The Tamworth Pig (Sus domesticus) is a medium-sized European ungulate featured in the Barnyard Animal Pack DLC for Planet Zoo.
Zoopedia Description[]
General[]
Population In Wild: 4,000
The Tamworth is an English breed of the domestic pig (or Sus domesticus). The exact time and location of its origin are unknown, though it is assumed to have originated at the beginning of the 19th century near the town of Tamworth in England. Wild boars were used in the development of this breed, making the Tamworth a strong and hardy pig. Tamworth pigs have a distinct red colouration uniformly across their body, with no markings. They have a muscular and long body, and relatively long legs. The breed is sexually dimorphic: male pigs stand up to 65cm tall with a weight between 250kg and 370kg, females are a bit smaller and weigh 200kg to 300kg.
Tamworth pigs are considered an endangered domesticated species. As a priority breed, they require special conservation attention to keep the breed alive while maintaining genetic diversity and respecting breed standards.
Social[]
Domestic pigs are social animals and live in small family groups, often made up of several sows and their offspring. Young boars may be kept in bachelor groups, while mature males remain solitary or with a female group. Within a group, pigs mainly communicate using grunting vocalisations to relay their emotional state or while rooting for food.
Reproduction[]
Tamworth pigs breed year-round, with a sow’s oestrus cycle lasting around 21 days. Per cycle, she is fertile for up to 4 days. When a boar is near to a sow in heat, he will vocalise and exhibit the flehmen response to better track her smell. He will nuzzle the head, flanks, and hindquarters of the sow before mounting her to mate.
A Tamworth sow is pregnant for around 115 days, often described with the memorable phrase ‘3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days’. After this period, the sow gives birth to a large litter of 6 to 10 piglets. They remain with their mothers and nurse until they are about 5 months old.
Tamworth sows may become sexually mature as early as 6 months old, though 1 year is more common. Boars usually mature slower than sows. The Tamworth is a slow-growing breed, and maximum growth in both sexes is usually reached between 2 and 3 years old.
Animal Care[]
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Hay · Root Vegetables · High Fibre Biscuits | |
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Zoopedia Fun Facts[]
- The Tamworth was recognised as a breed in 1865 in England. They were also exported to Canada, Australia, and the US, where they became a staple meat producer until the rise of industrial-scale farming.
- In 1998, a pair of Tamworth pigs escaped from a butcher just after unloading. It took several days to recapture the ‘Tamworth Two’, who became a media sensation across Great Britain. Called Butch and Sundance, the pigs lived in a rescue centre until their deaths.
- Since wild boars are considered dangerous wild animals, Tamworth pigs are used as stand-ins in some British rewilding areas, due to their close physical and behavioural similarities.
- It is unclear where the red colouration of the Tamworth originates. It may have come from other breeds when the Tamworth was first developed, or simply established via selective breeding.
- Tamworth pigs are very hardy and were often kept outdoors. They are great foragers and often feed on acorns in forests they are kept in.
Gallery[]
