THE
park of
the
pigs
Who are they?
The species
Origins . The modern pig (Sus domesticus) was domesticated from the Sus Scrofa (wild boar) over 13,000 years ago near the Tigris River in the Middle East. 8,500 years ago, they followed human migration to Europe where they interbred with wild boars. The origins of wild boars can be traced back to Indonesia and the Philippines 2 million years ago.
Characteristics . There are approximately 600 species of pigs, all created by man. In France, there are six hardy breeds (in the west, southwest, and Corsica), generally raised in small groups. Dwarf and Vietnamese pigs, often kept as pets, represent only a small proportion. In France, 95% of the pigs raised are the 'large white pigs', originating from England. Females reach an adult weight of 300 to 350 kg (500 kg for males). After fertilization, the gestation period for sows (female pigs) lasts 114 days. They carry about 8 piglets, but often more (up to 12-14). While a domestic pig can live 12 to 15 years, most pigs in France are slaughtered between 6 and 12 months.
Character . The pig is very intelligent, sociable with humans, and quickly learns the name given to it. It is often territorial towards others and prefers its own private space, while appreciating the presence of other pigs nearby .
Who are our protégés?
Like all farm animal sanctuaries and shelters, we receive requests daily to foster pigs. Often, these are individuals who realize that a small pig, while charming, quickly grows up and becomes cumbersome. We are also seeing an increase in requests from authorities, faced with a rise in cases of abuse and neglect in farms. This poses a real problem, as sanctuaries like ours—all volunteer-run—lack the resources to cope. At Sanctuaire La Garie, we accept individuals according to our abilities and on an individual basis.
Commercial exploitation
Pig farming is very lucrative. Thanks to their short gestation period, sows can have two litters per year. They are impregnated at one year of age and sent to the slaughterhouse at three years of age, allowing a sow to produce more than forty piglets. The piglets are fattened for slaughter at six months of age and then processed into food products such as hams, sausages, and other cured meats.
In factory farming, sows spend the majority of their short lives confined in gestation crates where they are deprived of any freedom of movement.
Due to their close physiological similarities to humans, pigs are also used for laboratory research and for organ and skin transplantation for the benefit of humans.
👉 In France, 24 million pigs are slaughtered each year for meat production. Their lifespan is six months.
👉 95% of pigs raised in France come from industrial farms where they live on concrete, without straw and without access to the outdoors.
👉 Globally, 1.5 billion pigs are farmed, half of them in China.
The numbers
Is it necessary to exploit them?
The health authority recommends limiting the consumption of cured meats to 150 grams per week. The average French person consumes three times more, which significantly contributes to the increase in new pandemics (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancers). Humans can eat healthily without needing to consume pork.
Did you know?
👉 What is a 'cochonglier'? For the pleasure of hunters, a trend started in the 1970s to cross-breed wild boar with domesticated pigs. These cochongliers have larger offspring and have shorter reproduction cycles. Since then, the wild boar population in France has multiplied by 20.
👉 Although robust and resilient, the pig has sensitive skin. That's why it likes to spend time in its pond, getting rid of insects and protecting itself from the sun with a good layer of mud.
👉 In breeding, at seven days of age, piglets undergo painful mutilations: castration, systematic tail docking (tail docking), tooth trimming (canines and incisors cut or filed), all without anesthesia. For the weakest or least profitable, there is also the slamming to the ground, until death.