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Kunekune pigs will live anywhere from 15 to 20 years when kept as pets. In most instances, with proper care and nutrition, they will experience longer lifespans as pets than they do in a farm-like environment.

Thanks to their legendary appetite, pigs are easily overfed and can become obese as adults if special attention isn’t paid to their diet. The presence of a fat rollover on your pig’s eyes indicates that your pet may be overweight. Discuss your pig’s diet with your veterinarian and avoid feeding them extra treats, like table scraps.Maintaining your pig’s hair is less complicated than it may seem. Brushing isn’t totally necessary, but if you could like to use it as a means of bonding with your pet, you can brush them periodically with a soft-bristled brush. It’s also important to maintain their hooves regularly. Overgrown and unmaintained hooves, nails, and tusks can cause soreness and severe pain if left unaddressed—they can even be responsible for infections, appetite loss, movement issues, and more. However, trimming can be a challenging task for a new owner, which is why we advise seeking professional help or assistance from a veterinarian.Kunekune pigs come in many sizes and can be rather large, occasionally reaching up to 200 pounds. This can become a problem when you think you’re adopting an adorable little piglet that then grows into a large pet that needs a lot of space. If you choose to house your kunekune pig indoors, provide it with a place or room of its own. Many people build them little pens into a corner of their house, while others provide them with a toddler bed or even a tent to sleep in. They prefer to move indoors and out, so make sure there is easy access to the outdoors. Since kunekune can grow to be up to 200 pounds, they need a decent amount of space to roam about and lie down. If you don’t have enough space to accommodate a 200-pound pig, then you shouldn’t get a kunekune. Kunekune pigs may not be as popular as pot-bellied pigs, but more and more people are getting them for pets. Like the pot-bellied pig, kunekune are small domestic pigs—but unlike pot-bellies, they have long hair and are originally from New Zealand.Aside from the occasional check-up by an exotics vet, a Leptospirosis or Erysipelas vaccine every six months (depending on where you live), a deworming every six months, and proper feeding, kunekune pigs are relatively easy to care for.

Kunekune pigs require a lot of care, but none of it is considered particularly hard. Most challenging of all will be keeping them mentally stimulated and ensuring you have the proper (and large enough) environment for them.

Unlike pet pot-bellied pigs, do well just eating grass. If a high-quality pasture is not available, whether it be due to drought or just not enough grass to feed a hungry adult pig, pot-bellied pig pellets and grass pellets can be used to supplement their diet. An adult kunekune will eat 2 to 3 pounds of pellets a day (equal parts of the pot-bellied pig food and grass pellets) if it doesn’t have a lot of grass (you can add hot water to the pellets to create a mash). Younger pigs will eat smaller amounts, but at least some fresh pasture should be available at all times when there is grass.

Pronounced “koo-nee koo-nee,” (which translates to “fat and round”), these pigs have very similar care requirements to pet pot-bellied pigs. Some may argue they’re even easier to care for than their less hairy relatives. They’re sweet-natured, smart, and docile and come in a variety of colors, including black, white, red, gold, brown, and tricolored.When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site.

Because of their long and thick hair, kunekune pigs are more susceptible to becoming infested with fleas and ticks. Pay close attention to their coat and check periodically for sicks of parasites—any evidence of fleas or ticks should be removed as soon as possible and treated by a professional. Additionally, all types of pigs like to root around for food with their snouts, which can potentially cause them to knock over objects in your home or destroy your yard in the process. To help redirect this behavior, hide some of their daily food in treat puzzles or in a portion of your yard where you don’t mind them rooting. Like with pot-bellied pigs, owning a kunekune pig as a pet is legal in many areas, though some places classify them as a form of livestock and therefore require certain types of enclosures and permits. Other places allow pigs up to a certain size to be kept as pets, as long as they are kept on a leash or in an enclosed area outdoors. Pay close attention to your state and local laws before pursuing ownership of a kunekune pig.

