Pigs carry a bad reputation but behind that, they are actually pretty amazing. They may appear “fat” in our eyes and it makes us wonder if there are things they can do such as running fast despite the way their bodies are built.
So, can pigs run fast? Domestic pigs can run as fast as 17 km/h while wild pigs can reach a speed of 30 km/h! They surprisingly make good marathon partners and can run a 7-minute mile without any problems.
This proves that despite a pig’s large appearance and heavy weight, they can still be flexible enough to run fast anywhere you put them.
Fleeing is actually one of a pig’s prioritized skills especially in the wild. They can run fast enough to lose predators in order to save themselves.
For some breeds, they may be slower but it all depends on their body build and how much they are used to exercises such as running.
In general, pigs are swift enough to outrun some humans.
However, despite their fast speed, they can tire out really fast that is why they can only maintain their top speed for short distances.
The speed of a pig even gave rise to an expression saying, “slicker than a greased pig”. This is related to a cultural event called “Greasy Pig Contest” where pigs get all greased up to make it harder for contestants to catch them.
Luckily, the event has been cancelled after several petitions by animal rights activists because we really should not be using a pig’s speed only to play around with them. It truly seems unnecessary.
For pet owners, you may sometimes catch your pig zooming around in the house. You can tell that they are pretty fast and they are zooming around out of happiness, hype or excitement!
On top of a pig’s speed, there are still many things pigs are good for. They are surprisingly awesome animals and can be one of the greatest pets you can ever keep. Keep reading to learn more!
Why pigs need their speed
What is the main use of speed for pigs? Pigs are prey animals and do not bother hunting like predator animals. Predator animals rely on their speed to hunt down prey like pigs, and thus, prey animals uses speed to counter them.
However, despite being good sprinters, pigs can’t just keep running they must be able to find a place to hide because they do not have the stamina to keep them running at a fast pace.
Most predators remember scents and that is why apart from running in panic, pigs should still be able to find a safe place to hide in.
What are the animals that pigs can outrun?
Domesticated pigs can only outrun a few certain animals apart from what will be further discussed below. They can outrun chickens and other slow animals.
But for wild pigs, they can outrun elephants, grizzly bears, black mamba snakes, race runner lizards, wild turkeys and squirrels.
There must be more on the list, but this can give you enough idea.
How to catch a fast pig
Does your pet pig like to escape from its pen or break through fences to run for freedom? Well, pigs are naturally curious animals so they tend to desire exploring new things and places.
In an event that your pig goes loose, it can be difficult for you to catch them especially at the early start, but it is also important for you not to lose sight of them so keep following.
The best thing you can do is follow them around at your own regular pace until the pig tires out.
Pigs often run in zigzags and can reach their top tier speed from the beginning so it can truly be a challenging feat for anyone to catch a pig. Since pigs can tire out easily, letting them use up their energy is the best option.
Are pigs faster than cats?
Pigs are swift but cats can reach the speed of 48 km/h. Cats often outrun dogs and so they can easily outrun domestic cats.
However, wild boars such as Warthogs have almost the same speed as a domestic cat but that is a completely different scenario.
Cats and pigs often get along way better than dogs as cats can tolerate a pig better than dogs do. Pigs are quieter than dogs which mean they annoy cats less often.
Even when a cat gets annoyed by a pig, its only way of injuring a pig is through their claws. It can still be deadly, but at the very least, a cat cannot maul a defenseless pig the way dogs can.
We understand dogs are not violent animals but when angered they are capable of killing pigs which is why we are only serving a warning before putting two animals together.
To learn more about pigs getting along with cats and dogs, you can read our articles about it here. “Do Pigs Get Along with Cats?” and “Do Pigs Get Along with Dogs?”
Are pigs faster than dogs?
Yes, pigs are capable of outrunning dogs. However, dogs can actually be faster than cats and there are specific breeds such as the Greyhound the can be twice faster than the common breeds!
Dogs and pigs actually do not get along as well as cats do and therefore, the fact that dogs can eventually catch a pig after a long chase can be risky for pigs.
No matter how gentle, dogs can still lose their patience with pigs and can suddenly become aggressive or violent. For anyone who owned more than two dogs, they would know how play fights easily turn to real bite fights.
Pigs will have no way of defending themselves from dogs when cornered but when they do, it will be their tusks and it can seriously injure dogs!
This is why the pigs and dogs combination is not a recommended pair because pigs can easily drain a dog’s patience.
Related Questions
- What is the fastest growing pig in the world?
Berkshire pigs are one of the fastest growing breeds of pigs in the world. They are known for their efficient growth and are praised mainly for it.
Berkshire pigs are also one of the largest breeds of domestic pigs in the world. They have notable color pattern that will let anyone know it’s a Berkshire pig.
These pigs are known as “Kurobuta” in Japan — “Kuro” meaning “Black” and “Buta” meaning “Pig“.
An average, fully grown male Berkshire pig could weigh at 600 lb (270 kg) or higher. While a female Berkshire pig could be around 396 lb (179 kg) but can still grow bigger.
For their height, an average adult Berkshire (regardless of gender) can reach the height of about 70 cm to 75 cm (27 inches to 29 inches)
Berkshire pigs are considered a rare breed of pigs that originated from the English county of Berkshire which is now known as Oxfordshire. They are bred and raised in different parts of the world.
They have a natural curious personality and are also friendly towards people. They may occasionally enjoy physical interactions too. Despite their large size, they are docile creatures that can enjoy having fun at times.
To learn more about Berkshire pigs, you can read our article about it here.
- What makes a pig unique?
Pigs are the 4th most intelligent animals in the world. They are born with poor eyesight, but compensated with sensitive sense of hearing and excellent sense of smell.
Contrary to the popular belief that pigs are bad, dirty, evil and such, they are actually one of the most amazing animals you can come across with.
They have great memories that allow them to remember owners even after years of separation, remember up to more than 30 companions and hold grudges and gratitude.
Their intelligence allows them to be emotional, expressive and opportunistic. It is also possible that a pig may be one of the few animals that have self-recognition, but this is still under research.
They are also known to be fast learners and learn even faster than dogs. Pigs can outsmart chimps and rank higher than dogs in terms of intelligence.
Pigs can also be sweet and know how to comfort people! They sense our grief as they too can feel grief. Pigs mourn and cry actual tears when they are sad, depressed or when they lose a beloved companion.
Pigs are unique in a sense that they are so misunderstood and many people are truly misinformed about them that they become truly interesting when people begin to learn the truth behind their stigma.
- Are wild boars dangerous?
According to studies, several hunters claim that wild boars can prove to be more dangerous than bears because of their razor sharp tusks and intellectual thinking.
Wild boars are faster than bears and can cause severe injuries to mortal wounds that can be truly life threatening.
However, despite their intimidating appearance, wild boars usually prefer to stay out of trouble as much as possible.
They are prey animals and would rather flee than fight their enemies but when cornered, they may charge at their attacker as a last resort.
Rarely, wild boars can exhibit unpredictable behavior as some can actually develop territorial personalities that may cause them to become aggressive and initiate fights first instead of waiting to be attacked.
In a sense, they are dangerous when provoked thus it is better to avoid one another to prevent any unnecessary injuries from both ends.