This week on Slate's Table to Farm podcast, Dan and co-host Laura Anderson talk to Bill Niman and Nicolette Hahn Niman, formerly of Niman Ranch, now of BN Ranch.

Bill explains why pigs are the most interesting animals in the barnyard, and how a pig farmer can love an animal and still bring it to slaughter, while Nicolette discusses what it's like to be a vegetarian who works as a cattle rancher.

Then Laura and Dan learn about heritage pork and how the sausage is made when they interview Michael Yezzi of Flying Pigs Farm. Finally, Dan cooks and eats some pork butt.

Stream the episode above and find more installments in the Table to Farm series here. You can also subscribe to the Table to Farm podcast in iTunes or via RSS, and find the pork butt recipe from the show on Slate.