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The Story Of... Pigs
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The pig was
originally domesticated in China and Papua New Guinea
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Domestic pigs are descended from wild relatives which still
populate parts of Europe and Asia. Domesticated at least 7000 years
ago in the Fertile Cescent and in China, the pig is of limited use
compared to other Eurasian livestock and farmed primarily for its
meat. Nevertheless, the pig is perhaps the easiest farmyard animal
to look after, because, like humans, they are omnivorous and will
eat practically anything --including scraps from the kitchen.
Pigs have been central to Chinese culture ever since, and the country today is the world's leading producer of pigs. Prized in some parts of Europe for their ability to hunt precious truffles, the pig is also the only large domesticable mammal to have provided traditional sustenance to the farmers of Papua New Guinea.
Contrary to popular assumption, pigs are in fact very clean animals. Their famous mudbaths are merely a way to cool themselves down, since pigs have no sweat glands at all.
However, like other domesticated mammals, pigs have been responsible
for transferring some diseases to the human population, thanks to
the proximity in which Eurasian farmers have tended to live with their
livestock. Human diseases suspected of having evolved from contact
with pigs include influenza and scabies.
Where to next?
Get more stories about animals including Cattle,
Goats, Sheep, Horses,
Llamas, or Zebra.
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