Kunekune Pigs: The Essential Guide

One of the most common breed of pet pig is the Kunekune pigs. Since the popularity of “teacup pets” began, the Kunekune pigs also began to rise in terms of fame.

The Kunekune was introduced to New Zealand and became one of its domesticated breeds. Soon after, the native Maori people of New Zealand adopted the Kunekune, which is actually a Maori language word that means “fat and round” and is pronounced as “Cooney Cooney’

Many of us are guilty about believing the stigma around pigs. We thought they were vile, filthy creatures that are greedy, selfish, manipulative and many more negative things.

But now that we are slowly learning about their true colors, they are finally starting to capture our hearts with their own charms.

Before they became popular as pets, the Kunekune pigs are only usually used for selective crossbreeding in order to possibly produce an even smaller breed of pigs.

Now that more people want them as pets, they are no longer known being set aside by breeders as nothing but a tool for selective breeding. Kunekune pigs are becoming highly demanded in the market!

So before you go and decide you want to adopt one, here’s everything you need to know about the adorable piggy friends.

History and Origin

The Kunekune is believed to have originated from an Asian domestic breed. In the past, the trade and shipping of livestock all over the world was very active.

This is how Asian breeds crossed continents and eventually ended up in a completely different country and become domesticated. In other terms, “become adopted” by another culture.

Since they were adopted and developed by the Maori people, it is also known as the “Maori Pig”.

As of the moment, there is no specific information about the true or exact origin of Kunekunes but is possible to have relations to the Japanese country. “Kunekune” is also a Japanese word which means “twister” or “wriggling body“

Several years ago, around the 1980’s, the Kunekune pig was listed as an endangered species.

The reason why the Kunekune pig was endangered was because of crossbreeding. There were less purebred Kunekune and more mixed breed of Kunekunes instead.

It was a critical situation where the estimated number of purebreds was only under 50.

For the sake of preservation, two wildlife park owners named Michael Willis and John Simister worked together to conduct a breeding recovery program. Their efforts were similar to what a geneticist does in order to save certain animals from extinction.

The attempt of saving the purebred Kunekune breeds began to inspire the others and joined in the recovery program. Thanks to this joined effort, the Kunekune continued to exist as a pure breed.

However, up to this day, the Kunekune breed is still considered as a “rare species” which is why they are still being carefully observed.

Anatomy and Physical Appearance

The Kunekune’s physical appearance is one of the main reasons why it’s such a popular breed of pig as pets. Before buying or adopting, it’s important to make sure you are familiar with their appearance to make sure it’s a purebred Kunekune.

Since they are normally small, putting them next to a normal sized pig would make them appear like a baby even if they are fully grown adults!

I. All About Kunekune Pigs

Body shape & facial structure

The name Kunekune’s appearance is basically explained in its name which means “fat and round” in the Maori language. To some people, Kunekune pigs may look unusual compared to other common domestic breeds.

They are smaller than other breeds of pigs and may be included among the naturally small breeds. Many “small pigs” sold by breeders are not small by nature, but is small because of selective breeding compared to Kunekune pigs that are born naturally small.

Kunekune pigs have very short legs, short snouts paired with their body gives the Kunekune a natural round body shape and may have two wattles under its chin. These “wattles” are called “piri piri” or “tassels” and can get grow to 1 inch (4 cm) long. Not all Kunekune have these “piri piris” that hang around their jaw.

Most breeders prefer to use pigs with tassels when it comes to crossbreeding as the offspring will likely have tassels too in order to keep the tassels in their natural appearance.

The Kunekune’s body shape and short snout is what many people love about them and may even refer to it as a “cute yet comical look”.

Size and Weight

Despite this, there is still no guarantee how large a Kunekune pig can be. The average Kunekune pig can grow up to 24 inches tall. An adult Kunekune can weigh between 60 kg to 200 kg.

Skin / Fur / Hair / Coat

Kunekune pigs are also covered in hair unlike most pigs that barely have enough hair to keep them warm.

They come in various colors such as black, white, brown, ginger, gold, cream, and spotted combinations too. Their coat texture can become silky which will give a sleek or straight appearance but can also long or curly that gives off an unkempt appearance.

Their coat may differ depending on the current month or seasons.
Winter usually gives the Kunekune pig a much thicker coat which they will shed during warmer seasons like summer. Hair loss is a common thing to happen even to other animals as a way of keeping cool.

Tail and Ears

Like other domestic breeds, Kunekune pigs also have curly tails. The tail can be crooked when the pig is moving. Averagely long.

