Understanding Pigs

four kune kune piglets snuggling together

Behaviour, senses, and handling for the lifestyle farmer

Pigs are among the most intelligent and misunderstood animals you can keep on a lifestyle block. They’re clever, resourceful, highly social, and physically powerful. But they also demand the right environment, handling, and respect. What works for sheep or cattle won’t work for pigs, and treating them like either will make your life harder.

This guide is based on the writings of Dr Clive Dalton, adapted and expanded for lifestyle block owners who want to keep pigs well and safely. It explains how pigs think, what they need, and how to manage them confidently.

How Pigs Experience the World

Sight

Pigs have relatively poor vision. They can see movement and general shapes but have a limited field of view and weak depth perception. Their eyesight improves slightly with age but remains one of their less reliable senses.

Despite this, pigs can learn to recognise people visually and are surprisingly good at anticipating movement patterns, like a feed bucket coming around the corner.

They’re also sensitive to changes in light and shadow and may hesitate at doorways, changes in flooring, or unexpected objects.

Smell

This is a pig’s primary sense. Their sense of smell is extremely well developed, better than dogs in many cases, and they use it to:

Locate food
Identify other pigs
Detect pheromones
Explore unfamiliar environments

This is why pigs constantly root, sniff, and nudge. They’re interpreting the world through scent.

Hearing

Pigs have good hearing and are sensitive to sound tone and volume. They can distinguish voices, music, vehicle sounds, and feeding routines. Sudden loud noises can startle or agitate them, especially in confined areas like yards or trailers.

Using a calm, steady voice and avoiding shouting makes handling easier.

Touch

Pigs are tactile animals. They enjoy rubbing, nudging, and lying in contact with one another. They respond to stroking and scratching, especially if accustomed to human contact early on.

Social Behaviour and Hierarchy

Pigs are social animals and form complex social hierarchies. Groups of pigs, especially sows, establish clear dominance orders through pushing, vocal exchanges, and food access.

Once established, the hierarchy is usually stable unless new animals are introduced or space is restricted.

Young pigs raised together form strong bonds and tend to interact playfully. Isolated pigs become bored, destructive, or stressed. Boars are more solitary by nature but still benefit from sight and sound contact with others.

Communication

Vocalisations

Pigs are highly vocal and use a range of sounds to communicate:

Short grunts indicate contentment
High-pitched squeals signal distress, fear, or pain
Loud barks or growls are warnings or dominance displays
Low rumbles are used by sows to call piglets

They also grunt when exploring or when they recognise feeding routines. Each pig has a unique voice, and they can distinguish one another by sound.

Body Language

Watch for:

Raised hackles and stiff posture as signs of agitation
Nudging or mouthing as curiosity or social contact
Tail wagging indicating interest or contentment
Tail held tightly curled or still as a sign of discomfort

Daily Behaviour and Routines

Pigs divide their day between foraging, resting and wallowing, playing, and sleeping in close contact.

They are intelligent and active, and need mental stimulation. Without it, they become frustrated and destructive, chewing posts, damaging fences, or attacking other pigs.

Pigs love routine. Regular feeding and handling help build trust and reduce anxiety. They remember people, locations, and treatment, both good and bad.

Feeding Behaviour

Pigs are omnivores with a strong food drive. Feeding time is a major behavioural focus, and pigs can become aggressive or dominant if food access is limited or delayed.

Feeding should be:

Timed consistently
Evenly spaced to reduce competition
Monitored so smaller or timid pigs aren’t bullied away

Pigs root naturally. Providing rough ground, deep bedding, or enrichment feeding like scatter feeding improves welfare and keeps them occupied.

Breeding and Maternal Behaviour

Sows

Sows come into heat every 18 to 24 days. They show restlessness, vocalisation, and interest in the boar. During pregnancy, sows show nesting behaviour and can become protective or irritable.

As farrowing nears, the sow may separate herself, build a nest of straw or bedding, and become increasingly vocal. She uses grunts and low calls to communicate with her piglets.

Piglets

Newborn piglets are mobile within minutes and find a teat almost immediately. Competition is fierce and each piglet chooses a teat and defends it.

Piglets are sensitive to cold, crushing, and disease in the early days. Handling should be minimal, gentle, and stress-free.

Handling and Restraint

Pigs dislike being forced or surprised. Good handling requires a calm approach, consistent routine, and clear boundaries.

They are easily trained using food, and many lifestyle block owners use a rattle bucket or calling voice to guide pigs between paddocks or pens.

Never grab a pig by a leg or ear. This causes extreme stress and pain. Instead:

Use pig boards (solid panels) to guide them
Lead them with feed
Work in pairs if possible

Moving pigs is easier if the area is well lit, quiet, and not slippery.

Fencing and Containment

Pigs test boundaries constantly. Effective fencing must be:

Strong, with buried wire or hotwire to prevent digging
High enough to deter jumping
Free of sharp edges or gaps

Electric fencing works well if pigs are trained to it. Begin with visible tape and a strong pulse. Most pigs respect hotwire after one or two shocks.

Shelter and dry bedding are essential. Pigs hate cold winds and damp, and will seek shelter instinctively.

Enrichment and Welfare

Bored pigs are destructive and hard to manage. Enrichment can include:

Logs or chains to chew and move
Deep straw for rooting
Objects to push or roll
Safe outdoor access

Pigs need social contact. Isolated pigs can become depressed or aggressive. Keep them in compatible pairs or groups.

Final Thoughts

Pigs aren’t pets, but they’re not just stock either. Their intelligence, emotional awareness, and physical strength mean they need careful management, consistent handling, and secure housing.

Handled well, pigs are trainable, responsive, and a joy to raise. But underestimate them, and they’ll soon be running the block.

More Resources

Pigs are very intelligent and deserve the best. Here's a few ways you can upskill:

What You Need to Know to Keep Pigs – It's hard to find NZ-based, lifestyle farming advice on keeping pigs but it's all here.
What You Need to Know to Keep Livestock – A quick look at everything from the needs of different species to your legal reponsibilities.

Considering other livestock?

Understanding Cattle – The most common of the grazing species - and the largest!
Understanding Equids – Donkeys have amazing characters too.
Understanding Poultry - A few chooks running around make a farm a home.

Back to Livestock & Pets

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