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{{wiktionary|Swine}} |
{{wiktionary|Swine}} |
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{{wiktionary|pig}} |
{{wiktionary|pig}} |
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'''Pigs''', also called '''hogs''' or''' swine''', are [[ungulate]]s which have been domesticated as sources of food, leather, and similar products since ancient times. |
'''Pigs''', also called '''hogs''' or''' swine''' or porkies, are cute little pinky oinky[[ungulate]]s which have been domesticated as sources of food, leather, and similar products since ancient times. However, they are currently obtaining nuclear technologoy and will fight back and defeat all of mankind! |
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Native to [[Eurasia]], they are collectively grouped under the [[genus]] '''''Sus''''' within the [[Suidae]] [[Family (biology)|family]]. Despite pigs' reputation for [[gluttony]], and another reputation for dirtiness, a lesser known quality is their intelligence. The nearest living relatives of the swine family are the [[peccaries]]. |
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==Description and behavior== |
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A pig has a snout for a nose, small eyes, and a small tail, which may be curly, kinked, or straight. It has a thick body and short legs. There are four toes on each foot, with the two large middle toes used for walking.[4] |
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Pigs are [[omnivore]]s, which means that they consume both plants and animals. Pigs will scavenge and have been known to eat any kind of food, including dead insects, worms, tree bark, rotting carcasses, garbage, and even other pigs. In the wild, they are foraging animals, primarily eating leaves and grasses, roots, fruits and flowers. Occasionally, in captivity, pigs may [[savaging|eat their own young]], often if they become severely stressed. |
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A typical pig has a large head with a long snout which is strengthened by a special bone called the prenasal bone and by a disk of [[cartilage]] in the tip. The snout is used to dig into the soil to find food and is a very sensitive sense organ. Pigs have a full set of 44 [[teeth]]. The canine teeth, called tusks, grow continually and are sharpened by the lowers and uppers rubbing against each other.[7] |
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Pigs that are allowed to forage may be watched by [[swineherd]]s. Because of their foraging abilities and excellent sense of smell, they are used to find [[Tuber (genus)|truffles]] in many European countries. [[Domestic pig|Domesticated pigs]] are commonly raised as [[livestock]] by [[farmers]] for [[meat]] (called [[pork]]), as well as for [[leather]]. Their bristly [[hair]]s are also used for [[brush]]es. Some breeds of pigs, such as the Asian [[pot-bellied pig]], are kept as [[pet]]s. |
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A female pig can become pregnant at around 8-18 months of age. She will then go into heat every 21 days if not bred. Male pigs become sexually active at 8-10 months of age.<ref>[http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sus_scrofa.html ADW: Sus scrofa: Information<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> A litter of piglets typically contains between 6 and 12 piglets.[5] |
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Pigs do not have functional [[sweat glands]],<ref>[http://www.depts.ttu.edu/porkindustryinstitute/research/MANAGING%20HEAT%20STRESS%20IN%20OUTDOOR%20PIGS.htm Managing Heat Stress In Outdoor Pigs<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> so pigs cool themselves using water or mud during hot weather. They also use mud as a form of sunscreen to protect their skin from [[sunburn]]. Mud also provides protection against flies and parasites.[5] |
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== Species == |
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{{see also|Boar}} |
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* [[Sus barbatus]]<ref>Müller, 1838</ref> |
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* [[Sus bucculentus]] ([http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/S/Sus_bucculentus.asp possibly extinct]). |
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* [[Sus cebifrons]]<ref>Heude, 1888</ref> |
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* [[Sus celebensis]]<ref>Müller & Schlegel, 1843</ref> |
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* [[Sus falconeri]] † (extinct). |
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* [[Sus heureni]]<ref>Hardjasasmita, 1987</ref> |
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* [[Sus hysudricus]] † (extinct). |
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* [[Sus philippensis]]<ref>Nehring, 1886</ref> |
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* [[Sus salvanius]]<ref>Hodgson, 1847</ref> |
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* [[Sus scrofa]]<ref>Linnaeus, 1758</ref> |
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* [[Sus strozzi]] † (extinct). |
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* [[Sus timoriensis]]<ref>Müller & Schlegal, 1845</ref> |
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* [[Sus verrucosus]]<ref>Müller, 1840</ref> |
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==Domestication== |
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{{main|Domestic pig}} |
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Pigs have been domesticated since ancient times in the [[Old World]] and, unlike many domestic animals, are known for their intelligence. Pigs are particularly valued in China and on certain oceanic islands, where their self-sufficiency allows them to be turned loose, although the practice is not without its drawbacks (see [[Pig#environmental impacts|below]]). |
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Pigs can be trained to perform numerous simple tasks and tricks. Recently, they have enjoyed a measure of popularity as house pets, particularly the dwarf breeds. |
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==Cultural references to pigs== |
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{{main|Cultural references to pigs}} |
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Pigs are frequently referenced in culture and are a popular topic for idioms and famous quotes. |
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==Pigs in religion== |
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[[Image:Piero di Cosimo 025.jpg|thumb|Painting of Saint Anthony with pig in background by Piero di Cosimo c. 1480]] |
