7 things you may not know about pigs
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It’s snout a secret that pigs are clever animals...but how much do you really know about them?
There's a lot of amazing things to know about pigs: they are very intelligent, socially active animals, who display a lot of positively surprising behaviours. We have picked a few of our favourite pig facts to share with you. We're sure you won't be boared reading this!
Mama knows best
Newborn piglets learn to recognize their mother's voices by the time they are 36 hours old. Sows have been known to call their piglets to nurse with specific grunts - they are such good moms, aren't they?
Oink, oink...oink?
Pigs communicate constantly with each other - and they don't just say "oink!" They have a vocabulary of over 20 different sounds, each one with its own meaning: warning, greeting, hunger...
A conspiguous voice
Not only do pigs have a lot to say, but they're going to make sure they're heard: a pig's squeal can reach up to 115 decibels, which is higher than the sound of a supersonic concorde!
Sweet dreams
Pigs are incredibly social animals, and form close bonds with each other. When kept in a group, they will snuggle close to one another and prefer to sleep nose-to-nose. Studies show that, much alike humans, they also dream in their sleep.
Catch me if you can
Think that pigs are big and slow? Think again. Adult pigs can run at speeds up to 11 mph - or, in other words, they can run a 7-minute mile. Could you beat a pig in a race?
Sweating like a pig?
You may already know that pigs like to bathe in mud and water, but do you know why they love it so much? Pigs need to bathe to stay cool, since they actually have very few sweat glands! Plus, the mud acts as a sunscreen and protects their skin.
Messy business
Another common misconception - pigs are actually very clean animals: when given enough space and enrichment (such as straw to play with and build their nests), these surprisingly neat animals will keep their toilet area far away from their living or feeding spaces.
Pigs are intelligent, social animals with specific needs that must be met by farmers in order for them to live a happy life.
Pigs are intelligent, social animals with specific needs that must be met by farmers in order for them to live a happy life.