Pigs were brought to southeastern North America from Europe by Hernando de Soto and other early

Spanish explorers. Pigs are particularly valued in China and on certain oceanic islands, where their
self-sufficiency allows them to be turned loose, although the practice is not without its drawbacks
(see environmental impact).
The domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) is usually given the scientific name Sus scrofa, although
some authors call it S. domesticus, reserving S. scrofa for the wild boar. It was domesticated
approximately 5,000 to 7,000 years ago. Their coats are coarse and bristly. They are born brownish
coloured and tend to turn more grayish coloured with age. The upper canines form sharp
distinctive tusks that curve outward and upward. Compared to other artiodactyles, their head is
relatively long, pointed, and free of warts. Their head and body length ranges from 0.9 to 1.8 m (35
to 71 in) and they can weigh between 50 and 350 kg (110 and 770 lb).
In August 2015, a study looked at over 100 pig genome sequences to ascertain their process of
domestication. The process of domestication was assumed to have been initiated by humans,
involved few individuals and relied on reproductive isolation between wild and domestic forms. The
study found that the assumption of reproductive isolation with population bottlenecks was not
supported. The study indicated that pigs were domesticated separately in Western Asia and China,
with Western Asian pigs introduced into Europe where they crossed with wild boar. A model that
fitted the data included admixture with a now extinct ghost population of wild pigs during
the Pleistocene. The study also found that despite back-crossing with wild pigs, the genomes of
domestic pigs have strong signatures of selection at DNA loci that affect behavior and morphology.
The study concluded that human selection for domestic traits likely counteracted the homogenizing
effect of gene flow from wild boars and created domestication islands in the genome. The same
process may also apply to other domesticated animals. [24] [25]
Pigs are intelligent[26] and can be trained to perform numerous tasks and tricks.[27] Recently, they have
enjoyed a measure of popularity as house pets, particularly the dwarf breeds.

Cultural and religious reference to pigs

Main article: Pigs in popular culture
Pigs appear in the traditional and popular arts, media, and cultures of many societies, where they
sometimes carry religious symbolism. In Asia the wild boar is one of 12 animal images
comprising the Chinese zodiac, while in Europe the boar represents a standard charge in heraldry.
In Islam and Judaism pigs and those who handle them are viewed negatively. Pigs are frequently
alluded to in folk art, idioms, metaphors, and proverbs, and also occasionally
in parables (e.g. Parable of the Prodigal Son). "the three little pigs" is a folk-tale and "Peppa Pig" is a
popular British television show.

Environmental impacts
Domestic pigs that have escaped from farms or were allowed to forage in the wild, and in some
cases wild boars which were introduced as prey for hunting, have given rise to large populations of
feral pigs in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and other areas where pigs
are not native. Accidental or deliberate releases of pigs into countries or environments where they
are an alien species have caused extensive environmental change. Their omnivorous diet,
aggressive behaviour, and their feeding method of rooting in the ground all combine to severely alter
ecosystems unused to pigs. Pigs will even eat small animals and destroy nests of ground nesting
birds.[8] The Invasive Species Specialist Group lists feral pigs on the list of the world's 100 worst
invasive species and says:[28]

Feral pigs (razorbacks) in Florida

Feral pigs like other introduced mammals are major drivers of extinction and ecosystem change.
They have been introduced into many parts of the world, and will damage crops and home gardens
as well as potentially spreading disease. They uproot large areas of land, eliminating native
vegetation and spreading weeds. This results in habitat alteration, a change in plant succession and
composition and a decrease in native fauna dependent on the original habitat.

Health issues
Pigs can harbour a range of parasites and diseases that can be transmitted to humans. These
include trichinosis, Taenia solium, cysticercosis, and brucellosis. Pigs are also known to host large
concentrations of parasitic ascarid worms in their digestive tract.[29] According to the USDA fact sheet
modern pork can be enjoyed cooked rare at 145F (63C) with pink in the middle. [30] Today
trichinellosis infections from eating undercooked pork are rare in more technologically developed
countries due to refrigeration, health laws, and public awareness.[31] Some religious groups have
dietary laws that make pork an "unclean" meat, and adherents sometimes interpret these health
issues as validation of their views.[32]
Pigs have health issues of their own. Pigs have small lungs in relation to their body size and are thus
more susceptible than other domesticated animals to fatalbronchitis and pneumonia.[33] Some strains
of influenza are endemic in pigs (see swine influenza). Pigs also can acquire human influenza.
Pigs can be aggressive in defending themselves and their young. Pig-induced injuries are thus not
unusual in areas where pigs are raised or where they form part of the wild or feral fauna. [34]
In November 2012 scientists managed to sequence the genome of the domestic pig. The similarities
between the pig and human genomes mean that the new data may have wide applications in the
study and treatment of human genetic diseases. [35][36]

See also

Animals portal

Mammals portal

Wild boar

Domestic pig

Peccary (domestication)

Truffle hog

Pot-bellied pig

Babirusa

Red river hog

Bushpig

Fetal pig

Hog-baiting

List of fictional pigs

List of pigs

Pig Olympics

Enviropig

Pig Beach

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