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*In ancient Egypt pigs were associated with [[Set (mythology)|Set]], the rival to the sun god [[Horus]]. When Set fell into disfavor with the Egyptians, swineherds were forbidden to enter temples. |
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*In [[Hinduism]] the god [[Vishnu]] took the form of a boar in order to save the earth from a demon who had dragged it to the bottom of the sea. |
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*In ancient Greece, a sow was an appropriate [[sacrifice]] to [[Demeter]] and had been her favorite animal since she had been the Great Goddess of archaic times. Initiates at the [[Eleusinian Mysteries]] began by sacrificing a pig. |
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*The pig is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the [[Chinese zodiac]] related to the [[Chinese calendar]]. Believers in [[Chinese astrology]] associate each animal with certain personality traits. See: [[Pig (Zodiac)]]. |
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*The dietary laws of [[Judaism]] ([[Kashrut]], adj. [[Kosher]]) forbid the eating of flesh of swine or pork in any form, considering the pig to be an [[unclean animals|unclean animal]] (see [[taboo food and drink]]). [[Seventh-day Adventists]] and some other fundamental Christian denominations also consider pork unclean as food. |
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*Islam also forbids the eating of flesh of swine or pork in any form, because of its uncleanliness and its immodest nature (see [[Halal]]). |
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*In [[Catholicism]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy]] and other older Christian groups, pigs are associated with [[Anthony the Great|Saint Anthony]], the [[patron saint]] of swineherds. |
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*['''KJV - Lev. 11:7'''], states "''And the [[swine]], though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you''."[2] |
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== Environmental impacts == |
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[[Image:Wild Pig KSC02pd0873.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Feral pigs in Florida, United States]] |
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Domestic pigs that have escaped from farms or were allowed to forage in the wild, and in some cases wild boars which were introduced as prey for hunting, have given rise to large populations of feral pigs in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and other areas where pigs are not native. Accidental or deliberate releases of pigs into countries or environments where they are an alien species have caused extensive environmental change. Their omnivorous diet, aggressive behaviour and their feeding method of rooting in the ground all combine to severely alter ecosystems unused to pigs. Pigs will even eat small animals and destroy nests of ground nesting birds.<ref>[http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Sus_scrofa.html ADW: Sus scrofa: Information<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The Invasive Species Specialist Group lists feral pigs on the list of the world's 100 worst invasive species and says about them:<ref>[http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=73&fr=1&sts=sss issg Database: Ecology of Sus scrofa<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> {{cquote|Feral pigs like other introduced mammals are major drivers of extinction and ecosystem change. They have been introduced into many parts of the world, and will damage crops and home gardens as well as potentially spreading disease. They uproot large areas of land, eliminating native vegetation and spreading weeds. This results in habitat alteration, a change in plant succession and composition and a decrease in native fauna dependent on the original habitat.}} |
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==Health issues== |
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Pigs harbour a range of [[parasite]]s and [[disease]]s that can be transmitted to humans. These include [[trichinosis]], [[cysticercosis]], and [[brucellosis]]. Pigs are also known to host large concentrations of parasitic [[ascaris|ascarid]] worms in their digestive tract.[1]The presence of these diseases and parasites is one of the reasons why pork meat should always be well cooked or cured before eating. Some religious groups that consider pork unclean refer to these issues as support for their views.[2] |
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Pigs can be susceptible to pneumonia, usually caused by weather. Pigs have small lungs in relation to body size; for this reason, bronchitis or pneumonia can kill a pig quickly. |
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Pigs can be aggressive and pig-induced injuries are relatively common in areas where pigs are reared or where they form part of the wild or feral fauna.[3] |
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==See also== |
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*[[Boar]] |
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*[[Domestic pig]] |
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*[[Pot-bellied pig]] |
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*[[Fetal pig]] |
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*[[Hog-baiting]] |
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*[[Intensive pig farming]] |
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*[[List of pigs]] |
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*[[List of fictional pigs]] |
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*[[Pig Olympics]] |
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*[[Razorback]] |
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*[[Bacon]] |
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*[[Pork]] |
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*[[Ham]] |
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*[[Lard]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
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{{linkfarm}} |
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{{Wikispecies|Sus}} |
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{{Commons|Sus domesticus}} |
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*[http://www.swinecast.com SwineCast podcast] |
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*[http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/pig/ Feral Pig Fact Sheet] |
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*[http://www.pigprogress.net/ Global Pig Production] |
