September 24, 2026
experience days, Farm Diversification, pigs

The Intelligence of Pigs

More Than Mud and Snuffles: The Intelligence and Social Lives of Pigs

Good Day Out has been offering piggy walks and pig experiences with special pet Kunekune pigs for over 10 years. Their loving owners, Helena & Gary are constantly amazed by how intelligent they are and also how caring they are for each other within their social group. However, this week, the affectionate younger group of piggy sisters demonstrated a new level of empathy and intelligence towards each other…

Pigs that care for each other

Helena & Gary have their pet pigs living in two groups. The older pigs, Babz and Willow are in semi-retirement for walks, but still enjoy meeting people and going for a potter. The younger team of four are usually super-keen and love a run about and a rummage in the hedgerows and meadows where they live. They are sisters from the same litter, and have lived most of their life in a beautiful valley within the Bannau Brycheiniog / Brecon Beacons National Park. Last Sunday, though, one of the group, Rosie, wasn’t her usual exuberant self which was luckily noticed by Gary whilst they were on their piggy walk.

Her temperature was taken, vet called and a chest infection was suspected.

Monday, she was lethargic and not responding to the treatment. A different antibiotic was given and all Gary & Helena could do was watch & wait. This is when they noticed some remarkable behaviour! The other pigs started to bite off long green stems from the tough rush grass in various areas of their field. They then were carrying bunches of it by mouth and laying it gently in front of Rosie.

After researching this behaviour, they found that Green rush grasses, usually the Juncaceae family, have a long history of herbal usage. The pith within the stem is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and can give calming effects as well. Modern advice for humans is to use with caution as there can be a strong diuretic effect, but clearly the three little pigs knew what they were doing in feeding this to poorly Rosie.

The happy ending to this short story is that lovely Rosie was a bit sorry for herself the following day, but now back to her happy mischievous character 🙂

More about the interlligence of pigs

Pigs have a reputation for being curious, food-loving characters, and anyone who has spent time with them will know there is plenty of truth in that. But there is much more going on behind those snouts and bright eyes.

Pigs are intelligent, social animals with strong relationships, individual personalities and a real awareness of the world around them. They learn quickly, remember routines and often seem to know exactly what is happening before the people around them do.

At Good Day Out, time spent walking with Kunekune pigs offers a chance to see this for yourself. A pig walk is not simply about taking an animal from A to B. It is about watching a small group make their way through the valley, investigate a new smell, decide where they would like to pause and keep track of one another along the route. It also, of course, involves food and they enjoy a varied diet of carrot, apple and other snacks given by the walkers along the way.

Pigs are quick learners

Pigs can learn through repetition, recognise familiar people and respond to routines. They are naturally curious, which means they enjoy exploring their surroundings with their noses. A new patch of ground, a muddy puddle or an interesting hedge can provide plenty to investigate.

That curiosity is one reason walks can be so enjoyable for them and provide enrichment. There are different scents, textures and sounds, along with the chance to move around and explore at their own pace. It is not a race, and the pigs are very clear about that.

Their intelligence also shows in the way they communicate. Pigs make a range of sounds, use body language and pay close attention to what is happening around them. Spend a little time with a group and you soon begin to notice that each pig approaches things in their own way. One may be confidently first to explore, while another takes a little longer to decide whether something is worth investigating.

A social life with a pecking order

Pigs enjoy company and form strong social groups. Like many animals living together, they have their own social order and ways of working out who is who. This can include a bit of jostling, a determined look or the occasional reminder about personal space.

Once a group is settled, pigs often choose to stay close together. They can be seen resting near one another, moving as a group and keeping an eye on what the others are doing. Their relationships matter, and a familiar companion can be reassuring when they are somewhere new or faced with something unfamiliar.

Watching pigs together is a good reminder that animals are not simply individuals sharing a field. They have friendships, preferences and group dynamics, just as people do.

Looking out for one another

Pigs can take cues from each other. If one pig is curious about something, others may come over to investigate. If one feels unsure, the behaviour of the group can help it decide whether a situation is safe.

This is part of what makes a pig walk so enjoyable to watch. The pigs may set off with confidence, pause together to inspect a tempting smell, then continue as a small gang. They are interested in the people with them, but they are also very aware of each other.

Good welfare is about giving animals opportunities to behave naturally. For pigs, that includes exploring, moving around, using their noses and spending time with companions they know. Walking and paddling with the pigs provides gentle stimulation and interaction, while keeping the experience calm and led by their pace.

Meet the pigs for yourself

Spending time with pigs can change the way you see them. They are funny, determined, sociable and often surprisingly thoughtful animals.

On a Good Day Out Piggy Walk with a Pig-nic, you can meet the Kunekune pigs, enjoy the Senni Valley scenery and learn more about the animals from the people who care for them. You may come for the walk, but it is usually the personalities, and the way the pigs look after their little group, that stay with you.