Duroc Pigs: The Essential Guide

Duroc pigs are not your average or typical breed of pet pigs as they are often raised as livestock and for crossbreeding purposes.

The Duroc pigs are one of the older breed of domestic pigs and they were once a very large pig until they became fully domesticated and mixed with other breeds of pigs.

Even though they are rarely raised as pets, farmers who learned how amazing Duroc pigs can be, often praise the breed which stirs the curiosity within people who have less information about pigs.

In this article, you can find everything you need to know about Duroc pigs.

History and Origins

The Duroc pigs we know today were also known as the “Duroc-Jersey” pig when the pigs were crossbred between the Red Jersey pig of New Jersey and the Old Duroc pig of New York.

There are many theories related to the red strains belonging to the said breed. One of the strains was believed to have originated from Africa.

They believed that the pigs were imported from Africa when slave trading was a standard in the past.

Duroc pigs are notably known for their red or dark brown coloration. Some believe that the red color came from the Berkshire breed of pigs which was also color red in the past but is now black.

Another possible connection is the imported piglets from Spain and Portugal way back year 1837.

Despite the many theories, there is still no clear source about the origin of the Duroc pigs.

The first pig to have its genome sequenced was a female Duroc pig (a sow) named T.J Tabasco. Genome sequencing is a process of analyzing the DNA of any living being which helps us or Science to fully understand how the body works or how it was made.

Over the years, the breed of Duroc pigs became popular for their meat and sturdy bodies.

Duroc pigs are also one of the fastest growing breeds of pig when they’re kept on a healthy and balanced diet.

They are favored by hog farmers who want to keep their pigs outdoors because the Duroc pigs are not as high maintenance compared to other pigs. They can thrive well regardless of the climate.

Anatomy and Physical Appearance

Duroc pigs are a medium sized breed. They often have long legs, moderately long backs and a medium sized head or face.

These pigs are known for their quick yet detailed muscular growth. The muscle formation is obviously seen in Duroc pigs unlike the other breeds that have a lot of fat.

COLORS — Duroc pigs usually have color orange with a mix of brown skin or hair but it also ranges from a light-golden shade to a deep mahogany-red. Although their colors are often red, they may also come in different colors if not purebred.

HEAD — Duroc pigs commonly have medium to large sized heads and has small shaped eyes. Pigs also have poor eyesight and even the muscular Duroc pigs are not exempted from that trait.

EARS — The ears are often large and usually drooping downwards. Just like most breeds of pigs, Duroc pigs have great sense of hearing.

SNOUT (THE NOSE) — Duroc pigs have large snouts. The snout is sensitive to touch due to their powerful sense of smell.

WEIGHT — The average weight for a matured male Duroc pig is about 400 kg (881 pounds) while females are about 350 kg (771 pounds)

TEETH — Duroc pigs will have normal and non-sharp teeth but can still bite really hard onto food. All pigs usually get their needle sharp teeth clipped moments or hours after birth.

The sharp teeth will be replaced by normal teeth afterwards.

TUSKS — all pigs grow tusks including domestic breeds like the Duroc pigs. Male or female, wild or domestic, there are no exceptions.

Females usually have shorter or smaller tusks that rarely grow long or large enough to stick out of their mouths. Because of this trait, it was one of the easy ways to identify the gender of the pigs in the wild.

The tusks serve as a pig’s offensive and defensive weapon. However, domestic pigs usually have their tusks completely removed as it serves no purpose in captivity.

For those who may not be aware, the tusk is actually part of the jawbones and is considered part of the teeth. This means that if you cut off their tusks, it will not grow back.

However, trimming is a different task and is only done to care for the pig.

NAILS AND HOOVES — Duroc pigs also have hooves and “dewclaws” that may need trimming. On an average, a pig should have trimming at least once a year.

Indoor pigs will require more trimming while outdoor pigs that have a stable, solid footing may only require lesser trimming sessions.

TAIL — Duroc pigs often have short curly tails. There is no actual explanation why pigs curl their tails but there are a lot of theories as to why they do.

The only known purpose of a pig’s tail is to drive away insects like flies. It is to reach the areas their legs and mouth cannot reach.

Curious why pigs have curly tails? We have an article about that for you here.

Characteristics and Personality

Duroc pigs are slightly known for their aggressive tendencies. They can grow aggressive if they are not used to socializing at an early age. This is why it is important for owners to raise their Duroc pigs with a controlled temperament.

Despite this, the Duroc pigs can be one of the greatest farm animals due to their low maintenance personality. As dangerous as they can be when aggressive, they can still be one of the friendliest animals.

They also possess great mothering skills which means they can take care of their offspring without much problem compared to other pigs.

Duroc pigs can be independent and that is why they are often praised by farmers who raise them.

Intelligent creatures

Did you know that pigs are so intelligent, they ranked fifth among the most intelligent animals in the world? Even the medium breeds such as the Duroc pigs are proven to be just as smart as the other pigs.

Pigs are also capable of outsmarting chimpanzees, one of the top smartest animals we’ve ever known! Not many people know how smart pigs can be but those who do also say that pigs can be smarter than dogs.

The intelligence of pigs such as the Duroc pig makes them popular as pets. This also makes them unique from other regular pets or farm animals.

These pigs can also really surprise you with their great memory as well as how fast they can learn and pick up hints about certain things.

Aside from ranking fifth in the world, scientific studies and research also stated that an average pig have the same intelligence level as a 2 year old human child.

They discovered that pigs can have better focus and produce a higher success rate when it comes to tests and challenges unlike dogs and chimps.

Not all dogs can learn as fast as a pig can, as some dogs are known to be stubborn or even be full of pride. Although they are usually submissive, many dogs can be stubborn when it comes to training.

Unlike pigs that seem to naturally learn without feeling forced. They tend to learn faster because of their ability to focus better and they have a natural obedient personality which makes the entire learning process easier.

Despite the aggressive tendencies, a Duroc pig that was raised properly can be a very obedient and gentle animal and can be willingly trained.

The advantage of being a prey

Another reason why pigs like the Duroc pig have such great intelligence compared to others is because they are prey animals.

Although the modern Duroc pigs are domesticated from the moment they were born, they still retain their wild and natural traits which explain the aggressive tendencies.

Most pets that we have kept and raised are predator animals like cats and dogs so now we are being surprised by a prey like pigs and their capabilities.

Prey animals need to be on alert more than predators and thus, may develop a more sensitive way of living. They need to be smarter than their swift and strong predators.

Pigs possibly learned to enhance their intelligence by adapting and learning how to outsmart their predators.

Predators do not have to be on guard most of the time, they are usually comfortable anywhere and don’t struggle as hard as a prey when searching for food.

I have a personal saying regarding this aspect in life. The poor may be poor, but they can definitely be wiser than the rich.

It’s because when you are always on edge, you become desperate to cling on for survival. While those who are at the top have it easy and tend to forget the meaning of challenges.

When life is hard, it teaches you to become strong. Even if they are prey animals, if their minds are strong, their chances of survivability will definitely increase.

Pigs can be house trained

Many owners say they can learn even faster than dogs. The Duroc pigs or just pigs in general, can be house trained. They may learn how to use the litter box, play fetch and do several other tricks.

It has been proven that the “treat rewarding” method works very well with pigs when training them.

Compassionate

In relation to their intelligence, the Duroc pigs are capable of being compassionate. Their smart brains allow them to feel both negative and positive emotions.

This means that they can also feel pain, become depressed, be excited and many more! Because of this, many people are convinced that the cruel treatment towards livestock pigs should come to an end.

They can sense grief

Duroc pigs are capable of sensing grief from other animals, their companions or their human owners. When they do, they have a tendency to console them for comfort.

They are aware when a companion passes away or when they get left behind or abandoned. They can be sad, depressed and lonely to the point of crying real tears when mourning their loss or simply missing something or someone.

They can be sensitive

Since they have almost the same mentality or intelligence level as a child, you can expect them to behave similarly to a child. The Duroc pig can grow easily bored when isolated or irritable when kept in an uncomfortable place.

They are capable of being stubborn, being spoiled, become manipulative or dominant. However, they are rarely violent. Most pigs will never attack you unless they are deeply provoked or threatened in a corner.

Even though Duroc pigs can be aggressive, such type of behavior can be easily corrected at an early age and proper socializing.

A pig the size of a Duroc pig may pose a threat to you and can probably harm you if they tried. That is why it is important to know how to properly raise pigs like Duroc pigs.

When a pig is mistreated or abused, they WILL remember it. They know how to hold grudges, remember the faces of their abusers but they can also be grateful and remember those who cared for them.

This is part of the reason why they are lovely animals, because they exhibit a behavior where the owners must be emotionally prepared as the Duroc pigs can be emotionally sensitive too.

Pigs must be handled with genuine love and care! It may sound scary to raise them, but once they are comfortable around you, they are one of the best animal friends you can have.

Breeding and Life Expectancy

Duroc pigs are praised for their good mothering skills and large number of liters. They are also stronger compared to other domestic breeds which is why they are capable of living long lives.

Just like most breeds, the Duroc pigs can be sexually matured at six months of age. They are normally bred around six months or one year of age.

Offspring

The Duroc pigs are commonly expected to have 10 up to 15 piglets when giving birth.

Fully grown pigs can rarely give birth to 20 to 25 pigs, but it is possible. The average number of piglets that can be born from most breeds starts at 5 piglets up to 10 piglets.

If you’re interested in learning more about breeding, you can check our article about that here.

Life expectancy

The average life expectancy of a Duroc pig is 15 years up to 20 years.

It is strongly believed that as long as a pig is well cared for, they can truly outlive their average lifespan.

Habitat and Environment

The Duroc pigs are compatible with a wide variety of environments because of their flexibility when it comes to adapting and tolerating different climate.

However, just like most pigs they would prefer areas with rich pastures, sufficient food sources, fresh and clean water to drink and access to ponds or a muddy area to keep cool.

They should also have access to shelter that can shield them from severe weather conditions like strong winds, storms or extreme heat.

Natural habitat

In general, the wild habitat for most hogs or pigs generally moist forests, swamps and woodlands, especially oak forests and regions where seeds are abundant.

Environment

All hogs or pigs including the Duroc pig will prefer to inhabit places with enough food resources. Although they can tolerate any climate, they can still be sensitive to severe cold or extreme heat.

If you’re looking to keep one as a pet, you must read on to understand their preferred environment when under captivity.

They are still considered as prey animals and need to be kept away from possible predators. If they have a wide space to graze outside, there must be fences to keep out animals like wolves, coyotes or even regular stray dogs.

Like every other hog or pig, Duroc pigs have a hard time cooling off because of their inability to sweat. Because of this, they should be placed in an area that can keep them cool.

Again, they are sensitive to harsh weather conditions and thus must be protected from extreme heat and severe cold. They must be shielded from rain and any kind of storms.

Space

Pigs are also curious and outgoing creatures and would prefer living outdoors rather than staying cooped up. If kept as indoor pets, it is best to provide them enough space.

If they do not have enough space or freedom to roam and explore, they may become depressed.

Depending on the number of other pigs that will live with them, a pig the size of the Duroc pig should have a large enough pen to keep them in.

If they are being kept as indoor pets, the best solution is to give them access to at least one or two rooms to give them comfort.

Know more about how much space most pigs need by reading our article about it here.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Every animal including man has their own imperfections. All pets will have their own pros and cons. The Duroc pigs have more pros than cons, but of course, it’s important to learn what they are to fully understand their breed.

These pros and cons are applicable to many other breeds of pigs as they all exhibit similar traits and behavior. If you have read most of our articles, you may find these details similar with each other.

The explanation behind it is because all pigs have a similar nature which makes them little to no different with each other.

PROS	CONS
Not high maintenance	Prone to diseases if not careful!
Good as pets	Can be aggressive
Can be independent	Can be sensitive
Clean animals	Needs enough space

PROS

1. Not high maintenance

These pigs are not high maintenance because they are not picky eaters and adjust easily to their environment. They also don’t get sick easily as long as they are kept in a safe and clean area with the right food.

