The Scoop
A highly social and intelligent animal
Pigs are highly intelligent creatures who are thought to be smarter than dogs, and even some primates. Newborn piglets can respond to their mother’s unique call and voice, and they can recognize their own names by the time they’re two weeks old.
Pigs are omnivores and will eat just about anything. In the wild, they will eat leaves, roots, small snakes and reptiles and even rodents. Most farmed pigs eat corn or barley.
Pigs are very social animals and enjoy being with each other, often communicating with each other with grunts and squeaks or sleeping cuddled together or nose to nose. There are also many stories about how pigs get along with humans, with tales of pigs rescuing humans from drowning or other dangers.
These animals have a highly developed sense of smell, but they have poor eyesight. Their noses are also used to root in the earth for food, which can actually help to spread seed and grow new plants.
Contrary to popular belief, pigs are quite clean. Many people think pigs are dirty because they roll in mud, but they only roll in mud or water because pigs can’t sweat! If they’re left in a cool, covered environment, they’ll stay very clean. They’re even fastidious about where they go to the bathroom and always make sure to go far away from where they eat or sleep.
Pigs can vary in size, with most piglets weighing an average of about two and a half pounds at birth, and doubling that weight in just one week! Full grown pigs can be anywhere from 300 to 700 pounds, and many pigs don’t stop growing for up to six years
