“I just want to sell what the local farmers sell,” he said.

Mr McKay’s butcher shop, The Butcher’s Hook and Cleaver in High Street, and Formichi Butchers in Kelly Street Wodonga are both participating in PorkFest, an Australian Pork festival that celebrates and promotes the home-grown meat over the next four weeks.

Butchers in Yarrawonga, Wangaratta and Cobram are also involved in the event during the next month.

Mr McKay, who has been a butcher for 40 years, only stocks Australian pork.

He said the quality was better and it was what his customers asked for.

“I choose the local stuff because I think the quality is better and I’m supporting local farmers rather than a farmer from overseas,” he said.

“It looks better, cuts better, presents better and it tastes better.

“The imported stuff comes in a cryovac bag full of water, it just sits there.

“You can’t get a good crackle on it because the crackle is wet.”

But when he buys whole pigs and hangs them in the coolroom, the fat dries naturally.

“Most of my customers prefer that, that’s what we do it for,” he said.

Mr McKay’s pork comes from Murray Valley Pork at Corowa and from the Wangaratta abattoirs.

He mainly sells female pigs, because of the odour that can be associated with males.

“The majority of customers are pretty well educated these days, they ask for female pork,” he said.

And then all the ham comes from Bertocchi on the bone.

“If you’re going to buy ham, get them to cut it off the bone,” Mr McKay advised.

“If you buy a ham with bone in it, it’s Australian.”

Otherwise, Mr McKay sells pork chops, cutlets, steaks, legs of pork and ribs.

“My favourite would have to be a nice rack of pork with a good crackle,” he said.

Australian Pork is promoting the recipes of renowned chef and My Kitchen Rules judge Colin Fassnidge, who is the PorkFest ambassador.

Fassnidge names pork as his favourite ingredient.

“I’ve always loved pork and so of course it’s the star in my restaurants,” he said.

“I love to have a crack at new dishes and that’s what PorkFest is all about.”

Go to pork.com.au to find Fassnidge’s pork recipes.