KuneKune Pigs
KuneKune pigs (pronounced cooney-cooney) are small rare heritage pigs from New Zealand. Sows weigh about 150-175 lbs and boars weigh about 200-250 lbs. KuneKune Pigs are the perfect breed for a family farm. Their short, upturned noses make them ideally suited to grazing and discourages them from rooting. Best of all, KuneKunes are able to fatten on grazing along with access to good pasture and so they do not need a lot of feed. They are sweet, friendly and social, and will literally leave their food for belly rubs and ear scratches.
Unfortunately, the popularity of this rare breed means everyone and their brother is claiming to sell 'pure' KuneKunes. Because this breed is still relatively rare in the US, purebed KuneKunes are typically registered and pedigreed. If your seller can't offer you registration, then be warned that odds are, you are not getting a purebred KuneKune. In order to register a KuneKune pig with either US registry, pigs must be DNA tested and tattooed, microchipped, or eartagged. If you're looking for a guarantee of the real deal, go with a registered pig. Even one generation of outcrossing can negate many of the characteristics that make this breed so desirable. Many people are passing off Potbellies, Julianas, American Guinea Hogs and crosses of these as purebred KuneKunes.
At this time, my pigs are not registered (although they are purebred). I do plan to switch back to registered stock in the future. Several of my pigs are descended from the original, double-registered stock that I started with from Iron Horse Farms here in Washington and Diamond Wire Farms in California.
Unfortunately, the popularity of this rare breed means everyone and their brother is claiming to sell 'pure' KuneKunes. Because this breed is still relatively rare in the US, purebed KuneKunes are typically registered and pedigreed. If your seller can't offer you registration, then be warned that odds are, you are not getting a purebred KuneKune. In order to register a KuneKune pig with either US registry, pigs must be DNA tested and tattooed, microchipped, or eartagged. If you're looking for a guarantee of the real deal, go with a registered pig. Even one generation of outcrossing can negate many of the characteristics that make this breed so desirable. Many people are passing off Potbellies, Julianas, American Guinea Hogs and crosses of these as purebred KuneKunes.
At this time, my pigs are not registered (although they are purebred). I do plan to switch back to registered stock in the future. Several of my pigs are descended from the original, double-registered stock that I started with from Iron Horse Farms here in Washington and Diamond Wire Farms in California.
