AKKPS 16996 Pig Trail KuneKunes Sally 29 - Calliope

Article and Photo by AKKPS Member Haley Maassen of Maple Bacon Acres

As we find new homes for our piglets, we recognize the importance of educating new KuneKune owners about the reality of the breed as it relates to care and management. There are several prevalent myths about KuneKunes. We will address three of the most common myths below.

MYTH #1 - As a breed KuneKunes do NOT root

Now, I have heard of entire operations full of KuneKunes that just don’t root. That’s wonderful!  And rare. Realistically, any new KuneKune owner needs to be open to the possibility of some rooting taking place, even though Kunes as a breed are less prone to rooting. I have never owned a teenage KuneKune that didn’t take the opportunity to find delicious bugs just after a nice autumn rainfall, even when the pig was receiving proper nutrition. Knowing this, I have been able to prepare by keeping certain pigs in a smaller area when the ground is wet to help preserve my pasture quality. If I’m unprepared, I can’t proactively manage my pasture and livestock, and I might be disappointed in the resulting behaviors and damage.

MYTH #2 = Nutritionally, they thrive on pasture alone.

This is among the most harmful misconceptions a KuneKune owner can believe. Pigs are omnivores. Appropriate, complete pig feed like Purina Nature’s Match Pig and Sow contains important nutrients like lysine and protein in the amounts KuneKunes need. A pasture can beenriched with diverse plant life, and some lysine can be obtained by eating insects, but regardless of where one lives, nutrient availability in a pasture will fluctuate based on season. Ultimately, to ensure you’re meeting your pigs’ needs, providing appropriate feed (in proper amounts for their life stage) is essential in addition to pasture/forage. The AKKPS website haseducational materials on nutrition guidelines and specifics available to members and non-members alike.

MYTH #3 - KuneKunes are Mini Pigs.

As KuneKunes are not mini pigs, appropriate feed does not include mini pig feed. KuneKunes are classified among the smallest breeds of pigs, but the idea that healthy, breeding-quality KuneKunes will grow up and still fit in your gym bag is patently false. Inadequate nutrition—such as a mini pig feed—will keep a pig smaller than its potential just as a human’s growth and development will be stunted if they grow up malnourished. The expected full-grown size of a Kune can vary by hundreds of pounds, so discuss the expected size of any piglets you may purchase with the breeder to see if this matches your preferences. KuneKunes are a slower-growing heritage breed, and a pig being rehomed after getting used to their environment simply because they are outgrowing it is an avoidable yet prevalent issue.