pigs have 'evolved to love mud'

[bcbm]

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/52301000/jpg/_52301870_pig-spl.jpg

It is a true picture of contentment, and now a scientist is suggesting that a pig's love of mud is more than just a way to keep cool.

A researcher in the Netherlands has looked at wallowing behaviour in pigs' wild relatives to find out more about what motivates the animals to luxuriate in sludge.

His conclusions suggest that wallowing is vital for the animals' well-being.

The study is published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

It is already well accepted that pigs use wallows to keep cool. The animals do not have normal sweat glands, so they are unable, otherwise, to regulate their body temperature.

The scientist who carried out the study, Marc Bracke from Wageningen University and Research Centre, trawled the scientific literature for evidence of what motivates other animals to carry out similar behaviours.

He examined closely related "wallowers", including hippos, which spend their time in water to keep cool.

Dr Bracke also looked at other hoofed animals, such as deer. Although these animals do not wallow, they roll on the ground in order to "scent mark", which has an important role in attracting a mate.

That analysis has led Dr Bracke to propose that mud wallowing, like rolling, could play a role in reproduction in pigs.

But more fundamentally, Dr Bracke suggests the behaviour could have evolved in pigs' most ancient relatives.

"We all evolved from fish, so it could be that this motivation to be in water could be something that was preserved in animals that are able to do so."

For many animals, this would be too dangerous, because watering holes are ideal places for predators to ambush their prey.

"But pigs, like many carnivores, are relatively large animals with enlarged canine teeth, so they would be better able to fend off an attack."

So rather than pigs needing to cool down in mud because they do not have [functional] sweat glands, Dr Bracke thinks that they "did not evolve functional sweat glands like other ungulates because they liked wallowing so much".

Part whale?

"Pigs are genetically related to particularly water-loving animals such as hippos and whales," Dr Bracke said.

He explained: "It seems to me that this preference to be in shallow water could have been a turning point in the evolution of whales from land-dwelling mammals."

He concludes that the desire to wallow is probably hardwired and rewarding in itself.

"If so, wallowing could be an important element of a good life in pigs," said Dr Bracke.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9464000/9464994.stm

[Lanky Wanker]

pigs ftw

[Lunatic Concept]

I heard they also use it as a form of protection against the sun.

[Rss]

Very interesting. I find pigs to be very fascinating creatures. They are very intelligent, strong, tough, rugged, their hides are useful for various purposes, they are delicious and easy to upkeep (compared to cattle), they are not fussy and dumb like pandas, they are fast as hell if they want to be and their facial expressions have some very human-like charateristics.

Pigs, great triumph of evolution.

[PhoenixAsh]

...I totally misinterpreted the thread title :blushing:


But very interesting none the less.

[The Man]

I thought you meant 'Pigs' as in Cops..

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

No mention of pigs wallowing in mud in order to provide a protective coating against biting insects, which I understood to be one of the reasons they developed such behaviour...

[Black Sheep]

Should the main theme of the article be a surprise? :huh:

Whatever every animal "loves" , it has evolved to love it.

[Magón]

Very interesting. I find pigs to be very fascinating creatures. They are very intelligent, strong, tough, rugged, their hides are useful for various purposes, they are delicious and easy to upkeep (compared to cattle), they are not fussy and dumb like pandas, they are fast as hell if they want to be and their facial expressions have some very human-like charateristics.

Pigs, great triumph of evolution.

I don't think I've ever heard someone compare a Pig to a Panda before?

[LostDesperado]

Panda pig would be an interesting cross species.. But I've worked with pigs and wild hogs before and the porcine family are interesting animals. If you release a "domesticated" pig, it'll go back to being wild and even grow the black razor like hair that wild pigs have.

[Queercommie Girl]

Very interesting. I find pigs to be very fascinating creatures. They are very intelligent, strong, tough, rugged, their hides are useful for various purposes, they are delicious and easy to upkeep (compared to cattle), they are not fussy and dumb like pandas, they are fast as hell if they want to be and their facial expressions have some very human-like charateristics.

