video is quite intense, I don’t think it should be viewed as graphic. Going to McDonald’s is not the natural way, there’s nothing natural about any of it.
I also keep reading a lot about butchers lately, especially how it’s starting to become more mainstream. I think this is something that we need to start embracing and learning more about. It goes along with the idea of growing your own food and raising chickens. Even in big cities or stretched out suburban neighborhoods these are small changes we can make to do things differently, and more importantly, better.
Bobby
Watched some great comedy at Akbar, now having a late night dinner next door at The Kitchen.
Holy crap, I just vomited.
Your commitment to meat is insane.
Comment by Madex — January 11, 2010 #
great post, and video, I like the changeup!
Local butchers are fantastic. If were going to eat animal, we should pass some respect their way for sure
Mike
Comment by mike mallory — January 11, 2010 #
Being mexican, eating meat is literally in my blood. Happiness= a beans & rice-carnita burrito with homemade salsa (drools).
Comment by Robert — January 11, 2010 #
Ew, this is absolutely disgusting. what the fuck? not something I wanted to see on my favourite blog.. really, offensive.
i may have to take a break from kitsune.
Comment by Kelsey — January 11, 2010 #
@Kelsey – I’m sorry you can’t appreciate the video, I don’t see it as offensive in any way.
Comment by Bobby — January 11, 2010 #
i am a vegetarian but actually think this post is pretty great [sorry, i probably won't watch the butchering]. there is much to be said for people who take the time to understand the process that goes into killing animals for food and desire to find humane and respectful means to do so. the majority of people eat meat but have no idea how their food gets on their plate. Why not be exposed to these types of videos? At least people would have a better understanding of the meat industry and perhaps acquire a newfound respect for [commendable] agri-cultural practices.
Comment by lacey — January 11, 2010 #
@Lacey – Yep, no one’s making anyone watch the video, but you’re spot on with the idea of it.
Comment by Bobby — January 11, 2010 #
Thanks for the post! I apologize to people who didn’t enjoy the video, and to those who appreciated it I thank you. I tried to embody the same respect the butcher gave the pig in the video as he gave it in his act of taking it apart. It was something of a unique journey for me filming this as I knew that this was a subject matter that some can handle and some cannot. I myself am on the ropes about this sort of thing, but being able to witness it first hand and learn where the pig came from and where it was going was very enlightening for me. I am completely against the improper treatment of animals though and though but it is true that we must eat. Prior to the act of consuming this food there must be steps taken to prepare this food for us (unless of course we do it ourselves) and I really appreciate knowing that what I am eating comes from a humane and sanitary source – and this is no exception.
Bobby, again, thanks a lot for the post. You said it best:
“I think this is something that we need to start embracing and learning more about. It goes along with the idea of growing your own food and raising chickens. Even in big cities or stretched out suburban neighborhoods these are small changes we can make to do things differently, and more importantly, better.”
- Stebs
Comment by Stebs — January 11, 2010 #
I enjoy the post and thanks for a nod towards quality butchers moving back to the mainstream. I like meat and eat organic as much as possible. If eating organic isn’t possible the next best thing is knowing the animal was used to the fullest extent (and I don’t mean hot dogs).
Comment by Omgchris — January 11, 2010 #
This has got to be your most beautiful post, ever.
Comment by Khoa — January 11, 2010 #
On a related note, PIG 05049 is a book that charts where all of the bits and pieces from one pig ended up and how they were used. Looks like an awesome book, wish I’d seen this before christmas so I could justify buying it :p. http://www.christienmeindertsma.com/index.php?/projects/pig-05049/
Comment by Tom Crichton — January 11, 2010 #
It’s amazing how a video of a butcher doing his thing can be that beautiful, I mean the aesthetic of it and the music, just amazing
Comment by Chipotle — January 11, 2010 #
I quite liked the music and aesthetic in how this video was shot and I am a vegetarian. I understand if someone doesn’t watch it, we are all entitled to an opinion…I have no problem with meat or meat eaters and won’t use this comment as a forum to air my reasons for vegetarianism. To each their own.
What I am curious about is the increased chatter I’ve also read about butchers becoming (regaining??) popularity. I was not raised in the USA, and back home the local butcher, (ours was a lovely man named Bruno, with a few too many army tats and a very cockney way of talking), was as a part of our lives as the family doctor. If not more so. Are butchers not a common feature in the American society of times past? Has meat always or mostly come in styrofoamed, Saran wrapped packages at the supermarket?? When I talk to my friends about the butcher or the fishmonger they look at me like I am talk about something exotic..