As for the ears, the Kunekune usually have semi-lopped and inclined forward ears. The pig is capable of controlling its ear movements.

When observing a Kunekune’s body language, you can pay close attention to the tail and the ears.

Curious why pigs have curly tails? You can read about it here.

Behavior and Personality

Since they are one of the most wanted pets and can also be considered “exotic”, it’s necessary to get to know their behavior first. They may have small bodies but they carry a pig, I mean, a big personality!

Despite the negative impression most people used to have for pigs, they actually have a lot of positive things to offer to us.

II. All About Kunekune Pigs

Temperament

Kunekune pigs are actually very docile pigs and this is what makes them great pets for first time pig handlers or owners. They are very gentle and can be trusted with children.

Kunekune pigs are very patient and love human interaction. They are prey animals and tend to escape or run away instead of fighting when they feel threatened.

They are not dangerous but instead, they are friendly and social.

Personality

They are usually quiet and enjoy spending time relaxing. They are intelligent animals and ranked the fifth most intelligent animal in the world!

They are so smart, many owners support the claim that they can be easier to handle than dogs and other pets. Some even say that they learn faster during training compared to dogs.

Kunekune pigs are friendly even towards children, but it’s still best to supervise interaction between pigs and kids. Kids may tend to hurt vulnerable pets such as pigs as a playful gesture but can be perceived as a hostile action to pigs!

Kunekunes have great memory like most pigs and WILL remember those who hurt them. They may not fight back, but they know how to de-attach themselves from those who can be a “threat” to them.

Aside from being intelligent, Kunekune pigs are also EMOTIONAL.

The fact that they can feel negative and positive emotions makes them compassionate too. They can feel pain, are capable of grieving or mourning, hold grudges and feel grateful.

Did you know that pigs are aware if their companions like other pets or fellow pigs or even their owners, passes away? Studies say that pigs may be aware of the concept of life in others, not just for themselves.

This proves they are not selfish as they cry REAL tears whenever they grieve or mourn. Even when they are just depressed, they can cry or lose the will to live!

Kunekune pigs are also capable of being a well emotional support animal or a therapy animal that can help reduce depression. When they sense grief from others, they may console them for comfort.

They can be very sweet and cuddly once they get used to physical interactions. Kunekune pigs will enjoy lap visits and even cuddling to sleep when they fully trust you!

Kunekune pigs also like their environment or living area clean. They are one of the cleanest farm animals unlike what we are told about them.

Pigs, in general, like to roll around in mud because of their inability to sweat. The mud is an option for them to cool off. However, if there is water, a pig would prefer bathing in water rather than mud.

Breeding and Life Expectancy

Breeding is necessary to keep the circle of life going. Just like every other animal, Kunekunes have their average life expectancy.

III. All About Kunekune Pigs

Breeding

Kunekunes become sexually matured at six to seven months of age. Though they can become pregnant at around five months, they are normally bred around six months or one year of age.

The typical Kunekune nature is of a sociable placid pig that likes close human contact. They are intelligent, resourceful, and affectionate, with a passion for food and a good scratch.

Offspring

The common number of piglets or litters a gilt (younger female pigs) or sow (older female pigs) can produce is seven piglets.

However, the number may vary and can still differ depending on how they are fed, cared for and many other factors.

If you’re interested in learning more about breeding, you can check our article about that here.

Lifespan

The Kunekune’s average life expectancy is 15 up to 20 years.

It is said that as long as a pig is well cared for, they can definitely live longer and serve as a great life companion for most people.

Habitat and Environment

Domesticated animals often thrive in a better condition compared to their wild or natural counterpart. Kunekunes are no exception to this.

IV. All About Kunekune Pigs

Natural habitat

A Kunekune’s natural habitat is woodlands and pasture which means, before they were domesticated, they lived freely around those parts.

Even now, when you let a domesticated Kunekune out in the woodlands, they will still be able to live normally as their instincts will let them know it is right where they belong.

Environment

Kunekune pigs are prey animals and need to be kept away from possible predators. If they have a wide space to graze outside, there must be fences to keep out animals like wolves, coyotes or even regular stray dogs.

Like every other pig, Kunekunes have a hard time cooling off because of their inability to sweat. Because of this, they should be placed in an area that can keep them cool.

Their hair or coat could contribute to the heat their body will keep and may lead to heatstroke if they are not able to cool off.

They are sensitive to harsh weather conditions and thus must be protected from extreme heat and severe cold. They must be shielded from rain and any kind of storms.

