PigsareungulatesnativetoEurasiacollectivelygroupedunderthegenusSuswithintheSuidaefamily.Theyhavebeendomesticatedandraisedaslivestockbysomepeoplesformeat(calledpork)aswellasforleather.Theirbristlyhairsarealsotraditionallyusedforbrushes.Wildpigscontinuetofillthesefunctionsincertainpartsoftheworld.
Pigsareomnivores,whichmeansthattheyconsumebothplantsandanimals.Onasmallfarm,orinalargehousehold,theycanbefedkitchenscrapsaspartoralloftheirdiet.Inthewild,theyareforaginganimals.Pigsthatareallowedtoforagemaybewatchedbyswineherds.Becauseoftheirforagingabilitiesandexcellentsenseofsmell,theyareusedtofindtrufflesinmanyEuropeancountries.Theyarealsofattenedtobeeatenashamandothertypesofmeat,suchasbacon.
Pigsarehighlytrainableanimals,andsome,suchastheAsianpot-belliedpig,arekeptaspets.Alitterofpigletstypicallycontainsbetween6and12animals.Occasionally,incaptivity,pigsmayeattheirownyoung.
Pigslacksweatglands,thustheymusthaveaccesstowaterormudtocoolthemselvesduringhotweather.Theyalsousemudasaformofsunscreentoprotecttheirskinfromsunburn.