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Domestic pig

 

Scientific classification

 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Artiodactyla

Family: Suidae

Genus: Sus

Species: S. scrofa

Subspecies: S. s. domestica

Trinomial name: Sus scrofa domestica

 

 

The domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) is normally given the scientific name Sus scrofa, though some taxonomists use the term S. domestica, reserving S. scrofa for the wild boar. Pigs are believed to have been domesticated from wild boars as early as 7000 B.C. in the separately in China. DNA evidence of semi-fossilized remains of teeth and jawbones of Neolithic pigs in Europe shows that migrating farmers brought their Near Eastern pigs with them. Modern European pigs are all descended, however, from European wild boar, showing that early European farmers soon domesticated pigs independently, from local wild stock, and the Near Eastern bloodlines entirely died out, domesticated European broodstock having then been exported in turn to the Ancient Near East. The adaptable nature and omnivorous diet of the Wild Boar allowed early humans to domesticate it much earlier than many other forms of livestock, such as cattle. Pigs were mostly used for food, but early civilizations also used the pigs' hides for shields, bones for tools and weapons, and bristles for brushes. Pigs were brought to southeastern North America from Europe by De Soto and other early Spanish explorer. Escaped pigs became feral and were used by Native Americans as food.

Modern pigs are found across Europe, and extend into Asia as far as Indonesia and Japan. The distinction between wild and domestic animals is slight. Most domestic pigs usually have rather sparse hair covering on their skin, but the woolly coated breeds are known and some were popular in the past. Escaped domestic pigs have become feral in many parts of the world (for example, New Zealand) and have caused substantial environmental damage.

Sus scrofa has four subspecies, each occupying distinct geographical areas:

  1. Sus scrofa scrofa (western Africa, Europe)
  2. Sus scrofa ussuricus (northern Asia and Japan)
  3. Sus scrofa cristatus (Asia Minor, India)4.
  4. Sus scrofa vittatus (Indonesia)

 

 

As food:

 

 

The domestic pig is farmed for its meat called pork, which is obtained by slaughter. Products made of pork include sausage, bacon and ham. The head of a pig can be used to make head cheese. Liver, chitterlings, and other offal from pigs are also widely used for food. In some religions, such as Judaism and Islam, there are religious restrictions on the consumption of pork.

In industrialized nations, domestic pigs farming has shifted away from the traditional pig farm to large-scale intensive pig farms where meat can be mass-produced. This has resulted in lower production costs, but more significant animal welfare concerns.

Hog farmers refer to young female hogs who have borne less than two litters as gilts, female hogs who have borne more than two litters as sows, intact males as boars, castrated males as barrows, and young hogs of both sexes as pigs or piglets.

In developing nations, and some parts of developed nations, the domestic pig is frequently raised outdoors in yards. In some cases pigs are even raised in open fields where they are allowed to forage; they are watched by swineherds, the equivalent of shepherds for pigs.

 

As pets:

 

Pigs are known to be intelligent animals and have been found to be more trainable than dogs or cats. Asian pot-bellied pigs, a smaller subspecies of the domestic pig, have made popular house pets in the United States beginning in the latter half of the 20th century. Regular domestic farmyard pigs have also been known to be kept indoors, but due to their large size and destructive tendencies, they typically need to be moved into an outdoor pen as they grow older. Most pigs also have an extreme fear of being picked up, but will usually calm down once placed back on the floor. Pigs are rarely used as working animals. An exception is the so-called truffle hogs used to find truffles.

 

Breeds of pigs

 

List of domestic pig breeds:

Global pig stocks
in 2005
(million head)
 China 488.8
 United States 60.4
 Brazil 33.2
 Vietnam 27.0
 Germany 26.9
 Spain 25.3
 Poland 18.0
 France 15.0
 Canada 14.7
 Mexico 14.6
World Total 960.8
Source:
UN Food & Agriculture Organisation

 

Rare pig breeds:

Woolly-coated grazing pig

wooley

 

Woolly-coated grazing pig is a breed of wooly - coated pigs, originated from Danube region. They are rather small, dark and have characteristic long hairs on their backs. The wool and small size make these pigs very well adapted for grazing. They were widespread in Switzerland in the mid - 19 th century because of their excellent bacon. The wool was used as a raw material by saddlers. This breed is practically extinct today.

 

References:

 

Bibliographic details for "Breed"