Pigs, great triumph of evolution.

Yet we still slaughter so many of these relatively intelligent animals for their meat. :crying:

However, in some countries, some variants of pigs are actually kept as pets. :cool:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot-bellied_pig

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Pigs_July_2008-1.jpg/800px-Pigs_July_2008-1.jpg

[Queercommie Girl]

Panda pig would be an interesting cross species.


Also impossible without genetic engineering considering pigs and pandas are not only in different families, but actually different orders.

Genetically a pig is as different from a panda as a human being is different from a rat.

[Queercommie Girl]

Should the main theme of the article be a surprise? :huh:

Whatever every animal "loves" , it has evolved to love it.

Yes, like there is a reason for why humans love various forms of media as well, which forms a very significant part of all of our leisure times. (From reading books and the news to reading stuff on the internet and forums to watching TV and films)

A higher alien intelligence might consider humans spending time on forums like RevLeft to be just as funny as what we think when we see pigs roll themselves in mud. :cool:

(There is reason why certain forms of negative forum behaviour is referred to as "mud-slinging"...)

[chegitz guevara]

Yet we still slaughter so many of these relatively intelligent animals for their meat. :crying:

Because they are so incredibly delicious, especially when cured or smoked. :drool:

[chegitz guevara]

Humans share genes with almost every organism on Earth.

[SacRedMan]

I hope we will envolve some day and love our planet... and mud :laugh::blushing:

[REVLEFT'S BIEGGST MATSER TROL]

fucking love pigs

crap article though, as far as i can tell its one of those "hey so we found all these totally obvious and sensible reasons why pigs do this...BUT WE RECKON THEY MORE OR LESS DO IT CAUSE FISH LOVE WATER AND WE EVOLVED FROM FISH."

[Quail]

Humans share genes with almost every organism on Earth.
This just reminded me of my biology teacher saying that if we had a different number of chromosomes, we might be cucumbers.

Anyway... who could eat this?
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrJDY2Rxnq1ajoE0FutJsGwl8vpZttt 6RWs-WEd4yl8pwf36a-
:wub::wub:So cute.

[Johnny Kerosene]

Anyway... who could eat this?
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrJDY2Rxnq1ajoE0FutJsGwl8vpZttt 6RWs-WEd4yl8pwf36a-
:wub::wub:So cute.

I could. I would feel horrible about it, but I would still eat it. I have wanted a pet pig for a long time though.

[Tablo]

This just reminded me of my biology teacher saying that if we had a different number of chromosomes, we might be cucumbers.

Anyway... who could eat this?
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrJDY2Rxnq1ajoE0FutJsGwl8vpZttt 6RWs-WEd4yl8pwf36a-
:wub::wub:So cute.
Would totally eat it if it tastes good. Even if it isn't that good I can fry it up and have a blast eating it. :lol:

[Quail]

I could. I would feel horrible about it, but I would still eat it. I have wanted a pet pig for a long time though.
If you'd feel horrible about eating it, why would you?

[Johnny Kerosene]

If you'd feel horrible about eating it, why would you?

Love of pork>Guilt

I wouldn't feel horrible about eating, just killing it.

[Quail]

Love of pork>Guilt

I wouldn't feel horrible about eating, just killing it.
But that makes no sense, since eating it requires killing it. :confused:

[Johnny Kerosene]

But that makes no sense, since eating it requires killing it. :confused:

While eating it would require it's death, eating and killing are two separate actions (unless you start eating while it's alive, which I wouldn't do), as such I would only feel bad while killing it and immediately after. By the time it was cooked and ready to be eaten I wouldn't be particularly concerned.
I generally don't go out looking for small pigs to kill and eat though, so the likely-hood of me doing that is relatively low.

