Pigs are highly intelligent, emotionally complicated farm animals who are sometimes misunderstood due to their penchant for rolling around in the muck. They star in children's books (most famously, Charlotte's Web) and movies that tug at the heartstrings (enormously popular Babe, for one). They star as squeaky pink, cute porkers who often outwit all the other animals on the farm. In fact, this portrayal is not far from the truth, except for the fact that they come in a variety of colors, like white and brown, and they can be quite muddy when left to their own devices. Kids who love animals will enjoy reading all these fascinating facts about pigs!
Fun Facts About Pigs for Kids
Ask you kids what they know about pigs and they will probably give you some responses about how they like to get muddy, eat lots of slop, and make oinking sounds. Of course, a topics like bacon and other pork products may enter the conversation. Inquisitive minds will be surprised to learn all kinds of interesting facts that will elevate these short, portly farm animals to a new level of respect. Here are some of the most interesting pig facts including aspects of this creature's intelligence, behavior, diet, and emotional complexity that shine through inchildren's books about pigs.
(1) Pigs are really clean animals in their natural state.
Instincts kick in from the time piglets are born to take care of potty business as far away as possible from where they eat. They same is true when it comes to protecting their sleeping quarters from bathroom duties. Just like many other animals, it is best not to keep them in confined spaces where they cannot behave in ways that are most natural. As for their desire to cover up in mud? Keep reading!
(2) Pigs like to roll around in mud to cool off because they lack sweat glands.
Pigs that live in cool, temperature-regulated environments have no interest in getting muddy. Despite their reputation for loving a good mud bath, these animals may prefer to stay nice and clean. Unfortunately, their bodies lack the ability to self-regulate temperatures, so they get hot very quickly. This is especially the case in warmer climates when they are living in extremely close quarters. Without sweat glands that aid in the release of body heat, they get uncomfortable very quickly. Mud offers a welcome reprieve by providing a protective coat from the sun and helps cool down their core temperature. The water trapped in the mud is slow to evaporate, providing longer-lasting relief.
(2) Pigs talk, and talk, and talk!
More than 20 different sounds have been identified that they use to communicate their needs, emotions, and desires. Grunting is the most common noise that pigs make when trying to express their feelings. However, not all grunts are the same. Short grunts are mostly associated with a short burst of emotional excitement or when they are rooting around for food. On the other hand, longer grunts are used to communicate with members of their drove and are utilized to express feelings of pleasure associated with socialization. When pigs are overcome with a sense of happiness, they are known to squeal in high pitched tones. This sound is not to be confused with the screaming sounds they make when injured, afraid, or facing imminent danger. The more threatened they feel, the longer and louder the emitted sound.
(3) Despite their portly figures, piggies can run FAST!
Adult piggies have been clocked at up to 11 miles per hour, or to put it another way, a 7-minute mile. Wild boars can run at an even faster pace of 15 miles per hour, a skill that helps them escape dangerous predators. Interestingly, pigs can reach this fast pace within a couple of strides, but they cannot sustain high speeds for very long and tire out much quicker than dogs, horses, or most other animals that can run quickly. They do not run in a straight line, instead sprinting in a zig-zag pattern, likely an instinctual tactic to escape their predators who have better endurance.
(4) Pigs are extraordinarily loud.
The sounds they make can be louder than jet engines, with the noisiest of them squealing at 115 decibels. This is a whole 3 decibels louder than a supersonic airplane. For reference,An average rock concert is about 120 dB.& eople who work around pigs routinely, especially in indoor environments, need to wear hearing protection to avoid permanent damage. OSHA guidelines indicate that people should not be exposed to noise over the 90-decibel level during a typical 8-hour workday. Swine farms can routinely reach the 95-decibel mark, so workers must have noise canceling headgear to protect their hearing.
(5) Pigs are highly social and affectionate animals.
They love to snuggle in together and sleep nose-to-nose. In order to be truly happy, they need the constant companionship of other pigs. They prefer the stability of living in small groups, typically consisting of eight members, and can turn aggressive even when an outside pig is introduced to the group. This same social structure is not exhibited in the wild where boars prefer to live in solitude. Social hierarchies are an important part of the social structure, a process that begins when piglets are born. The largest, most dominant offspring feeds from the first teats, and thus grows and gains weight faster. Unfortunately for the runts, they never have the opportunity to catch up to the others. Further hierarchical maneuvers take place within the group, beginning with somewhat aggressive behaviors that are later replaced with grunting as a force of power.
(6) Pigs need to play just like children.