Kunekune Pigs, pronounced ‘cooney cooney’, is a lard pig that originated in New Zealand where it was known as the Maori Pig. They are a smaller breed than most other breeds and on average range from 150-300lbs. However some have reached up to 400lbs. They come in a variety of colors with either pricked or semi-flopped ears. They are a very docile breed and the boars are typically very easy to work with for most people.Steel is our Mahia Love boar, he is five years old and has sired many litters for us. He is an absolute joy to own, as he is very sweet and gentle. He loves affection and rather loud when he greets you at the fence lines. He does his best to be respectful of us but due to him being a boar with tusks I have trained him to go to his food bowl when I feed him. I simply say “go to your bowl steel pig!” and he goes and I say “good pig steel pig!” I am honestly not sure why it worked out but it did and I love it ….he must understand English.

Below are our current breeding stock. We have two registered breeding boars and boarlings and we have five registered breeding sows and gilts. Click on their name to be taken below for more information and pictures.Duke is our new Tutanekai boarling and will be breeding with Florence and Belle this spring and summer for summer piglets and more this fall. So far he is a very sweet, mellow, and laid-back boarling and he has the agouti coloring which will be fun to see how that works out in his offspring.

Beatrice- BVF Sally 7 Beatrice is a Sally sow and will be having her third litter of piglets this spring. She is a wonderful size pig and produces great breeding stock and also meat pigs. She is one of the noisiest pigs we own and she is always insisting on getting scratches and affection. As soon as we enter their paddocks she immediately goes behind us and nudges us on the calf with her nose until we pet her…. I don’t even have to look anymore I just know that it is her wanting something! She is a very attentive mother and we are very excited to see what she produces this year!!Jellybean-BVF Rebecca Gina 79, Jellybean is a Rebecca Gina sow and she will be having her third litter this spring. Jellybean is a very quiet and mellow pig and while she enjoys affection she is not nearly as pushy about it as some of our other pigs. She is more likely to be the last one in the bunch and not right up at the fence line. She is an extremely attentive and watchful mother and slightly bossy which is interesting because she is so mellow with other pigs. I love her coloring and I am very excited to see what she brings this spring.

Florence is a Trish gilt and she will be having her first litter this summer. She is also very sweet, calm and quiet. For whatever reason she absolutely adores me and when I come out there she will just stand right in front of me patiently waiting for me to pet her. I feel like she would stand there forever if I just kept petting her. She is not very noisy or pushy about it though …she just calmly and quietly waits for me to continue petting her. I’m very eager to see what kind of a mother she is and how she continues to grow.A naturally small pig with short snouts and short legs. They have endearing personalities and are very quick to learn a trick or two. They are grazing pigs and as such enjoy a pile of hay in the winter, and do not root as much as other pigs. They come in many colours, and are gentle with people.

We specialise in breeding Shetland Ponies, Quarter Horses, Miniature Mediterranian Donkeys, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Pygmy Goats and Kune-Kune Miniature Pigs.

This little lad is 12 weeks old and looking for a new home, he’s tame and eats from your hand, he has two pir pir’s and is lovely colours and is intact so will make a lovely bore when grown.Mix of female and male pedigree kune kune pigs. Will be 8 months old in May. Very friendly and love a belly rub. They are ready to go now. Based in Devon

Kunekune pigs are a good option for small farms and homesteads. In this downloadable PDF from our partners, the American KuneKune Pig Society, you will learn the basics about the KuneKune breed of pigs. Including:We rotate our pigs through five pas­tures, moving them every other day dur­ing the spring and summer. Supplementation is sometimes necessary, depending on the quality and quantity of available pasture. We add approximately 2 cups of or­ganic mixed grain (15 percent protein) both morning and night for each pig. Grass only con­tains adequate protein levels five months of the year here in western Washington. With shade from tall ever­green trees, even less may be available. When the pasture stops growing in late summer we add alfalfa pellets and pro­duce scraps.

My husband and I raise our Kunekunes in a semi-rural environment within the growth management boundary of Olympia, Washington. We have more than a dozen neighbors surrounding our 4-acre parcel. Our county conservation district has advised us that our pastures can support two boars, eight sows, and their piglets. One boar can easily keep eight sows in pig, though.

Use the goat hoof trimmer to level the nail to the nail pad and round off the outside edge. Trim off the sharp edges of the dew claws. It will not take more than five minutes to do all four hoofs. Step off the pig and release the front legs. Reward the pig with a piece of fruit and good scratch. Be sure to stretch your back before doing the next one!

