Let’s take a closer look at pigs to understand them better.
No, Pigs Aren't Dirty
No, Pigs Aren't Dirty
There is a common misconception that pigs are dirty. The truth is that pigs like their homes and themselves to be clean!
Pigs don't like a pigsty
Do you like a clean home? Pigs do, too!
On factory farms, where the vast majority of U.S. farmed animals are raised, pigs have no choice but to live in filthy and crowded facilities, often in their waste.
Yet, research shows that these intelligent and emotionally complex animals choose to make their “toilet” area far from where they sleep and eat.
Thankfully, pigs can engage in their natural behaviors at sanctuaries and live in the safe and clean environments they deserve.
Did you know that pigs carefully build tidy and comfortable nests to sleep, rest, or care for their piglets? Below, see Guyute building one for himself!
Muds protects pigs from the sun
You’ve probably seen pigs laying in “dirty” water—or heard the common expression “happier than a pig in…mud.”
However, pigs don’t spend time in the mud because they like to feel dirty; they do it because, like dogs, they can’t sweat! Dogs cool down by panting while pigs lounge in the mud to cool off.
The mud also coats their skin, protecting them from sunburns (at Farm Sanctuary, we also keep our pig friends safe by applying sunscreen to their sensitive skin). Plus, mud serves as a natural insect repellent!
Simply put, wallowing is a natural (and fun) behavior that serves many purposes for pigs.
What you can do
Factory farms are a far cry from the cleanliness pigs seek. Each time you enjoy foods free from animal products, you are choosing not to support the cruel and unnatural conditions of industrial animal agriculture.
Want to do more? Support Farm Sanctuary today to help us rescue and care for more animals like Mia pig (seen above) as we advocate for those still suffering in our food system. There are many different ways to give.
Learn More About Pigs
Pigs are so much more complex than many of us give them credit for. They show empathy for others, have a sense of time, can anticipate future happenings, and recognize the faces of other individuals—both pigs and humans!
In this informative white paper from The Someone Project, learn more about the complex lives of pigs: Thinking Pigs: Cognition, Emotion, and Personality.
