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Pigs

    Pigs Editor's Picks

    • About Pigs

      It's not often that a pig can be mentioned without bringing up a less-than-favorable impression. Call someone a pig, and it's an insult. Eat like a pig, and you're not likely to be invited back for another meal.
      But what is it that's given the pig a bad name? In reality, it stems from a handful of misconceptions and might not be... more »

    • How Do Pigs Mate?

      Boars who want to mate mark trees with their urine. They also produce foamy saliva by champing. Champing involves gnashing teeth and chewing resulting in saliva that contains the male sex hormone pheromone androstenol. The urine and saliva notify the females of his intention to mate. more »

    • How to Neuter Pigs

      Ideally, domestic baby pigs should be neutered before they are 21 days old. Because they are easier handle, heal faster, and are less stressed by the procedure while very young. This recommendation refers only to domestic pigs typically raised for pork. Some examples of domestic pigs are Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Hampshire. The... more »

    • How to Keep Pot Bellied Pigs as Pets

      Potbellied pigs are clean, smart and make excellent pets. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about potbellied pigs, including how to care for them and how large they get. They do not stay small forever. Many potbellied pigs are abandoned every year because people do not know how to care for them or become disillusioned... more »

    • How to till soil with pigs

      Pigs are well known for rooting. They dig their snouts into the ground and move the soil around, searching for roots. Their rooting action is beneficial to you in that depending on where you've placed your pigs, you will get your land tilled for free. Pigs love to roam on as much space as you'll let them have, tilling it all. How many... more »

    Pigs Quick Guides

    • Guinea Pig Care Guide

      When it comes to taking care of guinea pigs, everything you will need to know from...

    • Pet Cages 101

      The responsibilities of pet ownership are many and varied. First and foremost with many small...

    Pigs Articles

    • How to Transport Pigs

      Transporting pigs can be a delicate process and requires planning and foresight. With the farming industry reporting that over 1 million pigs die... more »

    • How to Own Potbellied Pigs

      A potbellied pig may seem like an unlikely household pet, but these animals are beloved by their owners for their playfulness, intelligence and... more »

    • How to Breed Pigs

      Pigs can breed often, have a short gestation period and produce large litters. These factors make breeding pigs lucrative. You only need a few... more »

    • About Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs

      In the 1980s, Vietnamese potbellied pigs were introduced into the United States from Canada. This started a new craze and breeders began appearing... more »

    • How to Raise Pigs to Slaughter

      Raising pigs can be a profitable business. What you need to know are conditions and costs. Make sure that the temperature doesn't rise above 70... more »

    Wikipedia

    Pig

    Pigs are a genus of even-toed ungulates within the family Suidae. The name hog most commonly refers to the domestic pig (Sus domestica) in everyday parlance, but technically encompasses several distinct species, including the wild boar. Swine is a collective noun generally used to describe pigs as a group rather than an individual, however it may often be implied in a pejorative manner to any living being expressing pig-like behaviour.

    With around 2 billion on the planet, domestic pigs are also by far the most numerous pig species., United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, (total number is Production (Pig Crop) plus Total Beginning Stocks Pigs are omnivores, and despite their reputation for gluttony, they are generally social and intelligent animals.

    Description and behavior
    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, short legs, and coarse hair. There are four toes on each foot, with the two large middle toes used for walking.

    Breeding occurs throughout the year in the tropics, but births peak around rainy seasons. A female pig can become pregnant at around 8-18 months of age. She will then go into estrus every 21 days if not bred. Male pigs become sexually active at 8-10 months of age."ADW Sus scrofa"/> A litter of piglets typically contains between 6 and 12 piglets."kidcyber"> After the young are weaned, two or more families may come together until the next mating season.

    Pigs do not have functional sweat glands, 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."kidcyber"/>

    Domesticated pigs are commonly raised as livestock by farmers for meat (called pork), as well as for leather. Their bristly ha read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig

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