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Baby pigs are so cute, but did you know they play an important role in heart surgery? Not only are they useful in medical treatments, but you can teach them to do just about anything you can imagine, as long as you’re armed with a tasty treat.
Baby pigs are very interesting, so let’s take a look at five facts and pictures to learn more about them!
#1: Piglets can’t sweat
Unlike humans, pigs are unable to cool themselves by sweating. Instead of sweating, pigs tend to control their breathing, and they like to wallow in mud to cool themselves.
Since they don’t have sweat glands, they rely on outside things to help them regulate their body temperature. Domestic pigs are often spoiled with a fog system to keep them nice and cool all year round.
#2: Baby Pigs Can Learn Tricks
Pigs have a reputation for being brilliant animals, but I bet you didn’t know they can learn tricks. Pigs can learn tricks faster than dogs and can learn to come when their name is called when they are about two or three weeks old.
You might think that a pig is an unlikely animal to train, especially since they have a reputation for being lazy animals. However, pigs belong to the smartest animals on earth. In fact they are #4 for the most intelligent animals, beaten only by chimpanzees, dolphins, and elephants. That’s a smart cookie!
Other popular tricks for teaching your baby pig are to shake hooves, turn, sit and stay. Baby pigs are highly motivated by food, so showing them their favorite snack and asking them to complete a small task will make them more likely to complete it to earn their snack.
#3: Some pigs grow up to save human lives
I bet you didn’t know that pigs are translational research models. That means if a doctor tests a medical treatment on a baby pig and it’s successful, it will likely be successful on a human as well.
Not only can baby pigs grow up to help discover medical treatments, but pigs have also been known to be used in the operating room. For example, pig skin has been used for skin grafts in burn patients. Doctors have also seen success using pig pancreatic cells to improve pancreatic function in diabetic adults. Finally, pig heart valves are often used in human surgery. The valves have approximately the same dimensions and functions as human heart valves, making them suitable for transplants.
Pigs are bred and raised specifically for medical use for this purpose. Researchers are even working to modify the gene system in some pigs to be more compatible with the human body.
Who knew pigs could have such a significant impact on the healthcare system?
#4: Baby Pigs Are Neat Freaks
Have you ever described a cluttered space as a pigsty? Although pigs have a reputation for being messy animals, they prefer to keep their living space clean. In fact, if their living space is large enough, they will keep their living space separate from their toilet area.
Despite the expression “pig out” when eating, pigs are also very clean eaters. They tend to take the time to enjoy their food instead of burning it away and being messy. This just goes to show that compared to others farm animals, pigs are among the neatest.
#5: Baby pigs learn to wag their tails
Like dogs, pigs like to wag their tails when they are happy or content. One of the most important times when you will see them do this is when they are fed or playing with their friends and family. Pigs are social creatures and obviously very intelligent!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much do baby pigs weigh?
At birth, piglets can weigh between 3 and 5 pounds. In the first eight weeks of life, baby pigs should gain about 30 pounds. At 12 weeks old, they can weigh up to almost 12 times their birth weight.
What do baby pigs eat?
Baby pigs suckle from their mothers until they are about 9 to 10 weeks old, when solid food is introduced. Solid foods that pigs enjoy include fruits, vegetables, and some insects.
Where do baby pigs live?
Baby pigs are born and need their mother’s nutrients; therefore, they should stay with them for at least the first two months of life. Pigs usually live in grassy areas that have good shelter to hide from predators, produce vegetation for food, and have a constant source of drinking water.
What are baby pigs called?
Baby pigs are called piglets. The adult female pig that has had a litter of piglets is called a sow, and the female pig that has had no piglets is called a gilt. Pig refers to a young pig that is not yet an adult but has passed the age of piglet. The adult male pig is called a pig.
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