Meet Our Pigs and Piglets on the Farm Park

Meet Our Pigs, Piglets & Sows

Black, white, spotted or saddle-backed, our pigs demonstrate just how varied Britain’s traditional breeds can be. Meet playful pigs and piglets, and attentive sows as you explore the Farm Park. Watch them root through the ground, investigate their surroundings and settle down together in the straw.

Britain’s traditional pig breeds come in a remarkable variety of colours, patterns, sizes and ear shapes. These visible differences make them easy to compare, but every breed also represents a valuable part of the country’s agricultural heritage. Each breed has its own distinctive appearance, behaviour and farming history, from the local Gloucestershire Old Spot to the remarkable Iron Age pig.

FAQs

1. What are adult pigs called? Adult male pigs are called boars, adult females are known as sows, and young pigs are called piglets.
2. Are pigs intelligent? Pigs are intelligent, social animals with a highly developed sense of smell. They use their strong snouts to explore the ground, search for food and investigate almost everything around them.
3. What pigs can I see at the Farm Park? We have a range of pigs from Gloucester Old Spots to Iron Age pigs. But not all will always be on display as we move them around and in colder months will house them indoors. Please contact us to check which ones are available to see if you are hoping to see a specific breed.
4. What Is the Difference Between a Piglet, Boar, Sow and Pig? A piglet is a young pig. An adult male pig is called a boar, while an adult female is known as a sow. The word pig can be used as a general term for the animal, regardless of its age or sex. Boars are often larger and more heavily built than sows of the same breed. Mature males may also develop broader heads, thicker necks and more prominent canine teeth. Sows play an essential role in raising their piglets, feeding, protecting and communicating with them during the first stages of their lives.
5. Why do Pigs love to root? A pig's nose is one of its most important tools. Rooting allows pigs to search through soil, straw and vegetation while investigating scents and looking for food. This natural behaviour keeps them physically active and mentally stimulated. Watch closely and you may see them moving straw, turning over soil and carefully examining their surroundings. Their strong sense of smell means pigs can detect food and interesting scents that people would never notice.