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*[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/pigs/index.html Nature: The Joy of Pigs - TV special on PBS] |
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*[http://www.pigsaspets.org/ Pigs as Pets] |
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*[http://www.pighealth.com/ Pig Health] |
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*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/genome/guide/pig/ Pig Genome Resources] |
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*[http://www.biolsci.org/v3i3 Special issue on swine genome research] |
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*[http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/swine/ Swine Breeds, with pictures] |
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*[http://www.pii.ttu.edu/ University Pig Teaching and Research Program] |
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*[http://www.upprs.com/ United Pet Pig Registry] |
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{{Suidae nav}} |
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<!-- interwikis should be removed, they are the same as [[Domestic pig]] |
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--[[ast:Gochu]] |
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--[[bo:ཕག་པ།]] |
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--[[br:Pemoc'h]] |
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--[[ca:Porc]] |
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--[[cr:ᑰᐦᑰᔥ]] |
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--[[cs:Prase domácí]] |
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--[[cy:Mochyn]] |
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--[[da:Svin]] |
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--[[pdc:Sau]] |
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--[[de:Hausschwein]] |
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--[[el:Γουρούνι]] |
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--[[es:Cerdo]] |
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--[[eo:Porko]] |
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--[[fr:Sus (genre)]] |
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--[[gd:Muc]] |
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--[[ko:돼지]] |
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--[[io:Porko]] |
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--[[id:Babi]] |
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--[[it:Maiale]] |
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--[[ku:Beraz]] |
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--[[ms:babi]] |
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--[[nl:Varken]] |
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--[[ja:ブタ]] |
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--[[no:Gris]] |
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--[[nds:Swien]] |
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--[[oc:Pòrc]] |
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--[[pl:Świnia domowa]] |
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--[[pt:Porco]] |
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--[[ro:Porc]] |
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--[[ru:Свинья домашняя]] |
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--[[sc:Mannàle]] |
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--[[scn:Porcu]] |
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--[[simple:Pig]] |
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--[[sr:Свиња]] |
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--[[fi:Sika]] |
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--[[sv:Tamsvin]] |
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--[[th:สุกร]] |
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--[[vi:Chi Lợn]] |
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--[[yi:שוויין]] |
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--[[zh:猪]] |
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--> |
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[[Category:Even-toed ungulates]] |
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[[Category:Pigs|*]] |
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[[Category:Pejorative terms for people]] |
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[[an:Sus]] |
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[[zh-min-nan:Ti-sio̍k]] |
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[[de:Sus (Schweine)]] |
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[[es:Sus]] |
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[[fr:Sus (genre)]] |
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[[ko:멧돼지속]] |
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[[zu:Ingulube]] |
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[[it:Sus (zoologia)]] |
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[[he:חזיר]] |
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[[la:Sus]] |
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[[hu:Sertés]] |
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[[nl:Echte zwijnen]] |
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[[ja:ブタ]] |
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[[pt:Sus]] |
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[[ru:Кабан]] |
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[[sr:Свиња]] |
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[[ta:பன்றி]] |
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[[tl:Baboy]] |
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[[tr:Domuz]] |
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[[uk:Свині]] |
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[[zh-yue:豬]] |
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[[zh:豬]] |
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Revision as of 17:16, 7 February 2008
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2007) |
| Pig | |
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| |
| A sow and her piglet. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Sus |
| Species | |
|
Sus barbatus | |
Look up Swine in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Look up pig in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Pigs, also called hogs or swine or porkies, are cute little pinky oinkyungulates which have been domesticated as sources of food, leather, and similar products since ancient times. However, they are currently obtaining nuclear technologoy and will fight back and defeat all of mankind!
- ^ Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (1997), 120: 163–191.