EcoFarmingDaily.com is the world’s most useful farming, ranching and growing website. Built and managed by the team at Acres U.S.A., the Voice of Eco-Agriculture, all our how-to information is written by research authors, livestock professionals and world-renowned growers. Join our community of thousands using this information to build their own profitable, ecological growing systems.If left on pasture until the end of gesta­tion, a sow will build a beautiful nest from grass and tree branches. She will stay under the nest two days prior to delivery and several days after the piglets are born. Several veterinarians here in the Pacific Northwest have recommended Rhini Shield TX4 to protect pigs from erysipelas, parvo, atrophic rhinitis, and certain types of pneumonia. If you plan to take your pigs to a fair where there will be other pigs, you will definitely want to vaccinate several weeks beforehand. Kunekunes should be fed alfalfa hay during the winter when they are off pasture. We prefer alfalfa pellets because nothing is wasted and it is easier to feed. We pur­chase organic grain and pellets not only for the health of the pigs, but also for our own protection from pesticide residue in the dust. We also like the fact that organic grain is mostly free of genetically-modified organisms. Although it is quite a bit more expensive than conventional feed, the price of the pork can offset this cost if advertised as or­ganically-fed.For those who want to raise pigs for their own consumption, what better animal could you buy than one that won’t tear everything up and escape in the pro­cess? For those wanting to raise the safest and most economical pigs, purebred Kunekunes are a great option.

During winter months, our pigs sleep in the barn with access to an exterior gravel paddock. Taking them off pasture during the rainy season prevents soil compaction. Pigs do not soil their bed­ding like ruminants in confinement. Kunekunes do not need extra heat unless piglets are born in cold temperatures. Heat lamps should be installed with the utmost caution so that a poor­ly hung or defective lamp does not burn down the barn.

Kunekunes are slow-growing and take their time before getting saddled with a bunch of piglets. While they are sexually mature by between five and eight months, they may not be interested in breeding for another six months. It takes some time for the males to build up confidence. We imagine them saying, “Excuse me madam, but your aroma is quite alluring. You wouldn’t consider — no no, of course not. I am so sorry. Please forgive me. I’ll just take a nap over here… so sorry.” With time and maturity, though, he will chat­ter nonstop in her ear and roar frequent­ly, sounding like a grizzly bear.The easiest way to do this is to separate the pig to be trimmed from the rest. Start by scratching the pig’s belly till it flops over. Have a helper to continue the belly scratch. If the pig won’t lie down, place a handful of grain on the ground, squat next to the pig, reach under it, and grab the two legs on the far side. Pull the legs toward you and roll the pig onto its back. As soon as the pig is upside down, grab the other front leg so that one is in each hand, straddle the pig — facing the head — and place a foot on each side of the pig’s shoulder. Do not get behind the back legs or you may get kicked.

Kunekune boars grow impressive tusks. Not being a particularly aggressive breed, though, they do not often use their tusks against other pigs. Even folks who keep multiple boars do not find the need to file down the tusks. Those who want to try this anyway, though, can easily do so using a simple wire tool that can be bought or made at home. Supposedly you can do this when the boar is on his back to have his hooves trimmed. File his tusks down to the gum line. The tooth root is below the gum line, so this does not cause any pain. Each tusk can be removed in about five to ten seconds with rapid back and forth sawing once the wire is in the right spot. Just make sure you are not touching gum tissue before you begin! It possibly works better to use a snare and do it upright. Disclaimer: I have not tried either method. I have only seen it done.

An increasing number of farm in­terns are hungry for farm knowledge and experience. A college intern can make life on the farm much more enjoyable and can relieve some of the workload. Students are often willing to work in exchange for fresh fruits and vegetables and possibly some fresh or frozen meat. A young farm intern will be thrilled to help out with hoof trimming, tusk fil­ing, worming, or just brushing the pigs. Kunekune pigs are affectionate animals, and brushing them is as enjoyable to us as it is to them.Pigs on pasture still need shelter from rain. We had the good for­tune to obtain scrapped sections of a carbon-fiber rocket fuselage from a developing space travel company; these make excellent shelters. We have a sec­tion in each of our pastures and over part of the paddock. The pigs usu­ally sleep in the open unless it is raining. They generally stay in a pile to remain warm and conserve energy.