Comment by saer — January 11, 2010 #
Been following your beautiful site for awhile now Bobby and I thank you for this post. It is so odd that we can watch all the violence on television, and in movies, but we cannot watch the way our meat is handled when done so in such a natural way. We need lots more butchers and lots less industrial farming!
[ K ]
Comment by Kenneth — January 11, 2010 #
I loved the idea and the video…
Being a biologist I understand our role as humans in nature; knowing that I try to tell vegans and vegetarians that our bodies are simply made for eating meat AND plants. Of course I feel bad when I remember what the food industry has become but never found a way to express it or to “reconciliate” with my ideas…
The video was just what I needed.
Thanks Bobby.
P.S. Kings of Convenience FTW
Comment by bioariel — January 11, 2010 #
@SAER
“Has meat always or mostly come in styrofoamed, Saran wrapped packages at the supermarket??”
Absolutely. Either that or from fast food. When you can buy a double cheeseburger for $1 from the nearest drive-thru, why would you go the slower, more costly route? Well, some of us know the answer to that, but many poorer, less educated people do not. Not that it’s all their fault. They often don’t even have the option of higher quality foods where they live, which leads to problems like diabetes, obesity, etc…
@Bobby
I really appreciate what you’re saying in this post. I’m a meat-eater, but I’ve also been doing “Meat-free Mondays” for several months now. It’s a global movement that got a lot of buzz last year. I have to say, I love it! It’s a great step towards a healthier and more environmentally-conscious diet. There are so many great vegetarian meals that I never tried before. Plus, I no longer feel like I need to have meat to feel full. And it’s cheaper. It’s like win-win-win-win!
Comment by Jeff — January 11, 2010 #
Anyone who things this video is gross should see (or more importantly, HEAR) a pig being slaughtered. We used to live up in a small mountain city, and it echoed. On a similar note, everyone had chickens as well.
Chickens, despite the stereotype, won’t just crow and the crack of dawn. And when one crows, lots more seem to join in.
Now, on the topic: I am not a vegetarian either, but I think the best way we can balance our lives is to know where our food comes from, the idea that it takes a lot of work, resources and time to create something that is so cheap (and that’s not just for meat products. Veggies aren’t exactly easy to grow either.) We are, to a horrifying degree, so disconnected with what we eat nowadays. Try figuring out what plants/animals went into a cup of ramen.
So yeah, I support butchers. If you eat meat, you have to deal with the idea that it was harvested from a pig or a cow or a chicken. It doesn’t come shrink wrapped in nature.
Comment by Mar — January 12, 2010 #
It’s great to see a post like this, my dad is a butcher so I’m kinda biased but it is great to see some acknowledgement that eating meat isn’t a bad thing so long as it is from a reliable and sustainable free-range source.
Also, it is great to hear that butchers shops are becoming more mainstream in the states, unfortunately, this isn’t the case here in the UK. There are very few good butchers in city centres and the town where my dad owns his shop had 18 butchers shops twenty-five years ago and now only has two.
The main problems with the meat industry are not just rooted in fast food but also in super-stores which sell factory farmed meat at a price which undercuts other retailers.
While these problems are gargantuan in proportion, raising awareness of the pros of eating meat as opposed to the usual negative aspects which are publicised is a great step forward.
Thanks Bobby!
Comment by Will — January 12, 2010 #
[...] add The Butcher & The Pig (via) to the growing number of videos I’ve collected on butchers. I really need to find a great [...]
Pingback by The Butcher & The Pig | joshua paul premuda — January 12, 2010 #
Amazing…I’m all about supporting local pig farmers.
Comment by kenyan — January 12, 2010 #
What’s the name of the song? Great post.
Comment by Jon — January 12, 2010 #
Regardless of if you consume meat or not, it is important that we recognize the way food is processed and distributed in the modern world. Yes, this video could be disturbing viscerally, but isn’t it also disturbing to have no idea what’s in your burger? Reminds me a little of Soylent Green.
