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Several domestic and wild animals like horses, cows, pigs, and elephants wag their tails. It’s an expression of love for some and annoyance for other animals. It’s simply not a movement of the tail, this unusual movement always has a meaning.
The animals can not speak however they try their best to communicate with us through gestures. So, it can be said that’s one way to tell us how the animal is feeling.
Why Do Pigs Wag their Tails?
Pigs have a different way of expressing happiness, anger, annoyance, and irritation. The pigs do not express annoyance or irritation by wagging their tails, they rather do that
- To show that they are happy
- To tell that they are content
- To express that they are enjoying the meal
- To inform that they are feeling better now
- To show that they are in a playful mood
- To show affection
To show that they are happy
Pigs do not demand you to do anything extra to be happy.
Toys, sufficient food, a cozy warm shelter in winter, a good mud bath, and a swimming session in summer is all pigs need to appear and sound happy.
So, when any of the above-mentioned reasons puts them in a good mood, they begin wagging their tails.
To tell that they are content
Pigs are highly expressive animals, they can not just signal their intentions to other pigs but communicate with humans using facial expressions and certain body movements.
When all pig raising requirements have been fulfilled and they have a well-suited shelter to live in, to tell they are content pigs wag their tails.
To express that they are enjoying the meal
Most of the times pigs are spotted wagging their tails at the time of eating the meal.
There are a bunch of videos on Youtube where pigs are wagging their tails while munching on food. If good quality food can make humans happy, pigs can enjoy music as well. So, it’s a pig’s way of expressing that the food is delicious and they are enjoying the meal.
To inform that they are feeling better
On factory farms, pigs have to face all kinds of situations; sickness, pain, and even injuries.
After a prolonged sickness or pain, when pigs finally feel better they express it by wagging their tails. When you call a pig name they respond with joy and tail expression.
Moreover, pigs are prone to depression as well. Weaning, change in diet, and a million minor and major reasons can put them in depression.
When their moods get lighter and they are hopeful, we get to see them wagging their tails.
To show that they are in a playful mood
It is no secret that pigs are highly social animals and they love to play. As pigs are super expressive as well, they can not keep them from expressing their playful mood as well.
However, wagging tails is not one way of informing that they are in a playful mood. They also run, chase around, wrestle, and push balls around their noses to express their playful mood.
To show affection
Pigs are one of the few animals that happen to form a close bond with not only humans but other animals as well.
So, whenever pigs notice their favorite human or animal around or get their undivided attention, they begin wagging their tails to show affection.
These were the few reasons why pigs normally wag their tails. In general, they wag their tails to express all kinds of happy emotions.
Unlike other animals, they do not wag their tails in pain, nervousness, irritation, or annoyance
Most of the domestic animals that wag their tails do that in pain, nervousness, irritation or annoyance.
However, for pigs that can never be an expression of pain, nervousness, irritation, or annoyance.
They usually bark an alarm call when stressed out. We can only associate this movement of their tail with happy emotions.
stiffness in the tail expresses alertness
This pig’s wagging of the tail is associated with happy emotions. However, some experts argue that if pigs are wagging a stiff tail they are alert, not happy. Wild pigs wag due to danger from predators.
Conclusion
Like horses, cows, and a few other domestic animals, pigs are often noticed wagging their tails as well. However, they wag their tails for different reasons; to show that they are happy, tell that they are content, express that they are enjoying the meal, inform that they are feeling better now, show that they are in a playful mood, and show affection. Some experts believe that if the pig is wagging a stiff tail, they are showing alertness rather than happiness.