Their high level of intelligence leads them to grow bored easily. And when this happens, pigs can get into some mischief. So if you are in the process of trying to domesticate a piglet, be sure to fill your home with stimulating toys. They like to push balls around with their snouts, chew on ropes, and entertain themselves with objects that make noises, like jugs or cans filled with stones. Pigs also like to play with each other, and much like human siblings, are often observed fighting in a pretend manner through nudging and shoving.
(7) Pigs have extraordinary memories.
Animal behavioralists have documented both the short-term and long-term cognitive ability of pigs in a variety of situations. Like most animals, they are highly motivated by food and remember where their goodies are stored. In controlled experiments, these smart animals consistently identify the location of the tastiest treat relative to the storage places of other less-satisfying food items. Their remarkable memories allow them to identify their human owners and recall how they have been treated in the past. Even more astonishing, pigs can be taught to fetch a variety of objects identified by name!
(8) Pigs love a good belly rub!
Pigs love to be touched by humans. One of their favorite forms of tactile pleasure is a nice long belly rub from their caretakers. But they are a bit particular about the kind of touch they like. For example, do not pat, pet or thump a pig on the back. People who keep pigs as pets have reported their animals like to snuggle, especially after a long period of separation. When humans are not around, the animals can be observed scratching their bodies against trees or other objects in their environment. Bodily comfort is exhibited in the way they behave around other pigs, like when they cuddle up and sleep nose-to-nose with their favorite friends.
(9) Pigs have an incredible sense of smell.
Although dogs are known for their keen sense of smell, pigs actually are better equipped with highly developed snouts and the smelling genes to back them up. Pigs have 1,113 olfactory receptor genes compared to only 872 found in dogs. Amazingly, pigs can catch a whiff from 7 miles away and detect odors up to 25 feet underground. Furthermore, pigs are able to detect smells that are completely unnoticeable to the human sense of smell.
(10) Pigs come in a lot of different sizes.
Kids will be curious to learn the wide range in which pigs tip the scale. For instance, the tiny pygmy hog only weighs about 20 pounds, not any more than a small dog. At the other end of the spectrum, the Eurasian wild pig clocks in at an astounding 710 pounds. The typical weight of domestic pigs is anywhere from 300 to 700 pounds, depending on the breed. Incredibly, a pig in China broke a record in 1933 by weighing in at 2,552 pounds, a monumental size that has not been reached by any other since that time.
(11) Pigs go through multiple sets of teeth over a lifetime.
Piglets are born with a full set baby teeth, 28 to be exact, specifically tailored to their needs during their younger years. Eight of these teeth are extremely sharp, referred to as needle teeth, designed to create a teat order amongst newborns. Many times farmers will cut down these razor-sharp teeth, which often hurt the mothers, who in turn refuse to nurse the piglets. After about a year, the baby teeth fall out, and are replaced by a set of 44 permanent teeth. Permanent molars and central incisors replace lateral temporary incisors. Understanding the development of a pig's teeth provides the best indicator of its age.
(12) Pigs that manage to avoid the chopping block can live 15 to 20 years.
The unfortunate fate of many pigs is one they cannot avoid. Between the ages of 4 months and 1 year, these farm animals are considered in prime condition for pork and bacon. At this point, the portly animals have reached a goal weight of 200 to 300 pounds. They are ushered off to the slaughterhouse where they eventually land on the shelves of butchers and meat counters at the grocery store. However, when pigs are either kept as pets or as farm animals not raised for slaughter, they can live for almost two decades.
(13) Females pigs are called sows after they deliver their first litter.
Gilt is the term for female pigs who have not yet produced a litter. In some cases, a gilt may be treated just like her male counterparts, in which case she is being well fed and groomed for a future on the platters of carnivores who enjoy salty slices of bacon or a pork sandwich. Other females pigs are designated to produce piglets, usually when they reach 170 to 220 days old. They are naturally strong reproducers, sometimes delivering up to 3 litters per year. Pregnancies last a mere four months and result in 8 to 12 piglets at a time.
(14) Pigs love to sleep.
Much like humans, pigs typically sleep 7 to 8 hours every night. These social animals love to settle down in their nest with other family members for a peaceful night of slumber. They arise just like people by taking care of business, eating a meal, and engaging in all their regular daytime activities. Around the middle of the day, they like to take a rest, which may be a 2 to 3 hour nap, or just some self-care time like bathing and waddling around. Just like people who prepare their beds for a night of comfort, pigs gather together materials in their environment to make their own place to lie. These consist of grass, sticks, leaves, and whatever else they can find.
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