Space

Kunekunes in captivity will need specific space and conditions in order to thrive properly on a daily basis.

Depending on the number of other pigs that will live with them, a Kunekune should be able to have a pen of at least 2 meters in size.

If they are being kept as indoor pets, the best solution is to give them access to at least one or two rooms to give them comfort.

Know more about how much space most pigs need by reading our article about it here.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Every animal including humans have its own imperfections. All pets will have its own pros and cons. Kunekune pigs have more pros than cons, but of course, it’s important to learn what they are to fully understand their breed.

PROS	CONS
Peaceful and silent	Inability to protect
Clean animals	Can get lice or ticks in their coats
Not a picky eater	Prone to diseases if not careful
Social animals	Easily bullied by larger pets
Adorable physical look	Expensive to care for

V. All About Kunekune Pigs

Pros

Peaceful and Silent — as explained in their behavior, Kunekune pigs are normally quiet animals. There will be no loud barking or excessive meowing which is great for owners who do not like being disrupted by such noises.

Although they are capable of making sounds such as grunting, screaming or casual oinking, they rarely do so and it is usually not loud enough to disrupt someone.

Clean animals — unlike what we originally thought of them, Kunekune pigs are clean and prefer to keep their living area clean too.

As much as possible, they will assign a corner to become their toilet area in order to avoid soiling their living space.

They will enjoy baths and prefer water more than mud. Most pigs only rolled around in mud to keep cool because it’s the only thing they can do when there is no pond of water around them.

Not a picky eater — pigs of any breed including Kunekunes have an opportunistic mentality when it comes to feeding. As long as it looks edible, they will accept and eat it.

They have what we call a “stomach of steel” which means they can eat almost anything without getting sick from it.

However, just because they can eat anything including junk, doesn’t mean we should feed them with just anything. Certain food can still be harmful to their health and will weaken their immune system.

Social animals — aside from being generally kind, Kunekune pigs are also capable of getting along well with other pets like cats. They can get along with dogs too, but it’s safer to leave them with animals that are close to them in size.

Dogs may be as large as a pig, but they are clearly more powerful than pigs and can cause unwanted injuries or accidents when put together.

Even so, if you trust your dog won’t hurt your Kunekune pig, then they can definitely be great friends too.

Kunekunes are great companions for your other house pets or animals too.

Adorable outer appearance — after reading about how small and short they can be, anyone will get the idea of how cute they look like. There are lots of photos of Kunekune pigs over the internet to confirm this too!

Most people want to get their hands on the Kunekune breed because it’s small, it’s cute and has a great behavior. It has everything an owner would want for their pets.

Even so, it is still advisable to anticipate any pig to grow larger than expected.

Cons

Inability to protect — most people should already know this, but yes, a pig especially the size of a Kunekune cannot defend or protect you from potential attackers.

They are quiet and cannot make a “warning call” unlike dogs that can bark to alarm their owners or cats that can climb and meow anywhere to wake their owners during emergencies.

Since they are prey animals, they may tend to hide or escape in the presence of a stranger. This means that they won’t be able to find a way to notify their owners as they will be too terrified to worry about them!

A pig’s main defense is their speed and next is their tusks, which can also be their offensive weapon. However, most domesticated pigs will have their tusks completely removed for safety reasons and to make them look less exotic.

Can get lice or ticks in their coats — Kunekune pigs are usually not easily infected by parasites like ticks but if they are left exposed to them for too long, the parasites may succeed in inhabiting the hair of your pig.

Most pigs have very thin hair that fleas or ticks can’t really nest on them. But for Kunekune pigs that have thick hair, they can be infested by fleas.

If this happens, it’s highly suggested to get it removed as soon as possible before they start growing in numbers and can potentially harm your pig’s health.

Prone to diseases if not careful — the disadvantage of being a non-picky eater is the risk of eating a harmful food that can infect their systems.

Kunekune pigs can eat anything including scrap food, junk, rotten food, spoiled food, decomposing food and decaying carcasses.

This is why it’s important to supervise your pig during feeding time or letting them outside in order to prevent them from eating unwanted food.

They are also strictly prohibited from eating meat (including any other meat products and food that has had contact with meat) as it is the easiest way for them to be infected by a disease that may be transmitted to humans.

Easily bullied by larger pets — like what was explained in the advantages part, Kunekune pigs can be easily bullied by other pets that are larger than them.

This may be a bad combination when you own large predator animals like dogs. This could result in various outcomes but the most common outcome when a dog loses its patience for a pig is a savagely injured pig.