Comment by Tim — January 12, 2010 #
@Jeff – I find it astonishing that butchers have not been more prevalent in this country considering its penchant for entrepreneurialism. Back home it was not a significant burden of price to buy meat from one versus the supermarket. Personally I feel it forced them to be more considerate of the quality of the meat that reached the consumer. Your butcher was ‘YOUR’ butcher – there was a certain relationship that was developed and in order to maintain the clientele they kept you happy. They couldn’t afford (quite literally I would imagine) to sell you dodgy meat for you to not patronise their shop and going to another butcher, which wouldn’t have been hard to find..
@Tim – I agree with you completely. What concerns me is what is and is NOT disclosed on the labels and packaging of our produce. Is my tomato genetically modified?? etc..
Comment by saer — January 12, 2010 #
Very interesting video. I feel incredible guilt at not being a vegetarian and I’m slowly taking the steps to become one but I’ve been pretty weak about it. I just know that I could not personally kill an animal, I can’t even kill bugs. Yet I happily indulge in meat slaughtered by other people, just doesn’t feel right to me.
I also know that being a vegetarian is the most environmentally friendly thing you can do because the meat industry is one of the most environmentally taxing industries on our planet. Also pretty much all the meat you see in any supermarket in North America comes from 3 major slaughterhouses scattered throughout the states. You can imagine the massive number of animals that have to be housed in these places and how awfully they are treated. I saw Food Inc. and it was a pretty enlightening experience, definitely recommended.
Comment by Sean — January 12, 2010 #
Food Inc. is also not a very graphic film so people who are a little more sensitive to that sort of imagery (I’m one of you!!) still recommended!
Comment by Sean — January 12, 2010 #
it is simply entirely unnecessary to eat meat. I don’t like to push my beliefs on people but i do think if you are willing to take the lives of anything you should think very carefully about what that means, especially if there is no good reason too
Comment by tara — January 12, 2010 #
Actually Sean being a vegetarian does not make you more environmentally sound. Both the industrial meat AND vegetable production are destroying the environment. Having a farm that is a natural polyculture with both animals and plants is the best way.
And Tara, I think a lot of people underestimate the lives of the plants that are out there as well. Their lives are just as valuable as those of the animals, as well as our own. The key is to recognize the value of all life, and the synergy of how we co-exist, and fully respect the big picture. It is quite beautiful if you think about it.
Comment by Kenneth — January 12, 2010 #
Not offensive, Bobby. Beautiful video.
After living in Argentina for 2 years I can see the art/skill in being a butcher and I have a great respect for those who do it for a living. However, eating excessive amounts of meat every meal can’t be a good thing—something I have to watch myself for.
Meat in moderation seams respectable. But to each his own.
Comment by Colby — January 12, 2010 #
[...] Bobby shared this video from Quarter Productions which shows a butcher by the name of Vadim Akimenko cutting up just about every single part of this 211-pound pig. In the end, nothing goes to waste except for a small 1-pound portion of the animal. I think it’s a pretty wonderful video that really shows the skill that a butcher must have to precisely cut the right parts of the animal and make use of it. [...]
Pingback by The Pig & The Butcher | Doobybrain.com — January 12, 2010 #
The problem with the, “l’ll support local butchers and animal farms” is
1) people rarely do it. For those of you who eat it, do you always check where every piece comes from?
2) Even if we all supported local meat production, it wouldn’t support us. People in North America consume an ungodly amount of meat. Animal agriculture is the way it is now because we made it that way. Farmers could not let an animal hang out and eat some grass, and then feed us. We’d be standing at the gates with fork and knife. Cost is another factor. The easiest solution to this whole problem would be to raise meat prices. People would be forced to eat less, and farms could raise animals in healthy, ecological ways…
Which probably is impossible, when you look at the efficiency in raising animals. Do you have any idea how much energy is put into feeding animals, only to get a tiny fraction of it back from something that “tastes good”.
Cattle require approximately 7kg of grain in order to generate a 1kg of beef and pigs require 4kg grain for 1kg of pork. Those 11 kg = a lot of food (in grains) and space to grow a variety of vegetables.
Oh well, we’ll see what happens when China and India start eating like us, we’ll run out of oil, and then we’ll all be stuck in our suburbs naked and starving to death.
Comment by Broccoli — January 12, 2010 #
Actually Broccoli although North American’s probably do (myself included) eat too much meat, we could use polyculture farming to produce plenty of meat as long as people supported it.
That said there is no singular silver bullet. The hard part about changing society for the better is getting the rest of society to go along with it.
Comment by Kenneth — January 12, 2010 #
of course all life is equally valuable. that’s why you should take only what you need and no more
Comment by tara — January 12, 2010 #
Beautiful video.
The song is “Gold in The Air Of Summer” by Kings Of Convenience in case anyone was wondering.
Comment by JFK — January 13, 2010 #
I rarely eat meat, only do it to please my grandma, who can´t wrap her head around the idea of vegetarianism, so when I visit and we sit down for lunch, instead of debating I chew. And I support local mom and pop biz as much as the next person. However, we have to admit that the video here is an exception. Let´s face it, most meat comes from places like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTO7UXsdC9w and the reality of it is that this has been going on for far too long.
@Kenneth – A United Nations report has identified the world’s rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife. Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together. And yes, we could use polyculture farming, but for the most part we don’t.
And not to get all hipsters anonymous and everything, but as Morrissey said, the way we treat animals in this planet, it’s no wonder we have mad cow, swine flu, etc.
Comment by swine flu vs mad cow — January 13, 2010 #
@Everyone – I hear a lot of people in the comments saying that they aren’t happy with the things are, so my question to those people are, “What are you doing to change it?”
If you’re not happy with the way things are then why aren’t you being proactive and try and do something about it?
Comment by Bobby — January 13, 2010 #
I’m vegan and I like the fact you guys posted this video. Thumbs up!
But I must say I think some parts of the post are incoherent. “(…)I do want to talk about is the people who do treat animals with respect. (…) After all is said and done, he’s left with only 1 pound of meat that he doesn’t use. To me that’s the ultimate sign of respect to an animal that was raised purposefully to feed us.”
One of the ways to show respect for animals (and for the enviroment) is to avoid all kinds of exploitation, whether for food, clothing, entertainment or scientific experiments. Sacrificing the animal to meet the needs of the human palate is far from being a sign of respect.
I believe the animal’s main interest is not to have its meat all used, it is to be alive and free. I understand that the butcher’s only doing his work, but while he does it, there’s no consideration to the animal’s interests.
Comment by Kaori — January 13, 2010 #
excellent + refreshing post. i grew up on a small 50 acre farm + had the opportunity as a kid to learn to slaughter, clean + butcher some of our animals. it’s certainly more than a detailed trade, when done right, it’s artistry in it’s purest form.
something else that wasn’t really discussed in the comments, although you get the sentiment in the video, is the intimacy that exists b/w butcher + animal in the case of the butcher birthing and/or raising the animal. in my experience, what separates a good butcher from a great butcher is the extra care taken because of those relationships.
Comment by dylan — January 13, 2010 #
@Karoi – Humans are omnivores though, we’re made to eat meat and vegetables, that’s just how we’re designed. And these animals are raised for the soul purpose of feeding us, as they have been for thousands of years. They were never made to roam around free and they never will be, that’s just how it is.
Comment by Bobby — January 13, 2010 #
@Bobby – I understand your point of view, which is the point of view of most human beings. Unfortunately, being deterministic is what difficults the changes. Thinking “it’s been like this for such a long time” doesn’t do much. Humans had a racist behaviour for a long time, and a sexist behaviour too. But because the law permitted them do what they did, it doesn’t mean it was right. I think everyone would agree with that.
Might does not mean right and there’s no moral justification to force animals to a life of confinement; being raised only to serve us. Interestingly, human beings claim to be the ‘evolved’ ones, yet we participate in an animal holocaust everyday in the name of our palate (and other things). “They were never made to roam around free and they never will be, that’s just how it is.” We didn’t build animals in laboratories. They exist in a world older than us, so yes, I believe they’ve got the interest to be free and to be alive (although we’re different in many aspects, it’s not so difficult to understand their needs). We just learned how to multiplicate and slaughter them in an industrial scale. That’s all.
Humans are not necessarily omnivores (that’s an endless discussion – there are different explanations for being omnivore or not); how can you explain the thousands of vegans around the world, surviving in a 100% vegetarian basis diet? If we are “made to eat meat and vegetables” as you say, I guess I’m a X-Men or some kind of alien, then (heheh, just joking).
There are other ways to see and live in the world around us. I just hope people stop and think before they consume. I respect all omnivores just because I used to be one. I’m different now ’cause I don’t agree with the way we treat animals. Also, I usually don’t start conversations about veganism (just wanted to point out a part of your post that felt a little incoherent to me). Sorry to bother you, I don’t mean to be offensive. By the way, I love this blog. Congrats and peace :)
Comment by Kaori — January 13, 2010 #
@Kaori – I definitely didn’t take offense, I was just responding to what you said.
I think your analogy to racism and sexism being compared to eating meat is a bit thin though. Humans have been eating meat since, well, forever. Humans started out as hunter gatherers, killing animals and eating them and surviving on plants as well. People don’t need to be racist or sexist to survive, haha…
Biology online has a great article talking about the evidence that we’ve been omnivores for a long, check it out: http://www.biology-online.org/articles/humans-omnivores.html
But like I said before, to each their own, just don’t try and take away my meat.
Comment by Bobby — January 13, 2010 #
@Bobby – Good post and yes we are omnivores but thats no justification to say thats just how it is. The problem in the modern world is every animal u eat has essentially been tortured in some respect.
Over the last 20 years the industry has gone from cruel to insanely cruel. Most pigs are now so confined they can barely move ad infinitum (easy to research if u dont believe it).
The fact that everyone just says thats the way it is, makes it the way it is, which unfortunately in 2010 is disturbingly sick. Surely at the very least these animals deserve remotely natural or comfortable living conditions before they end up on our plates?
A little bit of awareness and regulation could achieve that no problem but everyone just holds the line “thats just how it is” which makes it impossible for the people who do care to push for the ethical treatment of factory farmed animals.
Sure you would have to pay a couple of dollars extra for a steak but it would be healthier, more environmentally friendly and animal wouldn’t have had such a god awful existence.
Comment by BM — January 13, 2010 #
@Bobby – People don’t need to be racist or sexist to survive…and don’t have to eat meat to survive too. In fact, meat is not the healthiest ingredient in the world and is the cause of many diseases. Humans did hunt to survive, but evolved. And the way we obtain meat is different, we can’t compare our realities. We’re confining and torturing animals against their will, in the name of our palate…that’s what I’m questioning as necessary or not.
There are so many layers under a piece of meat (which includes a huge waste of water, polution etc.) – that’s why people like me avoid products which exploit animals / nature. Thanks for the link. There are different kinds of studies that try to prove our needs (I was talking about our nutritional needs, not our ancestrals’ behaviour as hunters). I have some books here at home, but they’re all in portuguese. I’ll be glad to post here a link as reference soon.
Comment by Kaori — January 13, 2010 #
I almost forgot about this one: Earthlings (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6361872964130308142#)
Comment by Kaori — January 13, 2010 #
Beautiful!
Comment by cyco — January 13, 2010 #
I loved the video and post. Butchering is a trade, profession, and in some ways it can be considered a form of artistry. If a community is to be diverse and cohesive, vegetarians shouldn’t ostracize those who eat meat, but try to motivate them to eat it from good sources… like local butchers.
Comment by Stephanie Horn — January 14, 2010 #
I appreciate/understand the point you/the video is trying to make, even as a vegan. Though I believe ultimate respect for an animal would be not killing it at all and find an alternative (plants), that is solely my opinion, I do agree that this method of butchering is much more respectful than the typical slaughterhouses. Slaughterhouses don’t recognize the lives they are killing; the animals are simply objects, or a means, to human satisfaction. This method, however, treats the animal as something that did once have a life, and is essentially saying “if I have to take your life, at least I will give you the respect of using all of you (why I killed you), and not just throw you away”. I totally get that, and why someone would respect it. Honestly, what I/anyone eats is personal, so I don’t push veganism on anyone (to be honest, animal cruelty is lower on the list of why I’m veg. It’s more for health/money reasons, but that’s another story.)
Just as an extra note, someone mentioned something about the lives of plants (don’t feel like scrolling up to find the name), and my response would be that plants don’t have central nervous systems so they don’t actually feel pain. (If you want to get into the cruelty/respect aspect)
But yes, great post. I don’t find it offensive. I think people need to have recognition for their actions and take responsibility, so if you are eating meat you should at least be able to say “I’m aware of what’s going into producing my food, but I’m making the conscious decision to still eat it” Rather than being ignorant about what goes into the products in your life. props to bobby and the director of this clip.
Comment by kf — January 22, 2010 #
[...] Visto en Kitsune Noir. [...]
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