Overfeeding leads to loss of fertility and poor health for your animal. Check on-line visual guides to ensure you are feeding to the correct weight for your animals. I have also seen cases of underfeeding where owners think pigs need only grass or only bread etc. Please do your homework on porcine nutrition. You can’t go wrong with a pig specific brand of feed unless you feed incorrect amounts.Our local brewery supplies us with 25 gallons each week of an organic am­ber ale swill (non-alcoholic effluent from the brewing process) that is filled with yeast and enzymes. In the fall our friends supply windfall apples and pears. Pigs will eat just about anything from the garden other than onions and garlic. Beets, carrots, and potatoes are their favorite vegetables. We feed them old leftovers and keep everything fresh in the fridge — although the farm dog already has dibs on any and all meat scraps from the kitchen.

Relic Run Farm reserves the right to retain any piglet from any of our litters that we feel will further our breeding program here. We aspire to guarantee the satisfaction of our buyers with helping you pick the right piglet/pig for your herd!Ginger and blk gilt high white Gilt with wattles she did have two wattles but did loose one. She is very nice good confirmation. $500.00 REDUCED FOR A FEW WKS.By putting a deposit on a piglet, you are certifying that you are at least 18 years of age and legally eligible to enter into a binding contract. You are also agreeing to our terms and conditions of sale for our piglets/pigs.Deposits are non-refundable and if you can’t pick a piglet at the litter you put a deposit on we give you one year to put that deposit onto another litter or piglet! After a year you loose your deposit and it is non transferrable or refunded.

We look forward to providing you with a quality breeding Kunekune pig from our genetically diverse herd at Relic Run Farm! Gilts and Boar piglets are normally $800.00 to $1500.00 depends on color and confirmation. Sows and Boars Adults are normally $1000.00 to $2000.00 again depends on color and confirmation Adulst can be higher as well but thats the average price. Prices can vary depending on pig.Please contact Red Roof KuneKunes for pricing and availability. Red Roof KuneKunes does not advertise pricing and not all litters and pigs are listed on the website.

We remain dedicated to breeding only Low COI genetically healthy KuneKune piglets. If your pigs don’t breed and a veterinarian determines that it’s a genetic defect or health issue from our farm, we’ll refund your money or replace.AKPR 16730 MHR Jenny 9 “Citrine” is a brown/white double-wattled Jenny/Mahia Love gilt, sired by incredible champion CH MHR Mahia Love 3+ “Calvin”. She will be registered with IKHR. View her pedigree here: IKHR Pedigree

We currently have barrows available for sale as meat pigs, currently in the 65 – 75 lb range. These pastured pigs are being sold “on the hoof” and are priced at $5/lb live weight, with a minimum of $300. Harvest may be arranged through Buds Custom Meats in Penngrove. Please contact us to arrange a harvest and complete a meat pig sales agreement.IKHR 24261 MHR Wilsons Gina 9 “Brunswick” is a white/black, high percentage white, double-wattled Wilsons Gina/Boris gilt our of our very best production genetics. Who can resist that face?!? She will be registered with IKHR. View her pedigree here: IKHR Pedigree AKPR 31856 “Latte” is a black/white double-wattled Tapeka/Tonganui gilt. Showing the traits of her champion lineage, she will be registered with IKHR. View her pedigree here: IKHR Pedigree AKPR 31857 MHR Tapeka 4 “Blanquita” is a high percentage white, white/black double-wattled Tapeka/Tonganui gilt. Showing the traits of her champion lineage, she will be registered with IKHR. View her pedigree here: IKHR PedigreeAKPR 7202 Supreme CH USA Tonganui 22+ “Chino” is a white/brown Tonganui/Rona boar. He is registered with IKHR (Formerly AKPR). View his pedigree here: IKHR Pedigree

We are anxiously anticipating a litter due May 21st between IKHR 29594 EIF Jenny 9 “Whina” and AKPR 19558 Champion EIF Mahia Love 7. Contact us if you’d like to reserve piglets from this incredible litter!

Message for more info. Contact for pricing and transport options. We reserve sale of our breeders to others that are currently breeding and have experience with the breed.

