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THE IMPORTANCE OF BUYING REGISTERED KUNEKUNES

By AKKPS Member Caroline Malott of Red Roof KuneKunes

In this article, readers will get an understanding of why it is important to preserve KuneKunes through obtaining registered KuneKunes.

A fully registered KuneKune comes with the guarantee, through Parentage DNA verification, that the pig is a purebred KuneKune.   Animals for Harvest and Companion animals come with a similar guarantee.

A "purebred" KuneKune that is NOT registered is a not a KuneKune, it is simply a pig assumed to be a KuneKune.

Some may say that a registration certificate is just a piece of paper or you can not eat papers.  While this is true, that piece of paper is proof of a purbred KuneKune with all its many sought after traits.

Many have purchased a pig they were told was a purebred KuneKune and or they saw the papers of the parents or the parents themselves only to discover later that they indeed did NOT have a KuneKune.

Preserving the breed through documentation found in the AKKPS Herd Book is vital to the success of the KuneKune.

What is a registered KuneKune?
  • The pig and its littermates have been Litter Notified with the AKKPS which requires both parents to be AKKPS registered.
  • Both parents have DNA parentage Verification throughout their pedigrees all the way up to the original import.
  • All AKKPS registered pigs on Full Registration, require Parentage DNA Verification.
  • All AKKPS registered pigs on Animal for Harvest or Companion Animal papers are subject to random DNA Parentage Verification by the AKKPS.
  • All registered pigs have an ID Method (microchip, ear tag or tattoo) which is reflected in the AKKPS Herd Book and on the registration certificate.
What is DNA Parentage Verification?
  • Parentage DNA Verfiication throug UC Davis is a test done using hair samples from the  pig being tested.
  • DNA is pulled from the root/bulb of the sample.
  • This DNA is compared to the parents of the pigs DNA which is stored with UC Davis.
  • UC Davis can tell the following from the DNA sample
    • Sex
    • Whether or not it is a duplicate sample
    • Whether or not it is a match to listed parents
What are the AKKPS registration qualifications for KuneKunes and what are the different types of registrations?

There are 3 types of AKKPS Pedigrees of which all require Litter Notification.

  • Full Registration (intact males & females)
    • DNA Parentage Verification Required through UC Davis
    • Breeding Rights
  • Animal for Harvest (both males & females)
    • Subject to random Parentage DNA Verification (through UC Davis) request by the AKKPS
    • No Breeding Rights
  • Companion Animal (generally barrows)
    • Subject to random Parentage DNA Verification (through UC Davis) request by the AKKPS
    • No Breeding Rights
What traits do registered KuneKunes have?
  • Tend not to root
  • Docile
  • Manageable size (250 - 450 pounds full grown)
  • Easy on the land
  • Marbled red meat
  • Great with children
  • Grazers (in addition to a small amount of appropriate swine feed)
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