Pigs, also called hogs and swine, were a kind of animal raised as livestock, generally for the sole purpose of being eaten. Domestic pigs were gentle and docile creatures, although they were known to be both more stubborn and more intelligent than other forms of livestock. They were perhaps best known for their appetites as they would eat nearly anything and were known to crowd around their feeding troughs greedily.
Pigs were easy to keep alongside other domestic animals, like Chickens or Goats. While usually harmless, pigs could become irritable when underfed, and swineherds risked nasty bites and kicks, especially from breeding males which might also have tusks. As a result, it was not uncommon for swineherds to wear leather armor and leather gloves, or something similar
Male pigs used for breeding were called "Boars" while the females were called "sows". A newborn was called a "piglet" until it was weaned, at which point it was a "shoat". Most male shoats were then castrated, ensuring that they grew to be fat and docile.