Pig Facts

A mother pig is called a sow, a father pig is called a boar and a baby pig is called a piglet.

A whole group of pigs is called a herd.

A sow can give birth to 8 - 12 piglets in one litter, and can have 2 litters in one year.

Some pigs have straight tails. Others have curly tails.

Pigs have four toes on each hoof. Pigs walk on only two of their toes on each foot. 
They look like they are walking on tiptoe.

The Food You Eat

Everything we eat is made from products grown on a farm, most often in Canada.

One out of every seven jobs in Canada is related to agriculture and food. Think about all the 
people it takes to bring food to your table: farmers, truckers, bankers, equipment manufacturers, butchers,
food processors, restaurant and grocery store staff, and the list goes on and on and on.


Everything But The Oink

We use almost every part of the pig.

Bones & skin are used for glue, pigskin garments, gloves, shoes and footballs.

Hair is used for artist's brushes, insulation, upholstery.

Dried bones are used for buttons, bone china.

Fatty acids and glycerin are used for insecticides, floor waxes, weed killers, water-proofing
 agents, cement, rubber, crayons, cosmetics, chalk, antifreeze, plastics, putty, cellophane.

Pigs are a source of nearly 40 drugs and pharmaceuticals such as insulin.

Pig heart valves are surgically implanted in humans to replace diseased valves.