There are a lot of misconceptions about pigs, but these ten facts about pigs will help you see them differently.
Have you ever wondered why people love pigs so much? There is an entire Instagram hashtag dedicated to these adorable animals. So we’ve compiled ten facts about pigs to help you learn a little bit more about them and discover what you can do to help these lovable animals live better lives.
1. Pigs are very clean animals
Despite my mother consistently calling my bedroom a pigsty growing up, pigs are actually 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!
2. Pigs can’t sweat
Sweating like a pig” is another misleading and commonly used phrase since pigs can’t sweat! Pigs don’t have many sweat glands, so they roll around and sleep in mud and swim in water to keep cool. A bonus to rolling in mud: it helps keep a pig’s skin from getting sunburned.
3. Pigs are smarter than your dog
It’s true! Pigs have the intelligence of a human toddler and are ranked as the fifth most intelligent animal in the world! In 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.
4. Mother pigs sing to their babies
This is one of the sweetest facts about pigs: mother pigs sing to their babies while nursing. Newborn piglets learn to run towards their mothers’ voices, and pigs constantly communicate with each other. They have more than 20 distinct grunts and squeals that have been identified and range from expressing hunger to calling for mates.
5. Pigs love belly rubs!
Social animals, pigs love to use trees to rub and scratch on and enjoy belly rubs from their human caretakers! They even enjoy various enrichment toys and playing with each other.
6. Pigs have an excellent sense of direction
Pigs are navigators: they can find their way home over large distances. They can often trot long distances and can reach up to 11 miles per hour running.
7. Pigs dream and like to sleep nose-to-nose
Have you ever seen a piggy pile? Pigs love to stay connected with each other by sleeping close together, often making sure to touch their friends while they drift off to dreamland! Few animals are more social than pigs, who form close bonds with other pigs and humans.
8. Pigs have excellent memories
Remember when we said pigs are incredibly intelligent and can play video games better than some primates? Well, a pig wouldn’t forget that! Pigs have exceptional memories, especially when it comes to object location. If they find a great spot for grub, they’ll remember to look at the exact spot again!
9. Pigs suffer immensely on factory farms
With the world’s insatiable appetite for meat, most farmed animals are bred and live on factory farms. Mother pigs, for instance, are forced to live in crates so small they can barely turn around or lie down comfortably. Piglets endure brutal mutilations such as tail docking and teeth clipping because the lack of space provided on factory farms leads to increased stress, tension, aggression, and fighting amongst pigs as they age.
10. Pigs are deserving of good lives
Pigs are sentient beings, meaning they experience a wide range of emotions and can feel pain. Each pig on a factory farm has a distinct personality and desires, but factory farms deny everything that comes naturally to these intelligent and sensitive animals. Every pig deserves a good life where they can raise their babies and perform other natural behaviors like foraging for food, cuddling with other pigs, and roaming freely. You can help pigs live the lives they deserve by joining our movement to reform the factory farming system.
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FAQs
Pork is naturally low in sodium and a “good” source of potassium — two nutrients that, when coupled, can help regulate blood pressure. Domesticated pigs first arrived in North America in the 1500s. Pigs are among the smartest of all domesticated animals including dogs. Washington state is home to over 17,000 hogs.
What are some fun facts about pork? ›
Pork is naturally low in sodium and a “good” source of potassium — two nutrients that, when coupled, can help regulate blood pressure. Domesticated pigs first arrived in North America in the 1500s. Pigs are among the smartest of all domesticated animals including dogs. Washington state is home to over 17,000 hogs.
What do pigs eat facts? ›
The bulk of their diet comes from corn and soybeans. Corn provides energy and soybeans provide protein. They also eat other grains like wheat and sorghum. Farmers may add supplements to ensure their hogs get necessary nutrients.
How fast are pigs? ›
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. They keep in constant communication by grunting with their young and pen-mates.
What are pigs famous for? ›
Around 1.5 billion pigs are raised each year, producing some 120 million tonnes of meat, often cured as bacon. Some are kept as pets. Pigs have featured in human culture since Neolithic times, appearing in art and literature for children and adults, and celebrated in cities such as Bologna for their meat products.
Can a pig eat pork? ›
It's ok to feed pigs uncontaminated fruits, vegetables, bread, grains, dairy, eggs, and vegetable oils. Do not feed pigs meat, fish, or their bones, oils, or juices, or ANY food that has touched these substances. All food scraps can be composted.
How long do pigs sleep? ›
The Pig sleeps for 7.8 hours/day. As Humans we sleep 16 hours/day as an infant, 8 hours/day as an adult, and 5.5 hours/day as an elderly person. Check out the interesting list of animal sleep times below or by reading the full article at "Neuroscience for Kids".
Can a pig swim? ›
Now that I learned that pigs do in fact swim, I wondered why I grew up thinking they could not swim so I proceeded to do a little internet research. I did not have to look very far as the link below provided many examples of swimming pigs historically http://luciesfarm.com/artman/publish/article_107.php .
How many teeth do pigs have? ›
For permanent teeth, pigs exhibit a dentition formula of 3/3, 1/1, 4/4, 3/3 or three incisors, one canine, four premolars, and three molars on each side of the top and bottom of the mouth for a total of 44 teeth.
How long do pigs live? ›
A pig will live an average of 12-18 years, estimates range to more than 20 years. Considered grown by 6 years of age, and usually weigh 125 pounds or more. In non-breeding adults, feed about 1/2 cup of maintenance food per 25 pounds of the pig's weight, split into 2 meals per day.
Pigs' vision is indeed poor compared to us, but if we compare their eyesight with say, cattle, they can see a lot better. Pigs cannot see in the dark. Like nocturnal animals, they do not have a thin layer of reflective tissue on the back of their retina called tapetum lucidum.
How fast do pigs breathe? ›
Under normal conditions, the RR of weaned pigs ranges from 25 to 40 breaths/min, and their HR ranges from 90 to 100 beats per minute (bpm).
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 is a famous pig's name? ›
In literature
| Name | Origin | Author(s) |
|---|
| Little Pig Robinson | The Tale of Little Pig Robinson | Beatrix Potter |
| Mercy Watson | Mercy Watson series | Kate DiCamillo |
| Misery | Misery | Stephen King |
| Napoleon | Animal Farm | George Orwell |
45 more rowsPiglets are baby pigs up to weaning age, which is typically three weeks. Pigs usually refer to young, immature swine. Hogs typically applies to older pigs nearing market weight (about 280 lbs.).
What is special about pork? ›
Pork is a source of zinc, selenium and vitamins B12 and B6, these help the immune system to work normally. Pork is a source of vitamins B12, B6, Niacin and Riboflavin – B vitamins that help reduce tiredness and fatigue as part of a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.
Why is pork called pork? ›
So the Anglo-Saxon pig became the French porc, which was Anglicized to pork; the Anglo-Saxon cow became the French boeuf, which became beef; and sheep became mouton, (later mutton).
What is a fun fact about pork roll? ›
1 minute read
- Created in the mid-1850s by John Taylor, pork roll — a blend of pork, spices, salt and sugar — was originally called Taylor ham. ...
- In 2016, New Jersey Assemblyman Tim Eustace introduced a bill to declare the pork roll, egg and cheese the state sandwich of New Jersey.
Slaughter. Pigs are either electrically stunned before having their throat cut, or gassed to death by carbon dioxide. Pigs are slaughtered after four to seven months. Sows produce around four to seven litters before they become exhausted and are slaughtered at three-to-five years.
