Information On Hogs

Hogs; Scientists believe that the hog has existed for at least 45 million years.

Hogs go by many names. They are known as swine and pigs. Male hogs and some kinds of wild hogs are called boars. But, there is nothing boring about the hog.

Females are called sows and young hogs are called piglets.

Domestic or tame, hogs are a food source on every continent except Antarctica. Wild pigs can be found in forests, meadows, and swamps around the world.

Hogs will eat just about anything they can find: roots, grasses, fruit, nuts, herbs, mushrooms, worms, and even snakes. They have been able to live almost anywhere due to their indiscriminate palate. Pigs hardly ever over eat, even though we call a person who stuffs himself with food a "pig."

Because hogs like to wallow in mud, people sometimes think of them as dirty animals. When given a choice hogs stay in clean water, rather than in mud. Lying in water helps hogs cool off on a hot day. The animals have few sweat glands in their skin so they cannot cool off by sweating. They can be found in water frequently to keep their body temperature low and to escape insects.

Gestation period is 3 1/2 to 5 months producing 2 to 12 young. Domestic hogs may have many more young. Both wild and domestic sows are careful about raising their young. A mother hog will fiercely defend her young. Usually piglets in the wild try solid food soon after birth. But they continue to nurse for about three months. Even when they have become quite large they will chase their mother and butt against her side until she lets them drink her milk.

Wild boars wander the forests of Germany, Spain, Belgium, France, and Holland. In England, they died out more than 200 years ago.

A hogs height varies among species from 12 to 40 inches at the shoulders. Weight varies from 13 to 800 pounds. The pygmy hog is the smallest. It grows to 12 inches and weighs about 13 pounds. The domestic hog can weigh up to 800 pounds.

Hogs communicate by making many noises. Danger is signaled by high-pitched squeals. Low grunts mean contentment. You can hear them grunt quietly while eating. During courtship and while hunting for food, hogs make many other sounds.