porcine

Porcine is an adjective used to describe anything related to pigs, boars, or the pig family Suidae. In scientific contexts it often refers to traits of Sus scrofa, the species that encompasses both wild boars and domestic pigs. The term derives from Latin porcinus, from porcus, pig.

In taxonomy, the domestic pig is Sus scrofa domesticus, a subspecies of Sus scrofa. Domestic pigs were domesticated from wild boars in multiple regions, with evidence suggesting origins in the Near East, China, and Europe around 8,000 to 9,000 years ago. Pigs are omnivorous mammals adapted to a wide range of habitats. Anatomically, adults have a distinctive snout used for rooting, a thick hide, and incisor tusks in boars.

Porcine products and uses include pork meat, which is a major source of dietary protein worldwide, along with byproducts such as lard and various organs used in food and industry. In biomedical research, porcine models are valued for physiological similarities to humans. Pigs are also kept for agricultural production and, in some cases, for biotechnological applications.

In veterinary medicine and agriculture, porcine terminology appears in references to anatomy, diseases, and products. The term is widely used in culinary contexts to describe foods derived from pigs, such as porcine meat.