Science: Language of Oink

Ignoring the gibes of colleagues. Geneticist Glen McBride of Australia’s University of Queensland perched for two years on the fences of pigpens. By listening to the oinks and grunts of teen-age swine (8 to 16-week age bracket), he hoped to fathom their social order, to learn how to make them more comfortable and faster growing. He failed, mostly because the young swine were made into hams and bacon before he got to know them well.

But he did learn the pig language.

McBride concluded that pigs have a vocabulary of at least ten easily distinguishable squeals and grunts, most of which express mood or emotion. A high-pitched squeal means distress or pain. A lower-pitched squeal, very common with pigs, says “I’m hungry.” A short squeal like a dog’s yelp means “I give up.” Grunts are more subtle, says McBride.

Grunt No. 1—contentment. Grunt No. 2—”Here I am.” Grunt No. 3—”I’m in a bad mood.” Grunt No. 4—”Let me alone.” Nursing sows have special grunts for their piglets: Sow grunt No. 1—”Come and get it.” Sow grunt No. 2—”Finish your dinner.” Sow grunt No. 3—”Watch out, kids. I’m going to move and may squash you.”