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 you feed a Kunekune pig?
If you do fodder (hydroponic barley or wheat) for other livestock, the KuneKune pigs will also enjoy a nice daily feeding of that. The main thing with KuneKune pigs is having a warm hay or straw bedded house in the winter months that is draft-free.
What is the best grain for a Kunekune?
They need very little in the weigh of supplemental grain. What is important is to remember that KuneKunes are a slower to mature breed that do best with 16% and under protein levels in their grain/feed. They also enjoy alfalfa hay but, you must be very careful as this is quite fattening.
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.
What do kunekunes need to fatten up?
KuneKunes are a very hardy animal and can fatten on grazing alone. They need very little in the weigh of supplemental grain. What is important is to remember that KuneKunes are a slower to mature breed that do best with 16% and under protein levels in their grain/feed.
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.
How much should I feed my Kunekune pig a day?
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 hay?
A majority of KuneKunes diet is made up of grass and fresh greens. In the spring, summer and fall they will eat lots of fresh grass or pasture and during the winter time they can eat grass hay or grain .
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. This is especially true of young (birth through one year), pregnant, and lactating pigs.
How long do KuneKune pigs live?
Kunekune have lovely temperaments. They love having a fuss made of them and will lie for hours while you rub their tummies. They live for 8 to 10 years. They have to be wormed every 6 months by giving an injection you can do yourself.
What should a pig not eat?
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. All food scraps can be composted.
Can Kunekune pigs eat raw potatoes?
Pigs can eat potatoes and can use it as a good source of energy. However, potatoes fed to pigs would either have to be cooked or dried. Otherwise, it can potentially cause some stomach issues.
Can Kunekunes eat alfalfa pellets?
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.
Can pigs eat all stock sweet feed?
Pet pigs should not be fed sweet feed or other grains, or feeds designed for “show pigs” or hogs. Potbellied pig feeds should be fed according to label recommendations, based on the ideal healthy weight of the pig. The daily serving of pellets should be divided up into at least 2 meals per day.
Are alfalfa pellets good for pigs?
Alfalfa also contains tannins and sapponins— anti-nutritional factors that reduce the growth rate of pigs. Alfalfa can be a valuable feed for dry sows, but less so for younger pigs. Sows have a greater capacity for fermentation in the hindgut that allows for greater fiber digestion and improved energy utilization.
What do Kunekune pigs need?
Kunes thrive on a diet of grass, fresh fruit and vegetables. ... Scraps of waste human food must never be fed to pet pigs. ... As Kunes thrive on grass it is very important that they have enough grazing for most of the year. ... If you have a stable Kunes will do very well with a thick straw bed in the corner of it.More items...
What do Kunekune pigs eat?
Kunes thrive on a diet of grass, fresh fruit and vegetables. They differ from commercial
Can Kunekunes root?
Grass fed only the KuneKunes stay slimer and their snout length seems to get longer. He believes that happens to they can root. Remember a short upturned snout is not prone to rooting. The longer snouts are much more effective at being able to turn the earth and eat the roots of the grass and to discover grubbs.
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.
What is the best food for a kunekunes?
They incline to hold on to their weight, so they need high fiber and low protein pig feed such as for a Pot-bellied Pig Food. A complete feed from Pot-Bellied Pig Food is balanced enough for the daily feed of your Kunes. This ensures your pigs are getting all the essential vitamins and minerals.
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.
What is Kunekune pig’s diet?
Due to their sweet nature and miniature size, Kunekune pigs make the ideal addition to your farm or ranches. These pigs originate from New Zealand and the number of people keeping them as pets is increasing.
How much feed do Kunekune pigs need?
Kunekunes should be given approximately 1-2% of their body weight in pelleted form along with free access to grass or hay.
What treats can you feed your Kunekune pig?
Fruits and vegetables can be given to your pigs as extra treats. These additional treats should be provided between meals to keep your pigs engaged. As with any delicacy, the quantity fed should be kept to a minimum and should be subtracted from their daily allowance of feed.
How to feed KuneKune Pigs?
First, let me say that grazing is extremely important for this breed. 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.
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.
Grain
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.
Feeding Growing Piglets
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.
Water
Pigs do not have the ability to sweat, so it is very important to provide them with a pool or mud wallow. The mud in the summer will prevent them from getting sunburned. Clean drinking water is very important as well. We have to wash out and fill their waters daily. For piglets a cement mixing tray works well.
Supplements
Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth - 2% of feed, So add 1 pound to a 50 pound bag of food. Helps as a natural dewormer.
What can Kunekunes eat?