Pigs of any breed including Duroc pigs have an opportunistic mentality when it comes to feeding. As long as it looks edible, they will accept and eat it.

They have what we call a “stomach of steel” which means they can eat almost anything without getting sick from it.

However, just because they can eat anything including junk, doesn’t mean we should feed them with just anything. Certain food can still be harmful to their health and will weaken their immune system.

Read “What can I feed my Pig” if you’re curious to know about what pigs can eat and should not eat.

2. Good as pets

Regardless of gender, Duroc pigs make good pets because of their fondness towards human contact, interacting with new things and being peacefully active when they are properly raised and cared for.

3. Can be independent

As long as they have access to all their needs such as food, water, sleeping area and comfort area, Duroc pigs can be left alone without much supervision.

They will enjoy time on their own as Duroc pigs are naturally isolated at first and is used to being solo. In our terms, they can be classified as introverts.

However, they still do get along with other pigs and even other animals as long as they are raised properly.

4. Clean animals

Unlike what we originally thought of them, Duroc pigs are clean and prefer to keep their living area clean too.

As much as possible, they will assign a corner to become their toilet area in order to avoid soiling their living space.

They will enjoy baths and prefer water more than mud. Most pigs only rolled around in mud to keep cool because it’s the only thing they can do when there is no pond of water around them.

CONS

1. Prone to diseases if not careful

The disadvantage of being a non-picky eater is the risk of eating a harmful food that can infect their systems. Even though Duroc pigs are stronger than other breeds of pigs, they can still get sick.

Duroc pigs can eat anything including scrap food, junk, rotten food, spoiled food, decomposing food and decaying carcasses.

This is why it’s important to supervise your pig during feeding time and secure their feeding area and always keep it clean.

They are also strictly prohibited from eating meat (including any other meat products and food that has had contact with meat) as it is the easiest way for them to be infected by a disease that may be transmitted to humans.

You can read our article entitled “Can Pigs eat Meat?” if you would like to have more information about this topic.

2. Can be aggressive

Since Duroc pigs have a wide range of emotions, they also have bad sides too. They can be stubborn if you spoil them too bad, aggressive if not socialized early and become destructive as mentioned earlier.

Destructive behavior in adult Duroc pigs can be a sign of stress, depression or a way to express their playfulness if they are still young.

While aggressiveness is part of their normal nature, it can easily be corrected by acquainting them with human interaction and socializing them with other pigs.

If you think your pig is behaving deeply negative, it’s important to get them checked as it could be their only way of expressing internal pain that we usually do not notice until it gets worse!

Negative behavior is also a sign of mistreatment and abuse. This behavior can easily be corrected with proper training and discipline. An abused pig needs love and patience in order for them to heal and recover.

3. Can be sensitive

Did you know that raising your voice can also leave a bad impact on your pigs? The Duroc pigs are no exception to this. For some, they might perceive it as a hostile behavior.

Little actions such as slight hitting will also be remembered by your Duroc pig. They remember a lot of things, be it good or negative.

Leaving them alone for long hours can also be unhealthy when your Duroc pig doesn’t have enough space to explore or companions to interact with.

To some, it may be similar to leaving a child alone.

This is why, people who plan to own Duroc pigs should be aware of their emotional sensitivity. Remember, your piggy friend remembers!

4. Needs enough space

This has been mentioned many times in this thread. But yes, many first time owners are not aware that pigs need space! Other animals may tolerate being kept in one spot, but not Duroc pigs.

They might try to make several escapes or even attempt to break through obstacles just to get to freedom. If they do not try to be free, they will become lonely and depressed.

This is why it’s frequently mentioned in order to remind potential owners that they need to be ready for adjusting their homes and make it “pig-proof”!

It might take some effort which is why it is considered as a disadvantage when owning a pig.

Read about a similar topic in order to get an idea how to pig proof your home. Read: “Keeping a Pig Indoors”