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	Pigs are one of the oldest forms of ], having been domesticated as early as 800 BC . It is believed to have been domesticated either in the ] or in ] from the ]. The adaptable nature and ] diet of the Wild Boar allowed early humans to domesticate it much earlier than many other forms of livestock, such as ]. ] were mostly used for food, but people also used their hide for shields, their bones for tools and weapons, and their bristles for brushes. Pigs were brought to southeastern ] from ] by ] and other early ] ]s. Escaped pigs became ] and were freely used by ] as food.		Pigs are one of the oldest forms of ], having been domesticated as early as 800 BC . It is believed to have been domesticated either in the ] or in ] from the ]. The adaptable nature and ] diet of the Wild Boar allowed early humans to domesticate it much earlier than many other forms of livestock, such as ]. ] were mostly used for food, but people also used their hide for shields, their bones for tools and weapons, and their bristles for brushes. Pigs were brought to southeastern ] from ] by ] and other early ] ]s. Escaped pigs became ] and were freely used by ] as food.

			The most of domestic pigs usually have rather sparse hair covering on they skin, but the ] breeds are known and some were popular in the past.

	==As food==		==As food==
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	=== List of domestic pig breeds ===		=== List of domestic pig breeds ===

Revision as of 19:52, 12 August 2007

Template:ToLCleanup

Domestic Pig

Sow and five piglets
Conservation status
Template:StatusDomesticated
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* Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
Sus domestica

The domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) is usually given the scientific name Sus scrofa, though some writers use the term S. domestica, reserving S. scrofa for the wild boar. It was domesticated approximately 2500 to 3000 years ago. 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.

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)

Pigs are one of the oldest forms of livestock, having been domesticated as early as 800 BC . It is believed to have been domesticated either in the Near East or in China from the Wild Boar. 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 people also used their hide for shields, their bones for tools and weapons, and their bristles for brushes. Pigs were brought to southeastern North America from Europe by De Soto and other early Spanish explorers. Escaped pigs became feral and were freely used by Native Americans as food.

The most of domestic pigs usually have rather sparse hair covering on they skin, but the wooly coated breeds are known and some were popular in the past.

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, essentially 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.

Breeds of pigs

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.

Breeds within the UK

Global pig stock
in 2005
Number in millions
1. China	488.8 (50.87%)
2. United States	60.4 (6.29%)
3. Brazil	33.2 (3.46%)
4. Vietnam	27 (2.81%)
5. Germany	26.9 (2.8%)
6. Spain	25.3 (2.63%)
7. Poland	18 (1.87%)
8. France	15 (1.56%)
9. Canada	14.7 (1.53%)
10. Mexico	14.6 (1.52%)

World total	960.8
Source: UN Food and Agriculture Organization