How Long Do Pigs Live? Average LifeSpan Explain

How long do pigs usually live as pets before being slaughtered? The answer to such a query in the case of any animal, not only pigs, is frequently reliant on several circumstances. Some of the primary variables that influence how long pigs live as pets naturally or before slaughter are typical living conditions, types of food consumed and overall nutrition, care received, hazards encountered, and whether the breed is generally disease-resistant.

Pigs come in two classes.

There are both wild and tamed pigs. Domesticated pigs, as one might imagine, do not face the same threats as wild pigs. They are predicted to live significantly longer and more fulfilling lives than feral pigs. However, there is a distinction between rearing domestic pigs for slaughter and as pets. Slaughtering a pig for meat reduces its natural life expectancy.

So, how long do pigs live as pets or before slaughter, and what can you do to make them live longer?

How Long Do Pigs Live?

Pigs have an average lifespan of 15-20 years. As popular livestock animals, they are rarely allowed to live for twenty years on farms. If they are raised for food, they are normally slaughtered after six months of age.

Wild pigs only live 4 to 10 years on average, depending on their environment and potential predators. Pigs kept as pets, on the other hand, can live for 20 years or more.

While many pigs can grow to be rather enormous, they are a relatively simple kind of animal to care for. Wild pigs live much shorter lives than farmed pigs because they are frequently victims of predator and prey scenarios.

Baby Jane, the world’s oldest pig, lived to be 23 years old. Guinness World Records certified the pig’s age. Before Jane, a 23-year-old pig named Ernestine held the title of the world’s oldest pig. No pig has ever lived longer than 23 years. Despite this, there have been other accounts of pigs living for more than 20 years, in addition to Baby Jane and Ernestine.

You should attempt to take good care of your pet pig. No matter how old a pig is, it needs different things at different times in its life. If you adopted a piglet rather than an adult pig, you may be wondering what it needs.

The Average Pig Life Cycle

Both wild and farmed pigs share a similar life cycle. This is their life from birth to adulthood.

#1. Newborn

Female pigs typically give birth to their young after 4 months of pregnancy. When the sow has finished giving birth, the piglets must be fed nearly immediately. Piglets must also be kept warm because they have difficulty controlling their internal body temperature during the first few weeks after birth.

Newborn pigs must have constant access to their mother or milk. They will only consume milk and sleep for the first few weeks of their lives. Their mother’s milk is essential since it contains numerous beneficial nutrients and minerals that are required to fight infection and allow their newborns to develop strongly.

#2. Piglets or Young Adults

Young pigs can be weaned from their mothers after two or three months. They will continue to grow into adulthood, but it is crucial to socialize with them while they are young. If you are thinking of bringing a pet pig into a home with other pets, you should give them time to get to know one another.

Young pigs, like young dogs and cats, enjoy affection and attention and require some training. You should give them plenty of bedding, food, and toys because they, like puppies, can become bored and destructive.

Your young pig should be fed commercial-grade pig pellets or food, hay, and fresh vegetables. You may even train your pig to sleep in a crate, use a litter box, and socialize with other pigs as a pet!

#3. Adult pigs

When a pig reaches sexual maturity, it is considered an adult. This age can vary substantially. It normally occurs between the ages of 2 and 5 years. However, it depends on the particular pig and breed. You should consider spaying or neutering your pet pig, just like you would a cat or dog.

Pigs live to be 8 to 12 years old. Pigs, like other animals, are susceptible to arthritis, dental decay, and vision problems. They frequently retain their reliable and excellent sense of smell well into old age.
Adult pigs can weigh anywhere from 40 to hundreds of pounds, depending on the breed and gender. The heaviest pig breeds can weigh up to 1,000 pounds on average.

Female pigs usually outweigh male pigs, so keeping your pig at a healthy weight for its breed is critical. From pot-bellied pig to micro pig, you need always pay attention to what and how much your pig eats!

How Long Do Pigs Live As Pets

Pet pigs, such as Vietnamese Potbelly pigs, teacup pigs, and other small pig breeds, have an advantage over most other types of pigs because they are raised as pets. As a result, they have a much better chance of reaching their full lifespan potential (often 20 years) than farm pigs or wild boars.
Some of the factors that determine or improve their ability to live much longer than most other types of pigs include:

Improved health care
Consistent availability of high-quality food
The absence of predators
General pampering

Farmed pigs can be considered pet pigs raised on a farm for various purposes. If that’s the case, it’s best to look at the average lifespan of the pig for the purpose for which it’s being raised.

