National Pig Day is March 1st. What better way to celebrate than with 20 pig facts.
- The pork industry supports about 550,000 jobs.
- Commercial pork production can be traced back to the 1800’s.
- Pork accounts for 40% of all meat consumed around the world, which makes it the most consumed animal protein worldwide. China is the leader in pork consumption with 90 lbs. per person each year.
- Pigs contribute to many other by-products such as gelatin and their hair is used for high quality paint brushes.
- Pigs were the first animals to be domesticated. Learn more.
- Bacon is one of the oldest meats in the world.
- Over 2 billion pounds of bacon are produced each year in the U.S.
- Adult pigs can run up to 11 mph. That’s a 7-minute mile.
- A pig’s squeal can get up to 115 decibels. That’s only 3 decibels higher than a supersonic airliner.
- Pigs have 20 different vocalizations to communicate with each other.
- Pigs are naturally clean and organized. Learn more.
- The average gestation length for most sows is 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days.
- The average litter size around the globe is 6 to 10. In the U.S., however, the average liter is 13 pigs.
- The largest litter ever recorded included 37 piglets. 36 were born alive and 33 survived.
- Human heart valves are commonly replaced by porcine heart valves.
- Pigs live n every continent expect Antarctica.
- Denmark has more pigs than people.
- Pigs have 15,000 taste buds, while humans only have 9,000.
- They can drink up to 14 gallons of water a day.
- Pigs need to eat 3 pounds of feed to gain 1 pound.
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Sources:
National Pork Producers Council
National Hog Farmer
The Pig Site