About Pigs

From all the derogatory clichés you hear about pigs, you'd think these animals are lazy, dirty, gluttonous, and messy. Not surprisingly, much of what we believe about pigs is actually untrue.

You've probably heard the expression "sweat like a pig." Interestingly, pigs don't even sweat. To cool off, pigs wallow in mud baths, which leads to their unjustified reputation as dirty animals. But pigs are actually hygienic animals and, when given the choice, refuse to excrete waste near their living or eating areas. This is in stark contrast to pigs on factory farms, who are intensively confined in filthy pens and crates.

Pigs are intelligent animals, and many consider them to be equal—or superior—to dogs in intelligence. When living among humans, piglets learn their names within two to three weeks and respond when called. Pigs have also demonstrated a strong sense of direction, with the ability to find their way home even across long distances. Pennsylvania State University Professor Stanley Curtis conducted research that found pigs can respond to verbal communications and play computer games. The pigs used their snouts to move joysticks, which controlled cursors on the screen that could hit their targets. The pigs had a hit rate of over 80%.

The Social Kind

In nature, pigs live in social groups. Pigs who know each other engage in certain behaviors, much like humans shake hands or hug. A pig may greet a friend by making nose-to-nose contact or by grooming the other. It has been suggested that pigs can recognize and remember up to 30 other pigs. They establish a stable social group by evaluating each other's behavior and understanding which companions are more aggressive and dominant. Pigs are so communal that they even sleep together, huddled in a nest.

Pigs' snouts are far more capable than you might imagine. Pigs spend much of their time rooting and foraging. Their snouts are highly sensitive tools that help them find a wide variety of foods such as fruits, roots, mushrooms, grasses, earthworms, snakes, and rodents. Water is the most important part of a pig's diet, as a pig's body is one-half to two-thirds water.

Pigs can learn where food is located by watching each other. Scientists at the University of Bristol found that showing one pig where food was hidden could benefit others in the group. Other pigs would notice that their companion had located food and would "follow the leader" rather than search on their own.

Although you may think "oink, oink" is the only sound pigs make, they are actually quite vocal animals with a wide repertoire of "words." Their language includes jaw chomping, teeth clacking, grunts, roars, squeals, snarls, and snorts. Boars (male pigs) use mating songs when attracting females. Sows (female pigs) use a special grunt to tell their piglets it is time to suckle. Piglets (baby pigs) even have a special distress call they use when separated from their mother.

The Mother-Child Bond

The bond between piglets and their mother is very strong. Before giving birth, the pregnant sow builds a large nest for farrowing, or birthing, her piglets and for protecting them after they're born. In nature, pregnant sows are very particular about the location and quality of this nest. A mother may walk three to six miles before finding a sufficiently isolated and protected spot, and she can take up to ten hours to build her nest.

Once the piglets are born, mother and children remain in the nest for up to two weeks. After this period, the family leaves the nest and returns to the rest of the herd. Around this time, play becomes an important part of the piglets' lives. Beginning with play fighting, their activities later include chasing, frolicking, and exploring their environment. The piglets are integrated into the herd and, over the course of approximately 12 weeks, they are gradually weaned and begin eating solid food.

E-MAIL THIS PAGE

PRINTER FRIENDLY

See the Video

Confinement by Crate