The Kunekune pig is a strain of domestic pig that is hairy. The meaning of the word ‘kunekune’ is ‘fat and round’. Kind of this breed was designed by New Zealand. But it’s actually in line with the DNA analysis.
The breed is thought to have descended from a national pig breed that was introduced to New Zealand in the 19th-century traders or by whalers. They differ markedly from the feral pig of European origin called in New Zealand as a “Captain Cooker”.
Kunekune Pig
The Kunekune pig is relatively a smaller sized breed. Its color ranges from white and black to gold-tip, cream, black, brown, ginger and tricolored. Spotted animals are available.
The body of these animals is covered with hair that can be short or long, and straight or curly. They have a moderate to short snout, which is and shameful semi lopped or pricked ears.
The Kunekune pig is a really beautiful breed of pig. They are well-known for the docile character, good behavior and their friendly nature. And the strain is often kept as pets like the pig.
Body of this Kunekune pigs is short and round beneath the chin with 2 tassels and short legs.
The average elevation of the fully grown Kunekune pig is approximately 60 cm. And it is the smallest breeds of pig.
The typical live body weight of a grown animal may vary from 60 to 200 kg.
Due to the nature that is friendly and calm, the breed is acceptable for a novice owner.
The pigs love human company and are placid. They are quite smart and very easy to train. Woodland ad pasture would be the habitat to the Kunekune pig, as they love being outside.
They are highly adaptable to a variety of environments and are acceptable for a range of climates. They are very suitable for raising on the farm.
They’re the only true grazing pig and can be maintained with grass alone without supplemental feeding. The boars become fertile within their 6 to 7 weeks of age, and the gilts may get pregnant at 5 months. The Kunekune sows are mothers, and their litters vary in size, averaging around 7 piglets.
The piglets can be weaned generally at six weeks old and the sows can be mated after about a week of weaning her piglets.
The creatures have an excellent ratio of meat. Nice pork which is murdered before their year old is produced by those animals. Pork of this breed is considered to be nicer by many compared to grown commercial pig strains.
The Kunekune pig breed has been adopted by the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand. There were an estimated 50 animals. But Michael Willis wildlife-park owners and John Simister started a breeding recovery software.
And that breeding recovery program, in turn, encouraged other recovery efforts. As of 2010, with the help of strain societies in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, the breed faces extinction. Two were imported into the United States from the Uk in 1993.
Currently, the Kunekune pig is spread throughout New Zealand. As of 2004, there were about 5000 animals in the country. The strain is also available in some European nations. Read more details about the breed under.
Kunekune Pig Full Breed Information
Breed Name | Kunekune |
Other Name | None |
Special Notes | Beautiful, friendly, good behavior, docile temperament, good as pets, suitable for novice owner, love human company, very intelligent, easy to train, good for woodland and pasture, love being outdoors, high adaptable to a wide variety of environments, good for raising in a large garden, good grazers, fertile, sows are excellent mothers, excellent ratio of meat to fat, better taste than the commercially grown pigs |
Breed Size | Small |
Weight Boars | Vary from 60-200 kg |
Sows | Vary from 60-200 kg |
Climate Tolerance | All climates |
Color | Many |
Rarity | Available |
Country/Place of Origin | New Zealand |