What is the Optimal Diet for Kunekune Pigs?
- · Fresh produce is given as available
- · Fruits are limited
- · Eggs are an occasional treat
- · Alfalfa cubes, alfalfa hay, alfalfa pellets are used when pasture is scarce
- · All pigs get high-quality horse hay as bedding
- · Beet pulp is great as a filler, to add bulk and fiber to the diet of a pig who you want to lose weight without...
What do kunekune pigs eat?
With that being said, your pig’s core diet for your Kunekune pig should consist of a completely balanced feed, high-quality hay, pasture/produce/alfalfa pellets or cubes, fodder, etc. A good combination for Kunekune pigs is Nutrena Country Feeds 16% grower pellet along with a local mash with added vitamins, minerals, and increased lysine.
How much should I Feed my Kune Kunes?
A 4-8-month-old Kunes might eat 1.5-2 scoops. I’d say that adults eat around 1-1.5 scoops per day when in optimal condition. This is just an example- and not written in stone. You need to sample various feed rates with your pigs based on what you feed… but most of all, feed your pigs to condition.
How do you care for a Kunekune pig?
Most kunekune owners keep their pigs in a barn or outside setting. Since their main diet is grass, they thrive when they can come and go in a secure fenced-in area (often with a live wire) and sleep on sawdust or another kind of bedding in a well-ventilated shelter. They don't do well in heat; providing them with shade and ventilation is a must.
Do kunekune pigs need a lot of space?
Since kunekune can grow to be up to 400 pounds, they need a decent amount of space to roam about and lie down. If you don't have enough space to accommodate a 400-pound pig, then you shouldn't get a kunekune. Most kunekune owners keep their pigs in a barn or outside setting.
What can I feed my pot belly pig?
Bermuda hay and Timothy hay are healthy choices for potbellied pigs. Alfalfa hay is too rich in calories for most pet pigs. If your pig has never eaten hay before, you can encourage consumption by wetting hay with a small amount of apple juice or other fruit juice. Discard any wet, uneaten hay daily to prevent molding.
What do you feed Kunekune pigs?
Kunes thrive on a diet of grass, fresh fruit and vegetables. They differ from commercial pigs in that they do not need high levels of protein. Kunes need a maximum of 16% protein, and by preference a little less. They also need much more fibre than commercial pigs.
What do potbelly or Kune pigs eat?
Kunekune pigs eat a lot of grass during the summertime and alfalfa during the winter. They can eat pellet feed and other fruits and vegetables, but the majority of their diet is grass or alfalfa.
What can you not feed a Kunekune pig?
Salt can be toxic to pigs since they do not have sweat glands. Most plants in your garden can be fed except unripened tomatoes, raw potatoes, raw sweet potatoes (sweet potatoes are fine but they absorb more protein when cooked), parsnips, celery, celery root, parsley, onions, avocado pits,, and rhubarb.
Do KuneKune pigs eat hay?
Your core diet for your Kunekune pig should consist of a complete balanced feed, high quality hay, pasture/produce/alfalfa pellets or cubes, fodder, etc.
How much hay should I feed my KuneKune?
How much feed does a Kunekune pig need? Kunekunes should be provided with approximately 1-2% of their body weight in pelleted feed alongside free access to grass or hay. The feed should be split into two feeds a day and could be provided in a trough or scattered in their paddock.
Can KuneKune pigs eat sweet feed?
We feed pellets twice a day. I usually mix some soaked beet pulp with some sow/pig pellets and a little scratch and sweet feed. They love it.
Can KuneKune eat table scraps?
We don't ever throw away any food scraps anymore. It all goes in a stainless steel pale that we take out to our KuneKunes every day. Most of those food scraps consist of various vegetable peels and leftovers. KuneKunes can eat all vegetables including, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce.
What should you not feed pigs?
It's ok to feed pigs uncontaminated fruits, vegetables, bread, grains, dairy, eggs, and vegetable oils. Do not feed pigs meat, fish, or their bones, oils, or juices, or ANY food that has touched these substances.
Do KuneKune pigs need a companion?
Absolutely! KuneKune's love other animals and often will play and interact with them. If you can not have 2 pigs at least plan to have another animal companion for your pig. Always separate animals during the birthing process so that the momma has a chance to bond with her baby or babies.
What is toxic to pigs?
Plants. Bracken, hemlock, cocklebur, henbane, ivy, acorns, ragwort, foxglove, elder, deadly nightshade, rhododendron, and laburnum are all highly toxic to pigs. Jimsonweed—also known as Hell's Bells, Pricklyburr, Devil's Weed, Jamestown Weed, Stinkweed, Devil's Trumpet, or Devil's Cucumber—is also poisonous to them.
How much grain does a KuneKune need?
Kunekunes require 1/7 to 1/4 the amount of grain of standard pigs, but they do still need some grain in combination with their grazing to make sure their diet is complete. This is especially true of young (birth through one year), pregnant, and lactating pigs.
Do KuneKune pigs Need grain?
FOOD. Kunekunes require 1/7 to 1/4 the amount of grain of standard pigs, but they do still need some grain in combination with their grazing to make sure their diet is complete.
Can KuneKune eat table scraps?
We don't ever throw away any food scraps anymore. It all goes in a stainless steel pale that we take out to our KuneKunes every day. Most of those food scraps consist of various vegetable peels and leftovers. KuneKunes can eat all vegetables including, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce.
What should you not feed pigs?
It's ok to feed pigs uncontaminated fruits, vegetables, bread, grains, dairy, eggs, and vegetable oils. Do not feed pigs meat, fish, or their bones, oils, or juices, or ANY food that has touched these substances.
Can KuneKune pigs live alone?
Can Kunekune pigs live alone? KunesKuns should always be kept together. They are social animals who will become lonely and suffer if left alone. A nice number is two or more.
What do kunekunes need?
This ensures your pigs are getting all the essential vitamins and minerals. Kunekunes are a grass foraging pig ...
What are the feeding rules for a Kunekune pig?
But first, some feeding rules to live by…. 1. Kunekune pigs are not ruminants but omnivores. 2. Your growing pig needs more food and nutrition than adult Kunes. 3. Your growing pig’s body condition in its first year of life should be round but not too chubby. 4.
What do kunekune pigs eat?
Kunekune pigs do very well on a diet of grass, fresh fruit, and vegetables. They are different from commercial pigs in that they do not need high levels of protein. Kunes need around 16% protein, and in comparison, it is quite less. The fiber requirement is also much more than commercial pigs. Kunekune pigs do well on grass ...
How much should a 4 month old pig eat?
Youngsters up to 4 months old get should be fed up to a 12-ounce scoop of food per day. Observe your pig from starting point and adjust the diet as per their growth. A 4-8-month-old Kunes might eat 1.5-2 scoops. I’d say that adults eat around 1-1.5 scoops per day when in optimal condition.
How much water should a pig drink a day?
Pigs must be fed twice a day when needing to be supplemented, and have easy access to clean drinking water. Adult sows can drink up to 5-litres of water a day during lactation, predominantly during hot weather.
Is a Kunekune pig overweight?
They are not overweight, nor are they structurally strained. Kunekune pigs vary in size and growth rates and there are no guarantees that a piglet out of fast-growing parents will also have fast growth. But there’s an increased likelihood, especially if properly and amply fed.
Does cheese cause diarrhea?
Cheese is also a superb supplement, but like milk can cause diarrhea because of greater fat content. The key commercial pellet feed varies from 12 to 17% protein, but not all comprise the essential vitamins and amino acids of a nutritionally complete food.
What do Kunekune eat?
KuneKune means “fat and round” and our KuneKunes eat not only Blue Seal Pig and Sow and Hydroponic Barley but, lots of fruits and veggies as well.
How much protein do kune pigs need?
Kunes need a maximum of 16%. protein, and by preference a little less. They also need much more fibre than commercial. pigs. Kunekune pigs live on grass and vegetables in summer, in autumn this can. be supplemented with apples.
Do piglets need grain?
While your piglets or younger pigs are developing it is essential that they are provided with grain to develop and mature correctly. My husband said it best when he said, “if you do not feed your KuneKune correctly, God will provide for it”. I totally get what he is saying.
When do we rotate pigs?
We rotate our pigs through nine pastures, moving them every time we rotate our goats during the Spring and Summer. Depending on the quality and quantity of pasture available you may need to supplement. We supplement our pigs with soy meal mostly in the Winter.
Is grazing available in Virginia?
So important that as my herd grew we purchased another farm so that we could provide our pigs with more grazing. In Virginia, grazing is not available all year long. We believe that they grazing alone is not quite enough except for maybe your pigs that are set aside for providing your family with pork.
How to help a pig with fat blindness?
If your pig is getting fat blindness, make sure you are feeding a quality feed. Do not feed kunekune's "All Stock" or any type of feed that is for other animals. Our veterinarian said the #1 reason she see's health issues in livestock is from "All Stock" feed. Then if you are feeding a good quality grain, cut back on treats and fruit. Still feed veggies and they can get hay and graze. If you are still having issues, take your pig to a veterinarian to make sure nothing else is going on.
When do piglets start eating?
Piglets start eating grain as early as 1 week old, they follow their mom out and will mouth the grain. By 3 to 4 weeks old they are fighting their mom for food. When they are weaned at 8 weeks they are getting 1/2 cup twice a day and fresh fruit and veggies. These are rough estimates for growing piglets. All piglets will grow at different rates and food needs to be adjusted accordingly.
Can kunekunes fatten?
