Swine Savvy


Green Eggs & Ham
It’s not just a children's story

Animal Agriculture only contributes 2.8 percent of the U.S. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and pork production is even less. Hog farms contribute a mere 0.33 percent. That is only one-third of one percent, people produce more GHG than that! New technology and a greater knowledge of environmental impact can be contributed to this small percentage. Such practices as recycling hog waste (manure) as fertilizer and using a smaller land area to raise more pigs are also contributors to making the pork industry a green industry.


Pork Has The Biggest Piece of Pie
Pork is the world’s most widely eaten meat for good reason. Lean pork is just as healthy as chicken and studies show that a balanced diet that includes pork can actually help dieters LOSE weight!


 Pork Points
  • Missouri ranks 7th among all the states in pork production producing 6% of the U.S. Pork.
  • In 2006 the pork industry created nearly 25,000 jobs.
  • The pork industry contributes more than $1 billion dollars to Missouri’s economy.
  • The biggest pig ever recorded was 5 feet tall and weighed over 2,500 pounds! That’s as big as a car.
  • Pigs can’t sweat. They don’t have sweat glands.
  • It only takes around 160 days to raise a pig to market weight of 220 pounds. That’s just over 5 months. They sure grow up fast!
  • A pig's squeal can reach 115 decibels--that's as loud as a supersonic jet engine. You better cover your ears when they start to squeal!
  • Pigs, both wild and domestic, eat fruits and veggies but they will also eat eggs, birds, rodents, even snakes. Maybe that’s why they’re called pigs.

Porky Products

Pigs aren’t just for ham and bacon.
There are over 500 byproducts that come from pigs. Here are just a few:
    • Chalk
    • Glue
    • Crayons
    • Buttons
    • Fertilizer
    • Insulation
    • Weed Killers
    • Plastics
    • Fabric Dye
    • Ornaments
    • Insecticides
    • Matches
    • Upholstery
    • Floor Waxes
    • Rubber
    • Water Filters
    • Antifreeze
    • Make-up
    • Linoleum
    • Chewing Gum
    • Cement
    • Gelatin
    • Asphalt
    • Glass

 And you thought pigs were only good for breakfast.
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