Determining the largest pig involves looking at three distinct categories: the largest wild species, the heaviest domestic breeds, and the single largest individual ever recorded. The term “biggest” is ambiguous, as it can refer to maximum weight, average size, or sheer length and height. The size difference between wild and intentionally bred domestic pigs is immense, reflecting the impact of human selection and nutrition over centuries.
Size Comparison of Wild Pig Species
The largest living wild pig species, on average, is the Giant Forest Hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni), a massive animal native to the dense, humid forests of Central and West Africa. Adult males typically stand between 75 and 110 centimeters (30 to 43 inches) at the shoulder, with a head-and-body length of up to 2.1 meters (nearly 7 feet). Males can weigh up to 275 kilograms (606 pounds), with a median weight around 210 kilograms (460 pounds), making it the heaviest extant wild suid species.
The Giant Forest Hog is significantly larger than the more widely known Eurasian Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), though some subspecies can occasionally rival its size. The largest Eurasian Wild Boar subspecies, such as the Ussuri boar found in Northeastern Asia, can reach up to 270 kilograms (600 pounds) and stand 118 centimeters (46 inches) at the shoulder. However, the average wild boar is much smaller, with European males typically weighing 75–100 kilograms (165–220 pounds). This difference solidifies the Giant Forest Hog’s status as the largest wild pig on average.
The Heaviest Domestic Breeds
Domestic pig breeds have been selectively bred for millennia to optimize size and growth rate, resulting in animals that dwarf their wild ancestors. Among the largest standardized breeds used in agriculture, the American Yorkshire is a dominant presence, with mature boars often reaching weights between 770 and 840 pounds. The Landrace breed also produces substantial animals, where adult boars can routinely weigh up to 700 pounds.
The Poland China is consistently recognized as a breed capable of immense size, with mature boars commonly weighing between 550 and 800 pounds. This breed, the oldest American swine breed, has a history of being bred for maximum weight. The Duroc breed is another large contender, with adult boars reaching up to 882 pounds. These breeds demonstrate their maximum potential under full growth conditions, far exceeding the market weight of hogs raised today, which are typically slaughtered at around 265 pounds.
Documented World Record Hogs
The definitive answer to the question of the single biggest pig belongs to a domestic hog named “Big Bill,” a Poland China breed from Jackson, Tennessee. This record-breaking boar was officially documented in 1933, achieving an astonishing weight of 2,552 pounds (1,158 kilograms). Big Bill was reported to be 9 feet long and stood 5 feet tall at the shoulder, a massive scale unmatched by any other documented pig.
The size of Big Bill is a testament to the Poland China breed’s potential for mass. His record was tragically cut short when he broke a leg en route to the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. In contrast to this verified record, anecdotal claims of enormous feral hogs have circulated, often fueled by media attention. For example, “Hogzilla,” a wild hog shot in Georgia in 2004, was initially claimed to weigh over 1,000 pounds. Forensic scientists later confirmed that Hogzilla was a hybrid of wild boar and domestic pig and weighed approximately 800 pounds, a fraction of Big Bill’s record.