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Pigs have been domesticated since ancient times in the Old World and are known for their exceptional intelligence. Domestic Pigs are found across Europe, the Middle East and extend into Asia as far as Indonesia and Japan. They were brought to southeastern North America from Europe by De Soto and other early Spanish explorers. 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 below).
The Domestic Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) is usually given the scientific name Sus scrofa, although some authors call it S. domesticus, reserving S. scrofa for the Wild boar. It was domesticated approximately 5,000 to 7,000 years ago. Their coats are coarse and bristly. They are born brownish colored and tend to turn more grayish colored with age. The upper canines form sharp distinctive tusks that curve outward and upward. Compared to other artiodactyles, their head is relatively long, pointed, and free of warts. Their head and body length ranges from 900-1,800 mm and can weigh 50-350 kg.
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.
Cultural references to pigs
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Pigs are frequently referenced in culture and are a popular topic for idioms and famous quotes.
Pigs in religion
Painting of Saint Anthony with pig in background by Piero di Cosimo c. 1480
- In ancient Egypt pigs were associated with Set, the rival to the sun god Horus. When Set fell into disfavor with the Egyptians, swineherds were forbidden to enter temples.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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 animal (see taboo food and drink). Seventh-day Adventists and some other fundamental Christian denominations also consider pork unclean as food.
- Islam also forbids the eating of flesh of swine or pork in any form, because of its uncleanliness and its immodest nature (see Halal).
- In Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and other older Christian groups, pigs are associated with Saint Anthony, the patron saint of swineherds.
- [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]
Environmental impacts
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.[17] The Invasive Species Specialist Group lists feral pigs on the list of the world's 100 worst invasive species and says about them:[18]
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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
Pigs harbour a range of parasites and diseases that can be transmitted to humans. These include trichinosis, Taenia solium, cysticercosis, and brucellosis. Pigs are also known to host large concentrations of parasitic 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]
Pigs are susceptible to bronchitis and pneumonia. They have small lungs in relation to body size; for this reason, bronchitis or pneumonia can kill a pig quickly.
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]
See also
References
- , Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (1997), 120: 163–191.
- , The solitary adult males together and fight for the right to mate with a female. A single male usually wins control over 4 females on average.ADW: Sus scrofa: Information
- , Managing Heat Stress In Outdoor Pigs
- , Müller, 1838
- , Heude, 1892
- , Heude, 1888
- , Müller & Schlegel, 1843
- , Hardjasasmita, 1987
- , Groves, 1997
- , Nehring, 1886
- , Hodgson, 1847
- , * Funk, Stephan M., Sunil Kumar Verma, Greger Larson, Kasturi Prasad, Lalji Singh, Goutam Narayan and John E. Fa (2007). The pygmy hog is a unique genus: 19th century taxonomists got it right first time round. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Volume 45, Pages 427-436.
- , Linnaeus, 1758
- , Linnaeus, 1758
- , Müller & Schlegal, 1845
- , Müller, 1840
- , ADW: Sus scrofa: Information
- , issg Database: Ecology of Sus scrofa
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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Extant Artiodactyla species |
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Suborder Ruminantia |
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Large family listed below
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Family Bovidae |
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Large subfamily listed below
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Large subfamily listed below
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(Source: Wikipedia) |
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