Kunekunes can fatten on pasture grazing alone. If you do supplement with grain make sure it is 16% or lower in protein. I used the feed store's brand "Bryant" 14% Hog Finisher twice a day. I have recently switched to Purina's Pig & Sow from Tractor Supply. It is a 16% feed and I've noticed it helps reduce the tear discharge from their eyes. Depending on the size of the pig and how much pasture they are getting I adjust the amount.
What Do Pot Belly Pigs Eat?
Potbellied pigs are omnivores, but can also eat specialized pellet diets.
How Much Do Potbellied Pigs Eat?
The amount of food required to feed your potbellied pig generally depends on the quality of food and the weight of the pig. A diet for adult potbellied pigs should constitute the following:
How Often Do Pot Belly Pigs Eat?
Potbellied pigs really love to eat. Which is why we should always pay careful attention to the amount and quality of food that you feed them. They should be fed twice a day with a proper diet.
What Should You Not Feed Potbellied Pigs?
Many people believe that potbellied pigs can feed on a wide variety of foods (sometimes even garbage!) and still feel okay. However, this is not true because certain foods and plants are poisonous for potbellied pigs. Some of the toxic foods and plants as outlined by the Southern California Association of Miniature Potbellied Pigs include:
Things to Consider When Feeding Your Pot Belly Pigs
Avoid feeding your pot belly pigs swine or hog feed as they might have been formulated to serve different purposes, such as boosting growth within minimal time. Consider buying pot belly pigs pellets that are specially formulated for them.
Final Thoughts
Potbellied pigs are easily overfed because they’ll never say no to more and more food. It’s important that you monitor your pig’s weight to ensure that they are not overweight. Some of the signs you should look for to determine whether your pig is overweight include a fat roll covering their eyes.
What can Kunekunes eat?
KuneKunes can eat all vegetables including, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce.
Why do pigs slop the hogs?
If you have ever heard the phrase “slop the hogs” its because pigs love eating leftovers and food scraps. There are only a few things that I will never feed my KuneKunes and things I have noticed that they don’t like. So lets discuss what KuneKunes can and should not eat. Kune Kunes are omnivores meaning like people their diet can consist ...
Can Kune eat bread?
Kune Kunes can eat all bread products and other grains. Bread has great nutrition for Kune Kunes. Instead of throwing out moldy bread or bread scraps feed them to your Kune Kunes. As much as I hate throwing out bread it is good to know that our Kune Kunes will thoroughly enjoy it.
Do kune pigs eat grass?
The best part is since they have upturned noses they won’t root up your lawn or pasture. A majority of KuneKunes diet is made up of grass and fresh greens.
How much grass does a kunekune eat?
An adult kunekune will eat two to three pounds of pellets a day (equal parts of the pot-bellied pig food and grass pellets) if it doesn't have a lot of grass. Add hot water to the pellets to create a mash.
How big can a kunekune grow?
A kunekune can grow to be between 100 to 400 pounds (although different breeders offer differently sized pigs). It will take a couple of years for your pig to reach its full-grown size. It should be offered ample grass and not be malnourished during its growing period.
What is a kunekune pig?
Like the pot-bellied pig, kunekune are small domestic pigs. But unlike pot-bellies, they have long hair and are originally from New Zealand. Pronounced "koo-nee koo-nee," and translated to "fat and round," these pigs are very similar to pet pot-bellied pigs.
How to house a kunekune?
If you choose to house your kunekune indoors, provide it with a place or room of its own. Many people build them little pens into a corner of their house, and others provide them with a toddler bed or even a tent to sleep in. They prefer to move indoors and out, so make sure there is easy access to the outdoors. Since kunekune can grow to be up to 400 pounds, they need a decent amount of space to roam about and lie down. If you don't have enough space to accommodate a 400-pound pig, then you shouldn't get a kunekune.
How to identify kunekune?
Kunekune are identified by their hairy coat. They have longer hair than pot-bellied pigs and the majority of them have tassels, also called pire, that hang off their lower jaw like a wattle. Their coat comes in a variety of colors, and the hair itself can vary from silky to bristly or coarse. Depending on the time of year or season, kunekune hair will also vary as they go through a massive shed in the summer, so it may look like a completely different pig than it does in the winter months.
Where do kunekune pigs sleep?
Since their main diet is grass, they thrive when they can come and go in a secure fenced-in area (often with a live wire) and sleep on sawdust or another kind of bedding in a well-ventilated shelter.
Can kunekune pigs eat grass?
Unlike pet pot-bellied pigs, kunekune are usually kept in outdoor environments and do well just eating grass. But if a high-quality pasture is not available, whether it be due to drought or just not enough grass to feed a hungry adult pig, pot-bellied pig pellets and grass pellets can be used to supplement the diet.
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Following a 500 mile round trip, our two kunekune/pot bellied rescue pigs are home with us from the SSPCA in Scotland. They are nearly 8 weeks old and much smaller than I imagined. Here's a picture of them:
