Question about a old timer's trick for breaking down a whole pig

I was helping out at a farm kill in Lancaster county last month and this guy in his 70s showed me something. He cut the spine in a certain spot before even starting the split, made the whole thing come apart cleaner. I asked him why and he just said it relieves the tension points first. Has anyone else seen this method before or is it just an old school thing?

2 comments

2 Comments

torres.drew6d ago

That whole 'relieves the tension points' thing sounds familiar. Buddy of mine used to break down hogs for a living and he swore if you didn't pop that spot near the atlas joint first, the split would fight you the whole way down.

margaretf406d ago

That spot near the atlas joint is key lol. If you miss it the spine fights you hard and makes a mess of the split. Try it next time and you'll feel the difference right away.