Pig: any of the animals in the genus Sus.
Kingdom: | Animalia
Phylum: | Chordata
Class:| Mammalia
Order: | Artiodactyla
Family: | Suidae
Subfamily: | Suinae
Genus: | Sus
Pigs include domestic pigs and their ancestor, the common Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa), along with other species. The genus Sus currently contains eight living species: Palawan bearded pig, Bornean bearded pig, Visayan warty pig, Celebes warty pig, Oliver’s warty pig, Philippine warty pig, Wild boar and Javan warty pig.
There are also a number of extinct species, such as the Early Pleistocene of China.
Photo by mali maeder from Pexels.
Do you sweat like a pig? Chances are you don’t, especially if you can wring out your shirt at the end of a hot day. Contrary to popular belief, pigs are unable to sweat; instead, they wallow in mud to cool down. Their mucky appearance gives pigs an undeserved reputation for slovenliness. In fact, pigs are some of the cleanest animals around, refusing to excrete anywhere near their living or eating areas when given a choice.
Pigs are misunderstood in many ways. Many people think of them as portly and stupid, but the NATURE program The Joy of Pigs shows us how intelligent pigs really are. (They are naturally lean, too, unless they are overfed by humans.) Pigs are smarter than any other domestic animal. Their ability to solve problems, like the pig I.Q. test on The Joy of Pigs, is well-documented, and they are considered by animal experts to be more trainable than dogs or cats.
Pigs are difficult to classify. In popular culture, they appear as everything from sweet simpletons (CHARLOTTE’S WEB) to wicked tyrants (ANIMAL FARM) to brave heroes (BABE). To pig farmers, the animal is a commodity. To truffle harvesters, pigs are reliable hunters whose keen sense of smell locates these pricey fungi. To scientists, pigs are unique as one of the only large mammals that exists, in one form or another, in every part of the world.
Every continent bears the imprint of the pig’s feet — preferably in a nice mud puddle. Red river hogs in West Africa, bearded pigs in Borneo, pig-like peccaries in Bolivia, and outlandishly tusked Indonesian babirusa all enjoy similar lifestyles of food, water, and a good roll in the dirt. These pigs’ European ancestors became some of the first domesticated animals thousands of years ago. Wherever humans have ventured, they have brought pigs along with them. Colonists carried pigs with them to distant lands, proliferating pig farming throughout the world.
In the United States, raising hogs is big business. In 1997 alone, United States hog farmers raised more than 58 million head to support growing demands for pork. But the popularity of pigs as pets is growing, and many Americans now keep pigs in their homes. So when dinner’s served in those homes, it’s made for a pig, not from one!
FAQs
Contrary to popular belief, pigs are unable to sweat; instead, they wallow in mud to cool down. Their mucky appearance gives pigs an undeserved reputation for slovenliness. In fact, pigs are some of the cleanest animals around, refusing to excrete anywhere near their living or eating areas when given a choice.
What are the character traits of a pig? ›
Pigs are highly intelligent, social animals, displaying elaborate maternal, communicative, and affiliative behavior. Wild and feral pigs inhabit wide tracts of the southern and mid-western United States, where they thrive in a variety of habitats.
What does pig love the most? ›
Most pigs love: cooked broccoli, pitted apricots, cucumbers, dark green lettuce, cooked potatoes, beets, grapes, pumpkins, all squashes, zucchini, snow peas, spinach, yams, kale, tomatoes, chard, carrots, pears, apples, berries, oranges, grapefruit, melons, pitted cherries, pitted peaches.
Why is the pig so important? ›
Pigs are found and raised all over the world, and provide valuable products to humans, including pork, lard, leather, glue, fertilizer, and a variety of medicines.
What are 20 interesting facts about pigs? ›
Here are 21 fun facts about pigs that you have likely not heard of before!
- Pigs have four toes.
- There are currently 18 living species of the pig family.
- Domesticated pigs tend to live for around 15 to 20 years.
- Pigs usually give birth after 3 months of pregnancy.
Animal slaughter
| Animals | Number Killed |
|---|
| Ducks | 3,190,336,000 |
| Pigs | 1,491,997,360 |
| Geese | 750,032,000 |
| Sheep | 637,269,688 |
15 more rowsIn fact, pigs are more intelligent and trainable than any breed of dog. They learn their names in just two weeks and come when they're called. Pigs are even capable of playing video games better than some primates.
Are pigs loyal animals? ›
Pigs are also very loyal to each other as well as their human companions. Many instances of pigs saving the lives of humans, and protecting and fighting for other pigs in their social group, have been documented.
How do pigs see? ›
Their sensitive hearing and good sense of smell makes up for their poor sight. Pigs have colour vision and a panoramic range of about 310 degrees and binocular vision of 35-50 degrees however it is thought that they have no accommodation, which means their ability to focus is limited.
What makes pigs happy? ›
Much like people, pigs are soothed by music, love playing ball, and even enjoy getting massages. On factory farms, pigs live in stressful, cramped, filthy conditions until they are transported to a slaughterhouse. If given the choice, pigs would spend their days foraging, playing, and lying in the sun.
The Pig Is The Friendliest Animal
Plus, don't forget about their great memories: pigs recognize the humans they see all the time, and are more likely to be affectionate with humans they know than strangers. Pigs love physical touch: they've even been known to climb into their humans' laps!
Do pigs smile when they're happy? ›
Pigs share many of the same emotions that we do.
They experience happiness, and do in fact, smile when happy! Pigs get excited and share moments of joy with each other (especially when treats are handed out).
What does the 🐖 mean? ›
A pig, a plump animal farmed for its meat, such as bacon. Depicted in light pink in full profile on all fours facing left, with a long snout and short, curly tail. May be used to represent the animal, its food products, or various metaphorical senses of pig.
What is a female pig called? ›
HOGS. FEMALE PIGSare called gilts or sows. MALE PIGSare called boars or barrows. A litter refers to the baby pigs born to a sow at one time. A group of pigs is called a herd.
What do pigs do when they are happy? ›
Their tails can often tell you about their mood - happy pigs often have curly tails whereas stressed pigs may tuck their tails between their legs. In cold weather pigs often huddle to keep warm, while in warm weather they wallow in water and mud to keep cool.
What are 10 things we get from pigs? ›
Yes, ham, bacon, pork chops, pork loin and sausage all come from pigs...but so does insulin, heart valves, footballs, gelatin, burn dressings, matches, crayons and a whole host of other items. Want to learn more about by-products from pigs?
What are 3 things that come from pigs? ›
Pigs are found and raised all over the world, and provide valuable products for humans, including pork, lard, leather, glue, fertilizer, and a variety of medicines. Most pigs raised in the United States are classified as meat-type pigs, as they produce more lean meat than lard, a fat used in cooking.
How fast can pigs run? ›
Adult domestic pigs can run as fast as 11 miles per hour, while their wild boar counterparts (being a bit sleeker) run faster at 15mph! 5. Pigs are big talkers.