[Quail]

While eating it would require it's death, eating and killing are two separate actions (unless you start eating while it's alive, which I wouldn't do), as such I would only feel bad while killing it and immediately after. By the time it was cooked and ready to be eaten I wouldn't be particularly concerned.
I generally don't go out looking for small pigs to kill and eat though, so the likely-hood of me doing that is relatively low.
So you feel bad about killing, but not about an action that relies on killing? That really doesn't make any sense. Either you consistently don't feel bad about killing and eating animals, or you consistently do. I don't see how you can separate the act of killing an animal from eating it, since eating it depends on you killing it.

[Johnny Kerosene]

So you feel bad about killing, but not about an action that relies on killing? That really doesn't make any sense. Either you consistently don't feel bad about killing and eating animals, or you consistently do. I don't see how you can separate the act of killing an animal from eating it, since eating it depends on you killing it.

I'm not necessarily the one who's killing it. I would feel bad about killing an animal, but not about eating it after it's been killed. In fact if no one ate an animal after it was killed then it would have been killed in vain. Yes, in a way I am killing animals by eating meat, which creates the demand for more meat, so more animals will be killed for the purpose of food.

[Quail]

I'm not necessarily the one who's killing it. I would feel bad about killing an animal, but not about eating it after it's been killed.
But in order to eat the animal, it's necessary to kill it. I don't understand how it can be okay for someone else to kill it before you eat it, but you'd feel guilty about killing it yourself. I honestly cannot comprehend that kind of denial.

[Johnny Kerosene]

But in order to eat the animal, it's necessary to kill it. I don't understand how it can be okay for someone else to kill it before you eat it, but you'd feel guilty about killing it yourself. I honestly cannot comprehend that kind of denial.

Killing something, and knowing that someone else killed something, or even watching someone else kill something, are very different.

[Reznov]

Very interesting. I find pigs to be very fascinating creatures. They are very intelligent, strong, tough, rugged, their hides are useful for various purposes, they are delicious and easy to upkeep (compared to cattle), they are not fussy and dumb like pandas, they are fast as hell if they want to be and their facial expressions have some very human-like charateristics.

Pigs, great triumph of evolution.

And I think baby pigglets are fucking adorable.

But yes, they do make some damn good pig skins (Is that what their called? They are like chips.)

[Johnny Kerosene]

And I think baby pigglets are fucking adorable.

But yes, they do make some damn good pig skins (Is that what their called? They are like chips.)

Do you mean pork rinds? I was never fond of those. Of course I haven't had them since I was like 7.

[Quail]

Killing something, and knowing that someone else killed something, or even watching someone else kill something, are very different.
But the act of killing is the same. So why is it okay for someone else to do it, but you would feel guilty about it? You haven't answered that point. The only reason is probably that when someone else does the killing you dissociate the act of killing from the meat.

[Johnny Kerosene]

The only reason is probably that when someone else does the killing you dissociate the act of killing from the meat.

Yeah pretty much.

[chegitz guevara]

But the act of killing is the same.

Is it? Just because you say so?

You mistake squeamishness for morality. The fact that I may not want to do something myself doesn't mean I don't want it done. I don't want to personally kill any animals, but I want it done, because I want to eat them. If I had to, I would do it myself. But I don't, so I don't.

Furthermore, I need it done, even if I would chose to stop being human and become a vegan. Plant cultivation requires the deaths of far, far more animals than are directly killed for meat eating. All the little critters who live in our fields and want to eat our grains, veggies, tubers, fruit, etc., get killed. The number is in the tens of billions.

If you can't stand to take life, the most moral act would be to take one more, your own. Otherwise, you need to get over how the universe made us.

[Queercommie Girl]

I could. I would feel horrible about it, but I would still eat it. I have wanted a pet pig for a long time though.

Having a pet pig isn't such a prudent idea given how big they can grow.

Except the pot-bellied species which is about the size of a large dog.

[Queercommie Girl]

Anyway... who could eat this?
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTrJDY2Rxnq1ajoE0FutJsGwl8vpZttt 6RWs-WEd4yl8pwf36a-
:wub::wub:So cute.

:wub: Cute