Bone or Scrap broth

Before we leave the subject of canning meat, I want to just say a word about bone or scrap broth. Anytime we're canning or working with a lot of meat, we try to ensure everything gets used. Our goal is to have the least amount of waste possible. When canning all of the meat lately, I tried to ensure that the scraps were set aside to be used. It's normally even better when we have bones but this time we only had a few turkey bones.

After I did all the trimming of the pork prior to canning, I put all the pork scraps in a covered bowl in the fridge. Later, when I had a chance, I filled  a pot with the trimmings and covered everything with water. I then simmered everything for 6 hours. I strained the contents of the pot into a tupperware bowl. My dog Summer doesn't get excited about ice cubes, however, dear daughters dogs do - as long as they have some flavor.

I never use pork broth. Not sure why, it just isn't something I'm used to doing. So I sent the bowl home with our SIL so they could make porksicles for Hagan & Avon. She's been making pork bone broth and then freezing it for them to eat as treats for a couple years. It helps with weight control for the dogs and they don't even realize it! The bowl I sent to them will last for about a month. After all the fat is skimmed off, they will dilute it before freezing.

I do occasionally can a couple pint jars for "medicinal use". When the dogs become ill, especially with ear infections which they are prone to get, they refuse to drink. This can quickly complicate things because dehydration causes all kinds of issues. So years ago, when one of the grand dogs was sick and refused to drink, we came up with "grannies magic broth". So far, unless a dog is severely ill, they have all managed to drink the very dilute broth. The benefit is you know that it isn't loaded with salt and other things they don't need. You can make the broth out of any meat or even veggie scraps you choose.

For the more common types of broth you buy in the grocery; veggie, beef or fowl, we keep that for our cooking needs. If we have a huge amount or it's something like pork, it's generally frozen right away or canned as a concentrate for future dilution and freezing. Just be sure to skim all the fat so you don't further irritate a dog's system.

Hope you find some benefit from this post for your pets. God is good. Blessings from our tiny farm.

Mare