Domestic Pig Background

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Devin Wootton March 19, 2013 Hot Foods All About Pork History and Background of Domestic Pigs/Pork The domestic pig is a big animal that has its ancestry tied to the wild boar. It can be considered a subspecies of the wild boar. Some adults can weigh from 110 to 770 lbs. Compared to other species, their head is long and pointed, with a big snout. The nose is used to dig into the ground to find food and has a very strong and acute sense of smell. Most domestic pigs have very little hair on their bodies. The domestic pig, like the wild boar, is an omnivore. The domestic pig is farmed mostly for the consumption of its flesh, referred to as pork. The bones, hide, and bristles have been used to make brushes. Some people also keep the…show more content…
This pig is recorded as being the fourth most common breed of pig in the United States, as well as being the oldest breed of American pig. They are thought to have been imported from Hampshire, England somewhere between 1827 and 1839. This pig is known for being well-muscled and to grow very fast. They show good carcass quality when butchered. Yorkshire- This pig is known for being light pink in color, having erect ears, and is noted as being the most common breed of pig in the United States. Around 1830, they were first imported from Yorkshire, England to the US. They are favored for their ruggedness and good-quality carcasses. They can be found in almost every state. They have a high proportion of lean…show more content…
They have developed a more efficient way of production and have embrace technology, which helps to speed up the production. The environmental issues decreased dramatically over the last fifty years when farming levels of feed, fuel, water, energy, land and crop nutrient resources needed to produce pork became environmentally aware. The Carbon footprint has become a small fraction of the US greenhouse gas emission due to improved regulations. Concerning air emissions, data has been gained that will be used to help farmers better understand the emissions produced from their operations and allow them to help make improvements wherever possible. For the water footprint, developments are being made to produce a tool that will calculate the water use that is involved in farming operations that will help farm owners identify areas for improved efficiency. With the land footprint, research is scheduled to begin this year to quantify the land footprint of pig farming so that a greater understanding and efficiency will occur in this area of
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