Did You Know - PIGS...

• only 4% of pigs are in a sow stall at any one time
• have a very wide angle of vision – 310 degrees – and are therefore easily distracted
• have colour vision but they cannot focus both eyes on the same spot
• are said to have very good memories. This characteristic is used to develop safe pig handling routines
• can’t sweat because they have no sweat glands. They lose heat through their mouths and their ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. In hot weather when outdoors they roll around in the mud to cool their skins. Farmers provide air conditioned barns in order to have relaxed and safe pigs
• are the most relaxed animal whether housed indoors or outdoors if adequately fed – a pig rests more than any other farm animal!
• can squeal so loudly they can hurt your ears – they can reach 115 decibels!
• can’t lift their heads to look up at the sky, instead, they must turn their heads on one side so that the eye points upwards
• can swim!
• love to play, and run around and chase each other
• have an excellent sense of smell
• usually give birth to over two pig litters a year
• when babies/piglets, weigh about 1.5 kilograms at birth and will double its weight in just 7 days
• are omnivores which means they eat meat and vegetables just like us. Farmed pigs are fed a diet of mostly grains. They cannot eat just anything, their diet and nutrition has to be carefully balanced so they grow healthy
• at different stages have quite different temperature requirements e.g. a suckling pigs 27-35°C, weaners 24-30°C and, growers and sows are able to perform at greater ranges e.g. 15-30°C

Other Facts About Pigs

• most pig farmers use the manure on their farms as an organic fertiliser to improve crops and pasture as well as upgrade soils
• heart valves from pigs are used to replace damaged or diseased human heart valves
• swine research led to the development of the CAT scan, a technology for examining internal organs without surgery
• pork is the most popular meat in the world

Did You Know? The Pig Farming Facts List