Pigs raised for meat, for example, rarely live past their sixth month. Technically, they are still piglets at this point, but different pork eaters have very specific preferences, and many enjoy how tender and juicy the meat of a 6-month-old piglet is.

On the other hand, sows, or female pigs, are often raised for their ability to have more pigs. Most pig breed sows reach puberty at around 5 months and can begin farrowing their young. These female pigs typically live for about two years before being culled to make way for younger, more capable breeders.

Popular Pig Breed Lifespan

There are several popular pig breeds that seem to find their way into pig farms, backyards, and homesteads. The majority of these pigs are raised for their meat or for their ability to produce other pigs.

While the average lifespan for a well-cared-for piggy is still 15 to 20 years, the pig breed is a big determinant of whether or not the pigs you have will live that long. With that in mind, here are the average lifespans of some popular pig breeds.

How Long Do Pigs Live Before Slaughter

Pigs are slaughtered at 6 months of age. Pigs can naturally live for up to 9 months before slaughter on a small farm or homestead. This is the ideal age for the food-to-weight ratio. After 6 months, a pig’s weight gain slows and they continue to eat more food.

Factors That Affect How Long a Pig Lives

Several factors influence how long pigs live as pets or before slaughter. A wild boar that has to fend for itself will not have the same life expectancy as a pig bred for meat or a pet hog living with its owner. The following factors can have an impact on a pig’s lifespan:

Hygiene
Genetics
Health
Breed
Food availability and daily feed consumption
Natural predation
Hunting and other forms of man-made predation
Outbreak of disease
Population density
Extreme weather conditions
Loss of contact with their mother or caregiver
Age
The intent of the pig owner

How to Extend the Life of Your Pet Pig

If you have a pet pig, whether indoors or on your farm, knowing how to extend the life of your companion is essential. Any of the following tips can help you improve your pet pig’s quality of life:

#1. Make sure they are getting enough vegetables.

Your pet pig may eat pig pellets for the majority of its diet, but it still requires a certain amount of vegetables per day. Vegetables or plant matter should account for approximately 25% to 30% of your pig’s diet. Cabbage, carrots, and peppers are excellent pig vegetables.

#2. Be on the lookout for mischief.

Pigs are extremely intelligent animals, but that doesn’t mean they stay out of trouble. Quite the opposite! If left unattended or improperly trained, your pet pig can get into a lot of mischief. Your pig, for example, can learn how to open cabinets and doors if they see you doing it and know there is something they want behind the closed door. Train your pig from a young age, and you will both live happier lives.

#3. Allow them to sniff and root.

Whether you have an indoor-only pig or not, you should make sure your pet can sniff and root around in rocks and dirt. We use pigs to look for truffles, which shows that they are natural hunters. You should give your pig the opportunity to investigate the dirt, not only for its development and intelligence but also for the minerals found in the soil. It will help with their assistance in the long run.

Conclusion

While their life expectancy varies greatly and can be 4 years or more, pigs are unusual creatures that can live up to 20 years. The ultimate lesson here is to take care of your pigs if you want them to live long and healthy lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the longest lifespan of a pig?

Baby Jane was the world’s oldest pig, living to be 23 years old. Guinness World Records confirmed the pig’s age. Prior to Jane, a 23-year-old pig named Ernestine held the title of the world’s oldest pig. No pigs have survived for more than 23 years.

Are pigs smarter than dogs?

Pigs are gentle creatures with a remarkable level of intellect. According to studies, they are smarter than dogs and even three-year-old children! Pigs live in tiny groups in the wild, with a few sows and their piglets.

Are pigs good pets?

Having a pet pig is like having a two-year-old child all the time. Pigs are so difficult, demanding, and manipulative because they are so intelligent. If a caring person doesn’t pay enough attention to a pig, it can easily become boring, cranky, unhappy, inactive, or even violent and destructive.

How can you tell a pigs age?

Tusks and Teeth

A vet or pig expert should be able to examine a pig’s teeth and establish its age. Tusks can be used to estimate male age. Boars often develop prominent tusks at the age of 2-3 years.

How Long Do Pigs Live? Average LifeSpan Explain