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
Pigs have excellent memories. They can remember things for years and can recognize and remember objects! The highest density of tactile receptors is found in the pig's snout. Pigs use it mainly to dig in the dirt and smell food.
What is a female pig called? ›
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. Farrowing is the process of a sow giving birth to piglets.
What are the 3 main pigs called? ›
We are introduced to most of the farm animals: Benjamin, the cynical donkey; Boxer and Clover, two dumb, yet hard-working horses; Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer, three cunning pigs; and Jessie and Blue Bell, two dogs. Major starts off the meeting by sharing his vision of a world where animals existed without man.
Why is pork the dirtiest meat? ›
Another issue with the pig is that it has very few functional sweat glands and can barely sweat at all. Sweat glands are a tool the body uses to be rid of toxins. This leaves more toxins in the pig's body. When you consume pork meat, you too get all these toxins that weren't eliminated from the pig.
How intelligent are pigs? ›
Pigs are gentle creatures with surprising intelligence. Studies have found they're smarter than dogs and even 3-year-old children! In the wild, pigs form small groups that typically include a few sows and their piglets.
What did the pigs represent? ›
The pigs come to symbolize the political leaders and government exploitation in Russia. They take over the revolution and quickly manipulate events to suit them and not the rest of the farm. The common workers, symbolized by Clover the horse and Muriel the goat, end up working without seeing the benefits of their work.
What is the most unclean animal? ›
The pig is considered an unclean animal as food in Judaism and Islam, and parts of Christianity.
Are pigs cleaner than dogs? ›
Pigs are very clean animals
In fact, they're some of the cleanest animals around and refuse to defecate where they sleep and eat if given the choice. Even newborn piglets will leave their sleeping areas to relieve themselves!
What is the cleanest part of the body? ›
The palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and the scalp are often considered the cleanest areas. These areas are constantly exposed to air and washed frequently, reducing the accumulation of dirt and bacteria.
Do pigs learn their names? ›
Newborn piglets learn to run to their mothers' voices, and can recognise their own names by the time they're 2 weeks old.
A pig's sense of smell is about 2000 times more sensitive than humans. They like to get messages, (in natural conditions) use trees or fences for rubbing, relax while listening to music, are very curious animals and like different enrichment toys.
What is the mental age of a pig? ›
However, most researchers agree that a pig's cognitive abilities—emotional depth, memory, spatial learning, self awareness, object discrimination, et cetera—are comparable to that of a young child as old as three.
What are 3 things pigs eat? ›
What does pig feed consist of? Most pig feed always consists of cereals, corn or soya. It also contains sugar-beet leftovers – a kind of pulp that is left over after sugar is extracted from beet.
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.
What are 3 characteristics of a pig? ›
Pigs are stout-bodied, short-legged, omnivorous mammals, with thick skin usually sparsely coated with short bristles. Their hooves have two functional and two nonfunctional digits.
