Most of the pigs are eventually bound for slaughter, but many are provided to the school of medicine for research and surgical training. Because they are so anatomically similar to humans, pigs serve as good models for human medicine. He notes that campus-raised pigs are particularly docile because they are used to frequent visitors. Despite their malodorous reputation, pigs are actually rather fastidious animals and quite bright, according to Parker and the four students who live and work at the hog barn. They point out that the animals always select a corner of their pen far from their feeding trough as a dung spot and only roll in mud to cool themselves.
People think pigs are dirty and smelly, but they're really smart.
Griesbach and fellow students Amber Steinhauer and Abbi Bennett joined returning hog-barn resident Rhonda Rhoades this fall, living in the small apartment on the upper level of the barn. The students feed and care for the animals, and learn basic herd-management skills. They jokingly note that their friends don't seem to be coming around as often since they've taken up residence at the hog barn, but they wouldn't trade their barn experience. Max Rothschild, a UC Davis alum and now a professor at Iowa State University, echoes their sentiments. As a sophomore, Rothschild talked then herdsman Jim Moore into giving him a job at the hog barn.