Humans and Pigs

Pig species share a long history with humans, from their association with the early hominids in Africa to their domestication. Today, they represent an essential source of protein for billions of people and are even used as a biomedical model. This chapter summarizes the evolution of this key animal in our history, the distant evolution of its progenitor, the wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), and the recent evolution of commercial breeds that now dominate production in the northern hemisphere. Although dogs were undoubtedly the first domesticated animals, pigs were among the first livestock species to enter a domestic relationship with humans, alongside goats, sheep and cattle. Domestic pigs were also transported by people across Eurasia and Oceania in prehistoric times, and also more recently. Humans introduced domestic pigs to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, eastern Indonesia and New Guinea.