Think Pigs Are Dirty? Think Again
20 Jul 2026 · 1 min
0:42
Pigs wallow in mud not because they're dirty, but because they sunburn easily. The mud blocks insects, cools them as it dries, and protects their skin from the sun. It's survival, not filth.
Pigs wallow in mud not because they're dirty, but because they sunburn easily. The mud blocks insects, cools them as it dries, and protects their skin from the sun. It's survival, not filth.
Can pigs get sunburned like humans?
Yes, they can sunburn. And this is one of the multitude of reasons why they will cover themselves in mud. It's so funny. This is one of the reasons why they're labeled a dirty animal, yet they're one of the cleanest animals on the landscape. The wallowing in the mud serves 3 purposes. One, pest protection. So any flies and mosquitoes and stuff like that, it sort of builds a protector. It's usually wet mud, and so it's a cooling effect. They cover themselves in mud and then they go lay somewhere. And as the mud dries, it evaporatively cools them. Pigs aren't the most Heat-tolerant animal on the planet. And then the third thing it does is if exposed to direct sun, it does help protect them from sunburn.
This is going to sound like a bizarre question, but do you know
