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ALBERTA
PORK CONGRESS
PIG FACTS AND
TRIVIA
Alberta Pork Congress, in its quest to educate the public about pigs and pork production, produced a series of trivia cards.
And here they are...
(for text of cards, click on the cards on the right hand side)
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Why should you eat pork?
Pork provides many important nutrients that help you grow and stay healthy.
Vitamins: Thiamin (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and Pantothenate.
Minerals: Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc
Pork is also a great source of protein, and it contains all 19 essential amino acids.
And best of all, pork tastes great!
PIG FACTS:
- Pigs are raised primarily for pork production
- People with diabetes use insulin from the pancreas of pigs to help them control their disease
- Many things are made from pigs and other animals besides meat: leather, suede, furniture, clothing, glue, crayons, tires, wallpaper, tape, videotape, sports equipment, ice cream, chocolate, candies and much more
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PORK PRODUCTION?
How important is pork production in Canada?
Pork makes up 40% of total Canadian meat production, so it is very important. In 2000 alone, Canada exported over 4 million hogs and over half a million tonnes of pork. Canada exports pork to 85 countries. Hog production brings in over $3 billion to our economy
The top hot producing provinces in Canada are Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba.
PIG FACTS:
- Piglets are weaned at 21 to 28 days, when they weigh 5 to 6 kilograms
- At 16 weeks old, pigs weigh 60 to 75 kilograms, which is a good size for pork production
- At 22 weeks old, pigs weigh 80 to 95 kilograms, which is a good size for bacon production
- At 26 weeks old, pigs weigh 90 to 120 kilograms, which is best for pork pies and sausages
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PIG BREEDS?
Do you know the difference between the Large White, the Landrace, the Duroc and the British Saddleback?
The Large White has pink skin and "pricked" ears. It has a long body, and it grows very quickly.
The Landrace is a white pig with heavy drooped ears that cover much of its face.
The Duroc's colour ranges from reddy-brown to almost yellow. Its ears are floppy.
The British Saddleback is black on the head and back half, and the rest of it is white.
PIG FACTS:
- Pigs were among the first animals to be domesticated, possibly as far back as 7000 BC
- Pigs were introduced to North America in 1539 when Hernando de Soto brought 13 to the Florida mainland
- China produces the most pigs
- Most pigs used on commercial pig farms are crossbreeds or hybrids, meaning that they are derived from two or more pure breeds of pigs.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MOST PIGS ARE RAISED?
How are pigs raised in Canada?
Almost all commercial hog production in Canada takes place in a controlled environment. That means that the pigs are kep in buidlings specialized to the farrowing, growing and finishing stages of raising market hogs. These buildings allow farmers to control the temperature and the cleanliness of the pigs' environment, as well as their diet. Farmers are also able to keep out or contain diseases, and so these specialized buildings help keep the pigs healthy.
PIG FACTS:
- Giving birth is called farrowing
- Piglets are born in groups called litters
- A female pig is called a gilt. After she has had a litter, she is called a sow
- An adult male is a boar
- A neutered male is called a barrow
Do pigs pig out?
For the first 3 to 4 weeks of life, piglets get milk from the sow. Then they are weaned, and for the rest of their life, pigs mostly eat cereal grains, such as corn, barley and soybean meal. They are also given plenty of clean water, vitamins and minerals. This special diet keeps pigs healthy and strong.
Pigs raised in Canada today have much less fat and lots more muscle than they did a decade ago.
PIG FACTS:
- The largest pig recorded in history was Big Bill, a 5 foot high, 9 foot long Poland China hog, who weighed 2,552 pounds.
- Pig breeds come in all sizes, including the small pygmy hog, which stands 1 foot tall at the shoulder and weighs 13 pounds
- Wild pigs eat fungi, roots, tubers, bulbs, fruit, snails, earthworms, reptiles, eggs, young birds, small rodents and carrion
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PIGLETS?
How many piglets can a sow have?
A sow can give birth to 8 to 12 piglets at a time, plus she can give birth two times a year. That means that one sow can have up to 24 piglets each year. The largest number of piglets born in a single litter was 34.
What do newborn piglets need?
Besides milk, newborn piglets need protection from the cold, from starvation, from disease, and from accidental crushing. Farmers work hard to keep piglets healthy.
PIG FACTS:
- A sow's pregnancy lasts for 115 days (3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days)
- Piglets weigh 1 to 2 kilograms when they are born
- Piglets are born with eight needle-sharp teeth
- Sows are placed in special pens to give birth and to nurse their piglets. These pens protect the piglets from injury, and allow the farmers to give each piglet its own special care
Does Red Deer have its own famous pig?
Francis the pig made headlines in 1990 when he made a dash for freedom from the slaughterhouse.
Francis captured the hearts of Albertans while successfully avoiding his own capture for five months on the lam.
A bronze sculpture of this feisty porker was erected on Gaetz Avenue in Red Deer, Alberta.
PIG FACTS:
- Making the movie "Babe" involved using 48 piglets
- "Bud", a crossbreed barrow from Texas, became the world's most expensive pig when he was sold for $56,000 on March 5, 1985
- Other famous pigs include the Miss Piggy of the Muppets, the Three Little Pigs, Piglet from Winnie the Pooh, and Arnold from the TV show Green Acres
HAVE YOU THANKED A FARMER TODAY?
How many Canadians does it take to get food to your table?
One out of every seven jobs in Canada is related to the food and agriculture industries.
Not only farmers, but truckers, bankers, butchers, food processors, government inspectors, restaurant workers, grocery store staff, scientists, equipment manufacturers, veterinarians and many more are at work to help keep Canadians fed.
PIG FACTS:
- The most common hog production unit is a specialized farrow-to-finish operation of 200 to 250 sows, which can be managed efficiently by a single family
- Many colleges and universities in Canada offer agri-food courses where students can study business, animal science, economics, soil and plant science, food science and much more
- As long as people eat, there will be jobs available in the food industry