Expensive to care for — even the cost of buying one may be already too much for some. Kunekune pigs will have a lot of needs and buying one as a pet comes with great responsibility, patience and commitment.

Aside from being mentally prepared, one must be financially prepared too when it comes to the costs.

Proper care and needs

As mentioned above, owning a pig involves a big responsibility. If you think you are prepared, this section will thoroughly explain the proper way of caring for pigs and their general needs.

VI. All About Kunekune Pigs

Proper Feeding

An average pig should eat at least two times a day. Pigs are not picky eaters and you can feed them almost anything!

However, pigs are strictly NOT ALLOWED TO CONSUME MEAT.

The reason behind this is to prevent pigs from getting sick. The easiest way for them to get infected with a disease is by eating meat.

This can turn into a virus that may be transmitted to humans and cause yet another outbreak.

Instead, you may feed your pig with various fruits and vegetables. Real pig pellets are the best choice for your pet pig as it provides a balanced diet for them.

Pigs can also eat grass, so if you have a yard or lawn that has grass, you may let them graze on it. They may occasionally dig the ground up to eat roots and certain insects. (Safe for them to consume)

You may learn more about what to feed your pet pig by checking one of our helpful articles about it. Read “What Do Pigs Eat”

HOW MUCH WATER THEY NEED

On a daily basis, an average pig can drink 5 to 10 liters a day. A pregnant or mothering pig might need twice the regular amount in order to produce enough milk.

Pigs are unable to sweat which is why they have a hard time cooling off. Drinking lots of water will help them keep their body temperature cool.

Make sure that their water tanks or drinking bowls cannot be tipped over as they have a tendency to play with food or water. Sometimes, they can be careless or clumsy.

It’s important to ensure they always have enough water to drink as dehydration can make them sick or if it’s too hot and they can’t cool off, pigs are easily prone to heat stroke.

Know more about what pigs need by reading our article about it here.

Living area

As mentioned above, your pig has a hard time cooling off due to their dysfunctional sweat glands.

Studies say that they function better under cool temperatures but harsh weather conditions could easily affect them or make them sick.

Severe cold or extreme heat could give pneumonia or heat stroke. There have been cases where pigs passed away due to extreme temperatures.

To properly care for your pig, it’s important to pay attention to the temperature. The room must be averagely cool or warm. They must also be able to remain dry and protected from parasites such as flies.

Despite being kept indoors, pigs will also need sufficient amount of sunshine. You can take them out or let them outside to bask under the sunlight in the morning.

Doing this will also be a soothing activity for your pet pig as they enjoy the outdoor life, they like the morning sun and have the opportunity to graze on grass.

If you don’t have an area where they can stay out, an optional solution is taking your pet pig out for a walk. This could also serve as an adequate exercise for your pet pig.

Most pigs will enjoy a walk in the morning as they are adventurous animals that appreciate exploring their surrounding areas.

Note: Walking your pig may require legal permissions.
Read our article about legalizing your pet and getting a pig license.
“How to get a License for your Pig“

As a pig owner, you will also need to buy a proper bed for your pet. If they are still growing, it’s safe to go for the long term product as they might grow twice their current size!

Even Kunekune pigs can grow larger than expected, so to help you save, it’s advisable to anticipate growth for your pet pig. With a good bed that they can fit in, they will be comfortable to stay in your home.

Healthcare

Since pigs can be sensitive when it comes to health, it’s highly recommended to let your pet pig have annual medical checkups. Vaccination is necessary while spaying and neutering is also deeply encouraged.

Another reason why owning a pet pig will require frequent visits to the veterinary clinic is because you might need help with trimming. Hooves, nails and tusks trimming are important and crucial to your pig’s health.

Overgrown and unmaintained hooves, nails and tusks could cause soreness and severe pain when it starts injuring the body structure. It may also cause infection, appetite loss, locomotive issues and more.

Trimming can be a challenging task for a new owner which is why we advise to seek professional help or assistance from a veterinarian.

If you are curious on how to do the entire process of trimming and caring for their hooves, nails and tusks, you may read our article about it here.

Register your Kunekune

Raising pig especially exotic ones such as Kunekune pigs may be illegal or restricted depending on where you live. Laws differ on every country especially regarding animal welfare. It’s highly recommended to check with your local officers to verify first before you adopt a pig.

If it requires a license, please register your pig for its safety and yours too. It might also come with various benefits, so it’s worth the cost. This step is very important and must be done if required.