KuneKunes can eat all vegetables including, celery, potatoes, tomatoes, and lettuce.
What vegetables do kune kunes eat?
Celery ends, potatoes peels, cucumbers, and bad lettuce are all vegetables we have fed our Kune Kunes and they really pig out.
What is the habitat of a Kune Kunes?
Kune Kunes like other pig breeds natural habitat is forest. Tree nuts like acorns made up a big part of their diets. Kune Kunes love eating acorns and while they are toxic to humans without being properly processed pigs can eat and digest them fine.
What do foxes eat in the fall?
In the spring, summer and fall they will eat lots of fresh grass or pasture and durning the winter time they can eat grass hay or alfalfa hay.
What fruits do they pick in Arizona?
Every winter we go to Arizona and pick boxes and boxes of citrus including oranges, lemons and grapefruit.
Do Kunekunes eat fruit?
Since we feed our Kunekunes table scraps they often get fruit. I have never seen them not eat fruit when given to them.
What do I give my dog in the winter?
In the winter I will give them some grass or alfalfa hay.
What is Kunekune pig?
Kathy Petersen – KuneKune pigs are making their way into small-scale farming operations across the country. You may ask yourself what makes these pigs so special … the simple answer is everything! This breed is extremely friendly, docile, and easy to handle. First-time pig farmers are just amazed at how easy they truly are.
What is the main thing about Kunekune pigs?
The main thing with KuneKune pigs is having a warm hay or straw bedded house in the winter months that is draft-free. It can be an elaborate house or a simple calf hut. Whatever suits your budget.
What are Kunekune pigs called?
Breed Characteristic. Unlike most other breeds, KuneKune pigs have wattles. They are called Piri Piri in their original land of New Zealand. These are similar to goat wattles and hang just under the jowl. They are born with and without wattles. The inheritance of these wattles appears to have no rhyme or reason.
What to feed pigs in winter?
You may need to supplement in the winter with alfalfa hay and/or alfalfa pellets and a mini pig pellet food such as Blue Seal Pig & Sow, Purina Complete Pig and Sow food, or Purina Nature’s Match. The feed can be found at your local feed and seed store or a local Tractor Supply.
What is the temperament of a Kunekune pig?
Temperament. KuneKune pigs are very easy-going and social creatures. They will run to greet you when they hear you come to the pastures. They enjoy human interaction and will plop for a belly rub at a moment’s notice. They are fantastic with chickens, ducks, goats, cats, and dogs.
How big are Kunekune pigs?
Size. KuneKune pigs are mid-size pigs weighing 200-400 pounds (boars would be on the higher end and females on the lower end) and 24-36 inches tall. This is usually about to your knee. (Of course, this can vary depending on how much you feed them.)
Can you feed a Kunekune pig?
KuneKune pigs primarily graze “for a living” which makes them a great pig breed for the homestead. You can feed your KuneKune pigs on pasture if you have a nice rich pasture year-round. It is recommended that you give some grain during the growing years. However, they only get about two cups twice a day.
Kunekune Pigs
In addition to helping with pasture management, Kunekune pigs are popular in non-farming circles as pets. These pigs have oodles of personality. They are friendly, calm, and curious. They are very smart and always want to see what the humans are up to.
Qualities of Kunekune Pork
Kunekune pork is drastically different from the pork that you find in stores. The meat is dark red and richly marbled, leading to moist and tender meat. Many times the chops and pork steaks resemble beef more than pork. The meat has a sweet flavor due to the grass based diet of the Kunekune.
Raising Kunekune Hogs for Pork
Because Kunekune pigs are such great grazers, they are a great choice for homestead pigs. While many breeders do give their young pigs a bit of grain during their growing years, it is a relatively small amount, like 2 cups per day per pig.
Are Kune Kune Pigs Right for You?
Some things to consider before raising Kunekune pigs and other pigs — and any livestock for meat — are:
Housing and Fencing Kunekune Pigs
Kunekune pigs need about a quarter acre of pasture per adult pig. This means that you can have four or five pigs per acre. Rotating pastures will keep the pigs from overgrazing the fields. The pigs will be more likely to root and test fences if their fields are overgrazed. Foraging keeps the pigs happy and intellectually stimulated.
Breeding Kunekune Pigs
Usually around the age of 8 months, Kunekune boars reach sexual maturity. However, they will not be fully fertile until they are a year old. A Kunekune gilt may begin cycling around six months old. However, they do not need to breed until they are 10 months old.
Characteristics to Consider When Breeding
There are certain characteristics to consider. The ideal breeding gilt has the following attributes:
