Yes, pigs can cry, and they appear to shed real tears when they are sad or distressed.
Pigs are intelligent and emotional animals. Their intelligence rivals that of a three-year-old human child, and they exhibit complex emotional responses. Because of their emotional depth, pigs are capable of experiencing sadness and distress, which can manifest as crying. The tears they shed are a physiological response to these emotions, similar to how humans cry.
While research is ongoing to fully understand the depth of pig emotions, observations suggest they experience a range of feelings, including joy, fear, and sadness. When faced with stressful situations, such as separation from their family or perceived threats, they have been observed to cry. Their tears are a visible sign of their emotional state.
Therefore, it is reasonably established that pigs, like many other mammals, have the physiological capacity and emotional depth to cry real tears.
