Pigs are intelligent animals that are used for many different reasons. Some people love them so much they make them pets. Others use them for more practical reasons. Whichever category you fall into, you have to admit that pigs are interesting creatures.
Many people are so fond of pigs that they collect items depicting their likeness. There are countless figurines, toys, and the like featuring pigs. One of the most widely collected items is the piggy bank. Did you know that the piggy bank came around during the middle ages? Metal was too expensive for normal use, so many people used jars made of pygg clay. Whenever they had any extra coin, they would drop it in the pygg jar. They called it their pygg bank, or piggy bank. It wasn’t until much later that people started making them in the likeness of pigs. Once started, the trend took off and is still wildly popular today.
Here are some other interesting facts you might not be aware of about pigs:
- 1. A female pig can become pregnant at around 8-18 months of age.
- 2. The lifespan of the average pot-bellied pig is 12 to 15 years.
- 3. Pigs do not have sweat glands. This is one of the reasons they use mud. Along with helping them cool off, mud also protects their skin from the sun.
- 4. Pigs can get human diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
- 5. A pig is one of the animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac, and on Chinese calendars.
- 6. Pigs can be trained to use a little box.
If you were thinking of purchasing a pig for a pet I’m sure you were excited to learn about fact number six above. It’s said that pot-bellied pigs make great house pets. They are very intelligent, loving, and easy to train. There are many pigs being abandoned because the owners don’t know all that goes into caring for them however. Be sure to read literature online, at the library, or the veterinarian’s office before getting a pet pig, as it is always best to be aware of the needs of any animal before acquiring one as a pet.
Pigs carry parasites and diseases
If you are a person who thinks of pigs only in terms of food, then you should be aware that they carry parasites and diseases, such as trichinosis, taenia solum, cysticercosis, and brucellosis that can be transmitted to humans. You should always cook pork thoroughly.
There will always be uses for pigs, whether food wise, for leather production, or as pets. Keep the information here in your mental piggy bank for future reference, and you can make the best choices regarding your personal preferences.
Photo: nojnah
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