We truly love every pig that has been here at Carlisle Acres and we want to see them thrive. If at any time you have questions or concerns – Contact us! We offer full mentorship and support for our customers.Once a deposit is made you will receive regular photo/video updates until your piglet(s) is ready to go home. We will coordinate with you the best time to pick up or transport your piglet(s) to you.

Not currently pictured. Will be added shortly. We have several barrows available as companions or pets. Please message us and we will send you photos an info of what is currently available. Barrows are available at a lower rate. The deposit for barrow is $100.Below you will find a list of the current available kunekune pigs that are up for discussion at Carlisle Acres. Feel free to email or message us with any questions you may have. All of our pigs come with the following. At this time we do not accept deposits for unborn piglets, however, we are happy to notify you when a litter is born. The dates below are due dates (or proposed due dates). We’d be pleased to offer a discount on the purchase of breeding pairs (if available) or multiple piglets. Our rates are reasonable and we’ll be happy to support you after the sale by sharing information that helps preserve this unique heritage breed.

Piglets from current or upcoming litters can be reserved with a non-refundable deposit. Piglets are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. We retain the right to reserve any piglet from a litter for our own breeding program. Deposits can be applied to another litter if the first choice can not be fulfilled. Please contact us to discuss your personal needs, and if you wish to place a deposit.Allen’s Acres Farm will only place ‘Breeding Stock’ status on the pigs we feel have the best Kunekune traits to pass on. They MUST have excellent confirmation and head, move correctly, have strong legs and feet, and a sweet temperament. They are all handled extensively to assure they have exceptional personalities and enjoy human interaction. We breed for the true to type Kunekune head and snout: broad with a nice short, upturned snout to ensure less rooting. We also take care of registering the pigs for our customers and providing unlimited support and mentoring.Their pellet feed should be their primary diet, other things such as fruits and vegetables are more like an occasional snack. Make sure that you are still only feeding them 2% of their body weight each day. On top of the pellets, fruits, and vegetables, your Kunekune pig will probably also eat lots of grass in your yard.

Kunekune pigs who live primarily outside are at great risk of being infected by worms. This is why every 4 to 6 months starting at 6 weeks old, you should get them de-wormed. Deworming is actually pretty easy to do yourself, but ask your veterinarian what product you should use and how to de-worm your pig, or you can visit this link here, which teaches you all about it.Although dogs are predators and pigs are prey, Kunekune pigs won’t bother your dog as much as other breeds such as pot-bellied pigs do. Also, Kunekune pigs are so big it’s hard for dogs to hurt them. It’s generally safe to have Kunekune pigs and dogs together but be careful when they are young and your Kunekune is still small. Kunekune pigs (pronounced “koo-nee koo-nee”) are great as pets, but only for the right people. After creating a lot of content around pet pigs and working with them myself, Kunekune’s have always interested me. Although they are not as popular as pot-bellied pigs, I actually believe that they are better than pot-bellied pigs in many different ways. Note- Pet Pig Pal does not have any association with the American Kunekune Pig Society. Please do your own research before purchasing from a breeder on their list.First off, you will need a large field for your Kunekune pigs to graze in. Your Kunekune pig should eat a combination of many different foods, but in the growing season, it should primarily be grass from your field and a mixture of some pellets, fruits, and vegetables.

You should also have your Kunekune pig vaccinated every 6 months. There are many different diseases that your pig can get, and depending on where you live, some will be more common than others. This is why you will need to talk to your breeder and a veterinarian in your area to assess which vaccines will be needed.“He came running up to me and trusted me 100% right away. I think that’s more likely in Kunekune piglets than in potbelly piglets, but I could be wrong.” Not really, it is possible to keep Kunekune pigs as house pets, but it is much better if you have a yard and barn for them to be free to do pig things. Kunekune pigs can be potty trained, but keeping them locked up in your home will put stress on them and also stress on you. It’s ok though to let them sleep inside. Also, as I’ve stated before, Kunekune pigs do not root as much as pot-bellied pigs do because of their upward-bent snouts. Rooting is when pigs will put their snouts in the dirt, searching for nutrients in the soil. Sometimes mini pigs will do this to your floors, walls, and furniture, but Kunekune pigs won’t do it very often. Their upward-bent snouts also discourage them from braking any fencing.

