The Basics of Pig Ownership
There are so many things said of pigs - that they smell ("you smell like a pig!"), they're dirty ("you dirty pig!"), they're 'ignorant' ("you are an ignorant / chauvinistic pig!").
In fact they are none of these things: a pig only smells bad if it's been rolling in something that smells bad; pigs are actually a clean animal that enjoys its creature comforts just as we do; and a pig ranks in the top ten most intelligent animals on our planet.
The best description surely lies in a phrase attributed to Winston Churchill, who said, "a dog looks up to you, a cat looks down on you, but a pig looks you in the eye and treats you as an equal.
How true! Therein lies the basic of pig ownership - they are so much like us it can be quite disconcerting.
Look at a pig and you're looking at a horizontal human being without the benefit of thumbs and intellect.
Physiologically they are so much like us that we use them for medical research and can (so far) utilize bits of them for xenotransplantation (heart valves for example are compatible between our species)...
the 'Micro-pig' is a product of such research programmes.
So start off from that point of view, and an understanding that they grow big fast, and you're in for a great ride as a pig 'owner'.
Let's consider the basics then: food, habit, growth, health and welfare.
Food: a pig is an omnivore - if you eat it so will they and much more besides.
The pig is not tied by our conventions and so will try anything; including resorting to cannibalism if that's the only option.
They'll eat worms, roots, acorns, wheat soya and fishmeal as readily as they'll eat grass, fruit, meat and sandwiches.
But pig-keeper beware: you can't feed your pig left-overs (especially not pig products); your pig will plough up any land you pen it on in a very short time; feed a properly formulated pig ration from your local farm and country store and you won't go far wrong.
Use your pig to keep your orchards tidy, but don't let them gorge, or the result out the back end of the animal will be what you'd expect of yourself after too much fruit! Use your pig to tidy up the waste vegetable tops and bottoms, shucks, leaves and flowers - it's what they do best, and reason that they have played such a key role in western agricultural and social history: the garden / household recycler par excellence! But (I have to repeat this) don't feed them any cooked leftovers (especially meat) from your kitchen - pigs love this type of sustenance, but it's illegal in the UK and elsewhere in the world, as this practice is a great way to help the bugs that cause Foot and Mouth Disease to get around as easily as they do.
Did I have to remind you that pigs (like all animals, including us) need a supply of fresh clean water at all times - oh, and please take care that the food you do offer is clean and looks good enough to eat? Your pig's insides and yours are remarkably similar in shape size, function and reaction.
Habit: Pigs can't sweat (they haven't got the glands), so need to be able to cool down somehow - the best way being to wallow.
They need to be able to get out of the sun, as they will burn like you and I, though they do like to soak up the rays too.
Their favourite past time is messing about - there is nothing so suspicious as a group of porkers gathered around an unspecified object in a corner of a pen or field - have they broken something? What have they found / earthed up? Who have they decided to beat up? Pigs are social animals that need close contact with each other or you - just like your partner, kids and dog do - touch is important.
The other thing to remember is that they are intelligent, easily get bored and need some form of distraction / entertainment.
Like kids at Christmas, they'll play with the boxes and wrappings with great pleasure (and to destruction!).
Their eyesight is poor, their sense of smell exceptional (better than a dog), and their manner naturally inquisitive.
A pig will respect an electric fence, but will test it first, learning fast, but beware they are difficult to contain, with very powerful front ends and great determination in the face of an obstacle.
A pig can be trained - apart from the talking all the stuff in 'Babe' was done for real (by 48 different be-wigged Large White actors).
Growth: another caveat that you need to be very aware of.
Pigs grow fast, especially modern breeds.
A cute little nine-kilo weaner at four weeks old becomes a not quite so cute, very strong and solid 100-kilo animal in five and a half months.
I have spoken to more than one 'micro-pig' owner who's pet had grown far bigger than they'd been led to believe.
My advice is to treat the pet with respect, enjoy its company and very definite presence in your life, and then be prepared to sell it on or put it into your freezer and get yourself another one.
Your pig will grow rapidly as will its appetite and it's need for space.
Health & Welfare: Pigs get sick, just like we do.
Bugs can blow in on the wind, ride in on the backs of rats, mice and household pets, on the feet of birds and humans and the tyres of cars.
Most especially well they can hitch lifts on clothes and hands.
When they get sick you need a vet that knows pigs! They need space, a clean bed (and someone to provide it / freshen it up), somewhere to go to the toilet, and someone to clean up that area after them.
They need things to play with (which usually mean destroy, but have fun doing it!), and they need company.
