Farm Animal of the Week: Dali the Pot-Bellied Pig

Does she scare you, or do you think she's adorable?  I get both comments from visitors to the farm.  People who have never seen a pot-bellied big are both delighted and repulsed by Dali.  She's often confused for a male, but let me tell you, if you saw a full grown pot belly pig boar, there'd be no mistaking the gender.  The boys have tusks, heavier bristles, and their fright factor is such that you do NOT want to run into one in a dark barnyard.  Dali is positively the embodiment of femininity in comparison.  Rubens would have delighted in her generous curves and folds: Dali was brought home as a tiny baby, about 8 weeks old.  She was only 10 inches long and a spitfire from the beginning.  I remember holding her to try to get a walking harness on her, and she squealed so loudly, she completely freaked out the neighbors.  The decibel level coming out of a body so small seemed impossible.  Since then, we've let her be, and the best we can do is scratch her back and her ears. Although my friend, Manny, has bribed her into letting him fondle her considerable jowl.  He calls it "buche," and claims it to be a delicacy in Mexico (although I've also heard that buche is pork tripe, so if anyone knows definitively, let me know).

All this talk about pork may make you think that Dali is scheduled for the table at Manresa.  But no, she's a pet, and alive she will remain.  But I have heard the chef exclaim, with more than a hint of covetousness, "Dali, you are looking really tasty, today!"

I asked my son, Zach, to name her when she was a piglet.  In the middle of a very interesting seminar of AP Art History, he decided to name her after his favorite painter, Salvador Dali.  When I reminded him that she was a girl, he said, "No matter.  Her name can still be Dali."  When I pronounced it "dahl-ee," Zach corrected me.  He said her name is properly pronounced "doll-ee," emphasis on the latter syllable, like Demi Moore.  One can certainly make the argument that Dali's belly resembles that of the very pregnant then-Mrs. Willis on that famous Vanity Fair cover.

Besides bringing sexy back with her own rotundness, Dali has another talent.  She has an incredible sense of smell, much like her French counterparts, who are trained to hunt truffles.  Dali has never enjoyed a truffle, but she can detect a cheeseburger at 200 paces. She doesn't get many treats lately;  I found out a whileago that I had been feeding her too much, so sadly for her, Dali is on a diet.  Which would make you her new best friend if you brought her a Big Mac should you come over to visit.  She may even let you fondle that beautiful buche.

 

Comments

[Robin]

I have a pig that looks just like her. She is so adorable. My Henry we got when he was 3 weeks old. He is the most loving laid back little boy. He is so sweet. He will be 3 yrs old on dec 25. He is my baby the kids like to say I love him more. My nickname for him is chunky monkey.

[Soak]

I think she is adorable, though she is overwirght.. Pot Belly's are always on a fine line it is hard to know when you crossed it. I had to stop feeding mine all together since he was eating all our grass and the fruit and walnuts falling from our trees. He still is a little overwieght. But he loves belly rubs and knows how to sit... It's to bad you don't get to enjoy that with yours.. But if she's anything like mine she brings a smile to your face just to see her..

[Cigar Ratings]

My dad had a pot bellied pig growing up and he absolutely adores them. They are supposed to be awesome pets! I would love to have one but I don't have the room currently.. Maybe one day!
-Sylvia

[qwynn]

can i check him out

[Kelly Jackson]

She's beautiful!

[Pastor John]

The buche is not the jowl. Check it out ------> http://www.burritoblog.com/2006/04/buche_yummy_pig.html

[John Fischer]

What a lovely piggie! As a trained cook and restaurant professional (and now, teacher at the Culinary Institute of America), I must admit a sneaking desire for Cochinita Pibil of Dali--I will control this urge.

So, 'buche' sounds awfully close to 'bouche,' the French word for 'mouth,' as in 'amuse bouche,' that tempting first bite of food served in many restaurants. So, that's a big bouche that Dali's got there.

Lastly, considering Dali's shape, I am immediately reminded of the melting watches in her namesake's most famous painting. If you ever decide to dress Dali up for Halloween, I think you might have a theme there.

Cheers,

john

[Love Apple Farm]

Denise: I think it's the way they are raised. If you start handling them as babies, then they become like pets. George Clooney had a pot-bellied pig as a pet in his house for many years (or so I've heard).

[denise]

Gosh, Cynthia, I have cows, goats, geese, but I don't know much about pigs. I've been told that some can be quite vicious. Do you think this is breed specific? Or how they're raised?

Denise

[Dewey Sandberg]

WOW! Cynthia, I love your website. Fun to read and fun to explore. You have certainly created something great here -- all built around growing good things to eat.

I'm talking about growing vegetables to eat, NOT Dali!

Keep it up!

Your cousin, Dewey

[Nicole]

What a sweet and cool looking pig! She looks like she got lots of personality, pity she doesn't let you "cuddle". I can imagine how cute she must have been at 10 inches.

[dario]

Uhm... but those burgers at McD aren't made out of pork meat?

[Jenn]

she is cute, and I was thinking her name pronunciation right. Must be due to the current lesson we are on in the girls' art.

[Love Apple Farm]

Manny, you would never do that!

[Baroque]

I love Dali! I should go over there and bring her a succulent cheeseburger. And yes, buche would be that tasty looking jowl… Sometimes I just want to wrap Dali in a giant tortilla and eat her:)
I hope everything is going great at the farm!

[Robyn]

I think she is cute and it's great to think of her living her piggy life in happiness at Love Apple Farm!