Livestock Pigs

Pigs, often referred to as swine, grow to be quite large. Perhaps you may be familiar with these creatures having seen them around the farm. Then again, perhaps you have not. Either way, there are two main types of pigs either the wild or the tame. Some people much rather prefer to keep these cute and cuddly creatures as pets. However, a large barnyard animal kept in the house looks rather out of place, don't you think? Then again, there are the pigs put in their place, that of the barnyard. Pigs being kept as livestock are used later for human consumption in the form of sausage and bacon. Then again, pigs have quite another hidden purpose as the keepers of the barnyard. While their life cycle is much the same as any other livestock creature, these are most similar in nature to the bulls. Mother pigs, known as sows, become quite fierce around their litters of progeny. Then too, these are one of the few animals that does not leave their children alone to forage for food.

Mother sows are known to lay down and nurse their young until they have quite outgrown it. Due to this fact and the sows unusually large size, litters are greater than eight in number. Then we have the final type of pigs, that of the wild, which are neither livestock nor tame. In the woods, these reach even larger, almost mythic proportions. Some cultures refer to these as the boar of legend which come charging through the woods trampling and destroying nearly everything in their path. In these societies, the pigs are allowed to roam wild and free with scarcely a containment effort in sight. These subsist off the roots, nuts, leaves, and berries that are found growing wild along the path. To the pigs, this is considered quite the life to lead, one of quiet retirement, until the hunter comes again at least. Some cultures the world over have a rather adversarial relationship with the pigs for this very reason.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Luke 15:15-17