Keeping KuneKune

We fell in love with KuneKune pigs having first seen them at an agricultural show and despite extensive reasearch into the breed, it genuinely amazed us how easy they are to keep.

Our first run on the animal owning ladder was half a dozen hens, so buying a pair of pigs was a big step. We expected a lot of hard work and had no experience of farming to fall back on. It was daunting, but we felt the pleasure we'd get from the pigs was worth the trouble.

Having expanded our miniature farm to include ducks, pygmy goats, more hens a cat and a dog we can now genuinely say that KuneKune pigs are far and away the easiest animal we've had the pleasure of looking after.

We've tried to answer some of the questions we wanted answering before we bought our first KuneKune pigs. If there's anything else youwould like to ask, please let us know.

What's the first step to owning a KuneKune?
The most important step is to spend some time with a KuneKune. That could mean a visit to a local farm, a farm-park or a breeder. We allow visitors to our holiday park to walk around our farm and get a close up view of the animals. Also have a chat with a pig owner to get a feeling of what owning a pig entails and decide whether it's right for you.

What regulations are involved in owning a KuneKune?
While you don't have to be a farmer to own a pig, you do need an agricultural holding number. Contact your local DEFRA (Department for Environment,Farming and Rural Affairs) office and they'll help you with the paperwork. It's also wise to ensure your pig is registered with the British Kune Kune Society.

How big are KuneKune pigs?
Like most animals, individuals vary in size. As a general rule, a fully grown pig will stand up to 30 inches in height and weigh as much as 220lbs.They're significantly smaller than traditional pig breeds, but are still well-built and strong. Media stories of micro-pigs have misled many people into believing the pigs will remain the size of a Jack Russell, but this is NOT the case. A fully grown KuneKune will more likely reach the size of a large family dog.

How much land do they need?
An acre is enough for as many as five pigs. Our two are kept in an area about the size of a football field and are happy. Make sure the area is well fenced as pigs are curious and will try to escape if given an opportunity. It's a good idea to have stony areas or hardstanding around heavily used areas such as gates or troughs to stop the ground becoming too muddy. If possible, try to provide a distinct wet area or even a shallow pond where the pigs can wallow in hot weather.

How about a shelter?
The pigs hate rotten weather and will need some sort of cosy shelter. We bought an arc online from animalarks.co.uk and have found it ideal. Make sure there's plenty of straw for them to make a nest for themselves. We were surprised at the way they treated their arc - they have only ever messed it once, preferring to do their droppings outside.

What do they eat?
They can survive adequately on grazing alone, but we've always supplemented ours with low-protein pig food (available at your local farming outlet). They're also given fresh fruit and vegetables.

Do they dig up the ground like traditional pigs?
You can tell by the short snout that KuneKune pigs aren't as profficient at rooting as traditional pigs who have long, strong snouts. While we've been told that some KuneKune pigs do dig the earth, we've not found it a problem. Ours tend to dig only in places where the earth has already been disturbed by machinery. After a year of grazing our fields are still green and grassy, whereas a traditional pig would have turned the entire area into a mudbath.

Are they safe with children and other animals?
While we would advise that children are supervised around any animal, we've found our pigs are particularly gentle so we have no problem letting our young children enter the field on their own. The pigs respond    well to their names (and come running when called) and enjoy being petted and brushed. They're quite happy around our family dog and once the novelty and inital curiosity of seeing other animals in neighbouring paddocks wears off they tend to ignore them.

How do I buy one and how much do they cost?
Please check our PIGLETS FOR SALE section for availability and costs. The prices do vary according to market forces, but as a rough guide a castrated male will cost up to £120 while a female will cost as much as £175. As they're social animals we won't sell individual pigs unless they're going to an existing pig owner. We'll therefore often offer a discount for two or more pigs.

If you have any further questions, please email us. Thank you.