Jump to content

Pig: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Chobbs138 (talk | contribs)
216 edits
removed ref. box
Chobbs138 (talk | contribs)
216 edits
reformatted first paragraphs
Line 22: Line 22:
}}
}}


The '''[[Domestication|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]].{{Fact|date=September 2007}} It was [[domesticated animal|domesticated]] by 7000 BCE in the Middle East and China. [http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/swine/] Pigs are found across [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]] and extend into [[Asia]] as far as [[Indonesia]] and [[Japan]]. The distinction between wild and domestic animals is slight, and domestic pigs have become [[feral]] in many parts of the world (for example, [[New Zealand]]) and have caused substantial environmental damage. {{Fact|date=September 2007}}
The '''[[Domestication|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]].{{Fact|date=September 2007}}. Pigs are believed to have been [[domesticated animal|domesticated]] as early as 7,000 B.C. from wild boars in the Middle East and China<ref>http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/swine/</ref>. 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]]. {{Fact|date=September 2007}}. [[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.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Pigs were brought to southeastern [[North America]] from [[Europe]] by [[Hernando de Soto (explorer)|De Soto]] and other early [[Spain|Spanish]] [[explorers|explorer]].{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Escaped pigs became [[feral]] and were used by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] as food.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}

Modern pigs are found across [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]] 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 grazing pig|woolly coated]] breeds are known and some were popular in the past.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Escaped domestic pigs have become [[feral]] in many parts of the world (for example, [[New Zealand]]) and have caused substantial environmental damage. {{Fact|date=September 2007}}


''Sus scrofa'' has four subspecies, each occupying distinct geographical areas:
''Sus scrofa'' has four subspecies, each occupying distinct geographical areas:
Line 30: Line 32:
*''Sus scrofa vittatus'' (Indonesia)
*''Sus scrofa vittatus'' (Indonesia)


Pigs are one of the oldest forms of [[livestock]], having been domesticated as early as 800 BC. {{Fact|date=September 2007}} It is believed to have been domesticated either in the [[Near East]] or in [[China]] from the [[Wild Boar]]. {{Fact|date=September 2007}} 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]]. {{Fact|date=September 2007}} [[Pigs]] were mostly used for food, but people also used their hide for shields, their bones for tools and weapons, and their bristles for brushes.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Pigs were brought to southeastern [[North America]] from [[Europe]] by [[Hernando de Soto (explorer)|De Soto]] and other early [[Spain|Spanish]] [[explorer]]s.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} Escaped pigs became [[feral]] and were freely used by [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]] as food.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}

Most domestic pigs usually have rather sparse hair covering on their skin, but the [[Woolly-coated grazing pig|woolly coated]] breeds are known and some were popular in the past.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}


==As food==
==As food==

Revision as of 18:33, 4 September 2007

Template:ToLCleanup

Domestic Pig
Sow and five piglets
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
Synonyms
Sus 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.[citation needed]. Pigs are believed to have been domesticated as early as 7,000 B.C. from wild boars in the Middle East and China[1]. 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. [citation needed]. 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.[citation needed] Pigs were brought to southeastern North America from Europe by De Soto and other early Spanish explorer.[citation needed] Escaped pigs became feral and were used by Native Americans as food.[citation needed]

Modern pigs are found across Europe, the Middle East 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.[citation needed] Escaped domestic pigs have become feral in many parts of the world (for example, New Zealand) and have caused substantial environmental damage. [citation needed]

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

  • Sus scrofa scrofa (western Africa, Europe)
  • Sus scrofa ussuricus (northern Asia and Japan)
  • Sus scrofa cristatus (Asia Minor, India)
  • Sus scrofa vittatus (Indonesia)


As food

A pig is prepared for food in Viñales, Cuba.

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

Champion Berkshire boar at the 2005 Royal Adelaide Show

Pigs are known to be intelligent animals and have been found to be more trainable than dogs or cats.[citation needed] 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.

Breeds of pigs

File:2004pig.PNG
Pig headcount in 2004

Pigs are exhibited at agricultural shows, judged either as stud stock compared to the standard features of each breed, or in commercial classes where the animals are judged primarily on their suitability for slaughter to provide premium meat.

List of domestic pig breeds

Global pig stock
in 2005
Number in millions
1.  China488.8 (50.87%)
2.  United States60.4 (6.29%)
3.  Brazil33.2 (3.46%)
4.  Vietnam27 (2.81%)
5.  Germany26.9 (2.8%)
6.  Spain25.3 (2.63%)
7.  Poland18 (1.87%)
8.  France15 (1.56%)
9.  Canada14.7 (1.53%)
10.  Mexico14.6 (1.52%)
World total960.8
Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization


Rare pig breeds


See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sus domesticus.

References

  1. ^ http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/swine/
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pig&oldid=155675684"