Kunekune pigs are much larger than more traditional pets, so you will need to make sure you have lots of space for them to roam around inside and outside. It is very difficult for people living in apartments or homes with not much square footage because of how much space a Kunekune pig will take up. In order to save you and your Kunekune from any stress, I would recommend having at least a quarter of an acre of fenced-in land that your Kunekune pig can roam freely in. Make sure to always beware of breeders who will inbreed or malnourish their pigs in order to make them smaller. Before getting a Kunekune pig from a breeder, try to get testimonies from other buyers of the breeder. Visit this link to learn more about purchasing a Kunekune pig. If you are from the United Kingdom, there are some more obstacles you may have to hurtle in order to get one. You can start by visiting this link here from the British Kunekune Society.Kunekune snouts are very similar to pot-bellied pigs in shape, but they are slightly bent upward, as you can see in the image below. This upward bend makes it harder for Kunkune pigs to root, which may save you from having to buy a new sofa, as sometimes other pig breeds will root up your sofa or anything that is in their sight. Kunekune pigs are not the most popular pet, so finding a reputable breeder may be difficult especially if you are not from the United States. If you live in The United States, the American Kunekune Pig Society has a list of breeders who they have registered, you can check it out by clicking this link. There are also breeders for many other countries, they may just be a bit more difficult to find. Kunekune pigs are omnivores and can eat a variety of foods, but you should only feed your pet Kunekune alfalfa hay, grass, commercially available pellet feed, fruits, and vegetables. During the summertime, let your Kunekune pig graze your fields and eat all the grass they want. In the wintertime when there is no grass, give them alfalfa hay and more pellet feed and vegetables.Most fruits and vegetables are safe for Kunekune pigs, but there are some that may be toxic to them as I explain later. There are more foods that a Kunekune pig can eat than the ones below, but these are just the most common.

Kunekune pigs should be fed an amount that is equal in weight to 2% of their body weight daily and split that amount into 2 to 3 meals each day. For example, a 200-pound Kunekune pig should be fed 4 pounds of food daily because 200 x 0.02 = 4. There are two different kinds of ways to feed your mini pig the farm way and the pet way. The farm way is a diet that consists heavily of grass and alfalfa hay, and the pet way is mostly pellet feed. Kunekune pigs should also always have access to water.Kunekune pigs are believed to have developed their current form in New Zealand, but DNA shows that the actual origin is probably from Asia. At one point, there were very few left in the world and almost became extinct, but now they’re many organizations backing them and thousands of them around the world.

Not everyone has a big field for a Kunekune pig to graze in, but you can still feed them without one. Pellet feed that contains a complete diet with 16% protein will also work. There are many different kinds of feed, but most Kunekune owners use Purina Nature’s Match Sow & Pig Complete Feed. This is available to get online or you can get it locally at most Tractor Supply Company stores. The great thing about this feed is that it is meant for all stages of your pig’s life, and it comes in a 50-pound bag (more value) instead of a 25-pound bag that most companies have.In the wintertime, it should be primarily alfalfa hay. In the wintertime, many Kunekune pigs will start to gain too much weight if they are given an infinite supply of alfalfa hay, so you might want to limit the amount of alfalfa to only a pound a day if they seem to be gaining weight. The rest should be a mixture of pellets, vegetables, and fruits.Kunekune pigs are somewhat unique compared to many other pigs because of their extremely long hair and huge ears. Their hair keeps them warm in the winter, but in the summer, they will shed. Not all Kunekune pig hair is the same though, as some will have very soft and silky hair, while others will feel rough and bristly.On this fenced-in land, having a pig barn or some area where your Kunekune pig can go to get out of the hot sun is crucial. One thing that Kunekune pigs love besides rolling in the mud when it’s too hot outside is Kiddie pools. Kunekune pigs are heavy so you will need to get a strong one that won’t break such as this one you can get on Amazon here. Obviously, it’s all a personal preference, but if you are able to keep your pig outside and you don’t mind them growing very large, I would recommend getting a Kunekune pig because of how friendly they are. If you don’t have a big yard, a pot-bellied pig might be the better option. Here is some general information about Kunekune pigs, Kunekune pigs are very social and friendly pets. Kunekune pigs live for around 15 to 20 years. Kunekune pigs grow between 150 to 300 pounds and are 20 to 32 inches tall. Kunekune pigs cost around $600 to $1400 plus many additional costs that can be very expensive. Kunekune pigs eat mostly grass, food pellets labeled for them, fruits, and vegetables.Technically Kunekune pigs are considered a mini pig as anything under 300 pounds is, but they are larger than most mini pig breeds such as the pot-bellied pig. Breeders might try to label them as mini pigs, but they should be a medium-sized pig.

If you are purchasing a Kunekune pig, please check your local laws in your area to make sure they even allow you to get them. Some places will require you to get special registrations, especially in the United Kingdom.Kunekune pigs live around 15 to 20 years long when taken care of correctly, so make sure you are prepared to take care of them for a long time. Many pet pigs are abandoned by their parents because of how long they live and how unexpectedly large they grow, please be prepared for this if you purchase a Kunekune pig.

The price of a Kunekune pig will depend on if you are buying or adopting, but in general, the cost to buy a Kunekune pig from a breeder is about $600-$1400. This usually includes the cost to spay or neuter and any vaccines that are needed.Whether you’re interested in getting a pet pig for yourself or you already have a pig, this site is dedicated to helping you out. We know it’s not easy being a pet pig parent, that is why we love sharing information to make your life easier. In the growing season, you should feed your Kunekune pigs fewer pellets, vegetables, and fruits because the majority of their diet will be grass. If you don’t have a field for them to graze in, you could also feed them alfalfa in the summertime. You need to make sure you’re careful though, too much alfalfa will cause an obese pig. If you adopt a Kunekune pig from a rescue shelter, the adoption fee is usually only around $25-$200, but many of these pigs are not spayed or neutered which will usually cost an additional $200-$800 to do. There are also many additional costs of getting a Kunekune pig as you can see in the table below.During the summertime, Kunekune pigs will get hot, and because they can not sweat as we humans can, they find other means to cool themselves down. Usually, this is by rolling in the mud or in a kiddie pool (although they seem to enjoy the mud more). When you know your Kunekune pig is going to have to roll in the mud, get your hoes, and make a muddy area for them. For people who don’t want their yards to be destroyed, you could make these muddy areas inside of a barn or pigpen.

Kunekune pigs and pot-bellied pigs are the most popular pig breeds to keep as a pet. There are many similarities between the two, but there are also many differences. If you are deciding between these two breeds, continue reading below.

Kunekune pigs are very social and loving animals, but just for safety’s sake, I would recommend always watching if your children are with the pig. Kunekune pigs are heavy and could possibly crush your child, especially if they are very young.

Because Kunekunes are so social, having another pet is actually great for them. I would actually recommend having 2 Kunekune pigs because they tend to get lonely without any social contact. They do well with pretty much every animal even dogs (who are known for have troubles with pot-bellied pigs).I did my homework and researched kunekune pigs. I rooted (snigger) around lots of websites and spoke with Jan Glover of the British Kunekune Pig Society (BKKPS). Here’s a summary of my findings:

It seems to me that our little piece of Shropshire, which happens to be *just* over the border from Powys, Wales, is the perfect spot for a couple of kunekune pigs. A New Zealand breed, our kunekune pigs Felix and Fiona are delightful. Some guests tell us they come only to meet our piggies.

Another tough decision you need to consider is what are you going to do with non-breeding quality piglets? Only the best piglets that meet breed standards should leave your farm not spayed or neutered. As a responsibly breeder you want to make sure you are not introducing issues into your herd or others. This is why most farms are going to grow out non-breeding quality for food. You can castrate your boys relatively easily on your own or take them to a vet and it is pretty affordable. However, females can cost anywhere from $500 – $2000 to get spayed which is way more than you’ll be able to sell them for. We’ve also had piglets born with hernias, my vet charges me over $400 for a hernia repair. A pig with a defect like that is not considered breed quality. A lot of farms are not going to incur this additional expense and will cull the piglet. They cannot justify paying that type of money while trying to run a profitable business. These are all the tough decisions that farmer need to make on a day to day basis. It is best to have these decisions made before you get started so when the time comes you already have your business plan.

You should be prepared to give your own shots if you are wanting to breed Kunekunes. Vaccine requirements differ for pigs depending on area. You will want to work with your veterinarian to come up with the protocol that is right for you. Piglets generally need an iron shot somewhere between 3-5 days old.

Another nice to have feature is being able to let the mom have an area the piglets cannot go. Or letting her out for a hour or so during the day for a break. When the piglets are about 3 weeks old the moms will want a break from the piglets. They really do appreciate a little alone time and then are happily reunited with their babies. We wean our piglets at 8 weeks old. All breeders do things a littler differently. Many will wait months before deciding to offer a piglet as breeding quality. This gives the breeder time to evaluate growth rate and other attributes before committing a pig to breeding quality. Since, most of our customers are looking for pets they like to bond with their piglets as early as possible, this is why we have them picked up at 8 weeks. Our Halbert Herd is currently made up of 7 boar bloodlines and 8 sow bloodlines. It is important to pay attention the the inbreeding coefficient and to select your breeding pairs to be unrelated at least up to Grandparents. We like our Kunekunes to be around the 200 pounds size and not bigger. Our customers are mainly hobby farmers who are looking for pets or homesteaders looking to raise their own pasture pork and want a smaller more manageable pig. If your farm goals are to sell pork, you may want to look into other Kunekune breeders that produce a larger faster growing pig.Once you have bred your female, the gestation period is 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days. You’ll need a farrowing pen set up and ready to go. I move my sows in 1 week before expected due date so they can get familiar with their new home and prepare it for their babies. Mother’s like to build a nest for the birth. They will need a draft free shelter with crush rails. The crush rails are the most important thing if you want to minimize piglet loss. Pigs like to lean against something when they lay down and the crush rails give an extra space for the piglets to escape. You should also have a heat lamp behind the crush rails so the piglets go to a safe place to sleep. This area is called the creep. Piglets cannot regulate their body temperature and will try to sleep under mom if they are cold. It is the saddest thing on the farm to wake up to a crushed piglet.

For your pigs to be happiest, you’re going to need 4 pigs. Boys can get girls pregnant as early as 4 months. Girls generally go into heat for the first time at 6 months old. Then they go into heat every 2-3 weeks. They could potentially get pregnant as early as 6 months. At 6 months females are not developed enough to carry piglets and are still growing themselves. It is best to separate unaltered males and females by 4 months old. So you’ll need 2 girls and 2 boys so each pig has a friend. Or you could get 2 neutered males to keep as companions to your breeding stock. Or you could do 2 girls (gilts) with 1 boar and a neutered male (barrow). You will not be able to put your breeding pair together till the female is big enough and this could be anywhere from 18 – 24 months old depending on growth rate.I have a separate blog post on farrowing huts. But here are some pictures. We currently use port-a-huts and have either home made crush rails out of 2×4’s or if you see the small narrow black pipe, that is the crush rails that port-a-hut makes. There is more room for the mom but the “creep area is very small.

Your pigs should be shown to a holding pen where they will remain for a very short period before slaughter. Ask how long this is likely to be as the shorter time, the better. Also make sure that the holding pen operator knows that your pigs are not from controlled housing. This is on the movement paperwork, but it is worth letting the holding pen staff know so that they are kept away from controlled housed pigs. Once processed they will require a Trichinella test which usually takes a couple of days. They need to pass this before they are allowed to be certified as fit for human consumption.Too much feed does not result in more meat. You are more likely to end up with lower quality meat and considerably more fat. The sweet flavour and darkness of Kunekune pork is enhanced by their grazing diet and comparatively slow growth. They also need to be fit and active to allow for muscle development that will become succulent pork. If they are too fat, they will be sedentary and their overall quality of life diminished.

The more times a daily amount can be fed makes its utilisation by the pig more efficient. Feed can be substituted with grass-based feed such as grass nuts or soaked alfalfa nuts where grazing is poor or unavailable. Hay and high dry matter haylage can be fed to appetite in addition to feed. It is not advised to feed wet silage due to its high acidity. When increasing feed amounts or changing feed always try to make the changes over a time period. It is advised to change a feed by substituting a quarter at a time until the new feed is fed entirely. A useful tip is to ask the breeder to provide you with some feed that the weaners are currently on so that you can change them on to your feed gradually, avoiding stomach upsets. As with any animal the growth rate of the pig must be monitored. Some pigs will do better than others on the same amount of food and the amount given should be adjusted accordingly.