If you're still tempted to be owned by a pig, good luck, you will be rewarded - it's not possible to watch a pig and its pals and get bored, there' always something happening!
In fact they are none of these things: a pig only smells bad if it's been rolling in something that smells bad; pigs are actually a clean animal that enjoys its creature comforts just as we do; and a pig ranks in the top ten most intelligent animals on our planet.
The best description surely lies in a phrase attributed to Winston Churchill, who said, "a dog looks up to you, a cat looks down on you, but a pig looks you in the eye and treats you as an equal.
How true! Therein lies the basic of pig ownership - they are so much like us it can be quite disconcerting.
Look at a pig and you're looking at a horizontal human being without the benefit of thumbs and intellect.
Physiologically they are so much like us that we use them for medical research and can (so far) utilize bits of them for xenotransplantation (heart valves for example are compatible between our species)...
the 'Micro-pig' is a product of such research programmes.
So start off from that point of view, and an understanding that they grow big fast, and you're in for a great ride as a pig 'owner'.
Let's consider the basics then: food, habit, growth, health and welfare.
Food: a pig is an omnivore - if you eat it so will they and much more besides.
The pig is not tied by our conventions and so will try anything; including resorting to cannibalism if that's the only option.
They'll eat worms, roots, acorns, wheat soya and fishmeal as readily as they'll eat grass, fruit, meat and sandwiches.
But pig-keeper beware: you can't feed your pig left-overs (especially not pig products); your pig will plough up any land you pen it on in a very short time; feed a properly formulated pig ration from your local farm and country store and you won't go far wrong.
Use your pig to keep your orchards tidy, but don't let them gorge, or the result out the back end of the animal will be what you'd expect of yourself after too much fruit! Use your pig to tidy up the waste vegetable tops and bottoms, shucks, leaves and flowers - it's what they do best, and reason that they have played such a key role in western agricultural and social history: the garden / household recycler par excellence! But (I have to repeat this) don't feed them any cooked leftovers (especially meat) from your kitchen - pigs love this type of sustenance, but it's illegal in the UK and elsewhere in the world, as this practice is a great way to help the bugs that cause Foot and Mouth Disease to get around as easily as they do.
Did I have to remind you that pigs (like all animals, including us) need a supply of fresh clean water at all times - oh, and please take care that the food you do offer is clean and looks good enough to eat? Your pig's insides and yours are remarkably similar in shape size, function and reaction.
Habit: Pigs can't sweat (they haven't got the glands), so need to be able to cool down somehow - the best way being to wallow.
They need to be able to get out of the sun, as they will burn like you and I, though they do like to soak up the rays too.
Their favourite past time is messing about - there is nothing so suspicious as a group of porkers gathered around an unspecified object in a corner of a pen or field - have they broken something? What have they found / earthed up? Who have they decided to beat up? Pigs are social animals that need close contact with each other or you - just like your partner, kids and dog do - touch is important.
The other thing to remember is that they are intelligent, easily get bored and need some form of distraction / entertainment.
Like kids at Christmas, they'll play with the boxes and wrappings with great pleasure (and to destruction!).
Their eyesight is poor, their sense of smell exceptional (better than a dog), and their manner naturally inquisitive.
A pig will respect an electric fence, but will test it first, learning fast, but beware they are difficult to contain, with very powerful front ends and great determination in the face of an obstacle.
A pig can be trained - apart from the talking all the stuff in 'Babe' was done for real (by 48 different be-wigged Large White actors).
Growth: another caveat that you need to be very aware of.
Pigs grow fast, especially modern breeds.
A cute little nine-kilo weaner at four weeks old becomes a not quite so cute, very strong and solid 100-kilo animal in five and a half months.
I have spoken to more than one 'micro-pig' owner who's pet had grown far bigger than they'd been led to believe.
My advice is to treat the pet with respect, enjoy its company and very definite presence in your life, and then be prepared to sell it on or put it into your freezer and get yourself another one.
Your pig will grow rapidly as will its appetite and it's need for space.
Health & Welfare: Pigs get sick, just like we do.
Bugs can blow in on the wind, ride in on the backs of rats, mice and household pets, on the feet of birds and humans and the tyres of cars.
Most especially well they can hitch lifts on clothes and hands.
When they get sick you need a vet that knows pigs! They need space, a clean bed (and someone to provide it / freshen it up), somewhere to go to the toilet, and someone to clean up that area after them.
They need things to play with (which usually mean destroy, but have fun doing it!), and they need company.
If you're still tempted to be owned by a pig, good luck, you will be rewarded - it's not possible to watch a pig and its pals and get bored, there' always something happening!