Pigs

• Pigs are omnivores, which means they eat plants and animals.
• Their gestation period is around 3 ½ months.
• The front teat gives more milk than the last ones, so piglets in the front tend to be larger.
• Potbellied pigs live around 10-15 years.
• Pigs have snouts because they love rooting around in the ground for grubs, worms, insects, and important minerals/vitamins for their diet.

Pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) have been domesticated for thousands of years and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Today, pigs are used for meat, lard, leather, brushes, heart valves, and paint products. Pig manure is also a good agricultural fertilizer but it must be properly composted prior to use. Before domestication, pigs inhabited grasslands, forests, shrublands, and marshy swamplands. Since they can’t sweat, pigs require a nearby water source so they can cool down. This is also why they love rolling around in the mud!

They are intelligent, sociable, and downright adorable. In fact, they are the 4th most intelligent mammal, starting with humans, primates, dolphins and whales, and then pigs. Pigs are particular because they have such a high intellect. When nursing, piglets will feed from the same teat every time. They also like to keep things tidy by designating separate spaces for sleeping and using the bathroom. Pigs are very sensitive emotionally, and can even get their feelings hurt. So remember to be nice to them. You can find two kunekune pigs at the Maymont Farm.