Domestic Pig
Domestic pigs, Sus domesticus, are also referred to as swine or hogs. These porcine wonders have been a part of human life for thousands of years. They are incredibly versatile animals, providing food, pigskin leather, and companionship. Pigs are intelligent and social, forming strong bonds with other pigs, people, and even different types of animals. They can make fantastic family pets. Pigs are also excellent foragers, thriving in both rural and urban settings. With proper care and nutrition, pigs can provide a hearty and nutritious source of protein that is far less expensive than meat from other animals.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Suidae
Genus: Sus
Species: S. domesticus
Common Names: Pig, Swine, Hog
Pigs are very social animals and form close bonds with other pigs. They communicate with each other through a variety of vocalizations and body language. They are also very intelligent and are even capable of problem-solving and learning complex tasks. Pigs are known for their love of mud, which helps them regulate their body temperature and protect their skin from the sun.
Pigs are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. Their diet can include grains, fruits, vegetables, and even small animals like insects and worms. In captivity, pigs are often fed a diet of corn and soybeans, along with vitamins and minerals to ensure they get all the nutrients they need.
Domestic pigs typically have two seasonal reproductive seasons per year. After a gestation period of about 114 days, sows(mother pigs) give birth to a litter of, usually between 6-12, piglets. The piglets typically stay with their mother for the first 8-12 weeks of life. During this time, the sow will fiercely protect her piglets and provide them with care until they are old enough to be weaned. Domestic pigs tend to be monogamous and the sow and boar (male pig) will remain paired for life. Overbreeding should be avoided, as it can result in early weaning and smaller litters. There are different breeds of domestic pigs, such as the Angeln Saddleback pig, which is a rare breed grown mainly in Germany.
Domestic pigs are found all over the world, but they are most commonly raised on farms for meat production. They are adaptable animals that can thrive in a variety of environments.
They are stout-bodied, short-legged, omnivorous mammals with thick skin usually sparsely coated with short bristles. Most people are familiar with the iconic pink pig, but there are different pig breeds that come in variety of color hues. They can be white, pink, ruddy red, have color banding, or even be black and white spotted. Pig ears range from erect to droopy.
Domestic pigs are noticeably larger and slower than wild pigs, and they are commonly known as approachable, loyal, and highly intelligent creatures. They can weigh between 300 and 700 pounds (140 and 300 kilograms), but domestic pigs are often bred to be heavier. Domestic pigs do not have tusks, but they have tusk-like teeth.
Pigs were first domesticated around 9,000 years ago inwhat is now Turkey and the Middle East and subsequently brought into Europe byagriculturalists. They were brought to North America by European settlers inthe 16th century.
The domestic pig originates from the Eurasian wild boar(Sus scrofa). Clear evidence was obtained for domestication to have occurredindependently from wild boar subspecies in Europe and Asia. Pig domesticationin China was a steady progress of animal refinement lasting a period of some5,000 years. The earliest domesticated pigs were primarily herded and fedmillet and protein; by the Han dynasty, most pigs were raised in small pens byhouseholds and fed millet and household scraps.
Pigs have had a long and varied relationship with humans. Archaeological evidence shows that wild boar were important prey for early humans. Today, pigs are commonly raised for food and can be found on farms all over the world. However, pigs can also be kept as pets and can form close relationships with their human caregivers.
Currently, pigs are showing great promise for use in the medical field. They are the best option for organ donation for humans. There is a lower risk of cross-species transmission of disease and organs are very similar.
There are currently an estimated over 750 million domesticated pigs worldwide.