how long can kunekune pigs breed

As far as pig breeds to raise, Kunekunes are a breed to consider if you are able to wait for them to grow. If you live in extremely cold areas in winter, you want to consider that when planning the timing of your piglets. The oldest Kune on record is 21 years old. They are social animals. Breeding Kunekune Pigs. After many years of raising KuneKunes now, I love the birthing process and do all I can to ensure that I am present for a birth. I also think its safe to say that very few farms have ideal pasture for pigs year-round. See also our related article on Breeding & Farrowing. Sows that have low litter numbers or are poor mothers should be culled, but often litter size is influenced by environmental factors (such as feed or the boars fertility) more than the sows genetic makeup. . And the bottom strand is eye level when the pig is sniffing or rooting the ground. 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. from a litter is helpful to the size of your litter. Kunekune pigs do very well on a diet of grass, fresh fruit, and vegetables. KuneKunes tend to be very private breeders. Another individual mentioned crushed piglets as being a genetic thing. The AKKPS is an official breed registry of purebred KuneKunes that has a strong commitment to the preservation of purebred, pedigreed, parentage DNA verified KuneKunes. Make sure they have been recently dewormed and that they have had their vaccinations. Ideally, youd do 2 inches wood chips topped with another 4 inches of straw or hay for a nicely insulated bed. Proper breeding techniques and pregnancy management are also critical to ensuring the well-being of both the sow and litter. There's numerous reasons why. However, not all Kunes are born with them. They have a distinctive short snout and tassels, called wattles, under their jowl or chin as some say, and come in a variety of colors and patterns. Some breeders leave the piglets on the sow for convenience, and the piglets will usually wean themselves by 4 months of age. Wattles: Some Kunes have wattles. At least they are re-usable. If you have any concerns about breeding your Kunekune pigs, it is always best to consult with a veterinarian for specific recommendations and guidance or contact an experienced breeder. She will come in heat again within 7 to 14 days of when you wean the piglets. You will often hear that a sow is in her best health when she is pregnant. Waterer: Water is very important when it comes to pigs. The way it was explained to me by my mentor is if the gilt does not feel like there is enough food to sustain a litter, they will not get pregnant. Just hook up a hose and it keeps itself full. Personally, it looked a bit messier and very expensive over just using a simple nipple on 50-gallon (or smaller) barrel. You may look ridiculous to nearby neighbors, but it is helpful if you compare those photos to each other so as not to miss the swelling. As a responsibly breeder you want to make sure you are not introducing issues into your herd or others. The use of a heat lamp behind a farrowing rail can help improve piglet survival. This helps pass immunities over to the babies when they begin to nurse in her milk. Just Contact Me! However, the way that these pigs managed to get from Asia to New Zealand is unclear. So, while this breed is small, it's still pretty hefty . If you have children, this is an amazing experience to share with them. It is however suggested that you give Rhini Shield TX4 prior to birth 5 weeks before and again at 2 weeks before to increase the dams (females) ability to pass that protection to their offspring. These pigs are less smelly than some other pigs, and they need less space. Decisions to breed, for gilts especially, should be based on size and structure. This makes them one of the better breeds to have around if you have kids. Not only are they serving as companions, but you are also growing some pork as well. They will need a draft free shelter with crush rails. Increasing the sows food intake for up to 2 weeks before mating can have a flushing effect on the ovaries and can increase the litter size. However, if you live in a place with cold, long winters, you will either need to provide indoor housing and heating for sows and piglets, or keep the boar separated from the sows to prevent farrowing when it is too cold outside. Kunekune pigs are exactly as their name is translated. If the answer is no, you will need to plan accordingly for your litter. Additionally, breeding too early or too late can lead to health complications and reduced fertility. Other pigs to consider raising for meat are: Privacy Policy, Disclosures and Affiliate Disclosure, Desire to care for them daily care is required, Plan for addressing illnesses should they arise, Structure and soundness, including superior mammary system. A stressed-out momma and cause unnecessary complications. She may have reprimanded him many times throughout their prolonged periods of time together. The season lasts for between 8 and 48 hours, and normally occurs every 18 to 22 days until pregnancy occurs. Regular veterinary check-ups can help identify and address any potential health issues. Productive Years For A Pig: Sows can continue to breed up until roughly 4-6 years of age, while boars may be done by 3-4 years of age due to weight. Then were brought to the Maori people in New Zealand by whalers and traders. Researchers place these creatures in the Suidae family, along with river hogs, warthogs, babirusas, and more. For the most part, there is most often a general time frame of about 12-14 weeks, or roughly 3 months, between her farrowing date and her first heat cycle afterwards. Above all, I want to access the gilts weight and make sure she is in optimal health. Meanwhile, I must admit that this is my least favorite thing to do. The pigs will be more likely to root and test fences if their fields are overgrazed. Here are some other facts about this incredible breed: KuneKune pigs are very easy-going and social creatures. When the piglets are about 3 weeks old the moms will want a break from the piglets. They will dig, jump, and climb if they feel their needs are not being met. KuneKunes can almost fatten on grazing alone provided the pasture is rich enough. Understanding sexual maturity in Kunekune pigs. While they are sexually mature by between five and eight months, they may not be interested in breeding for another six months. Just like some goats do. When is the right time to breed KuneKune Pigs? This is one of the most popular questions: What age do KuneKune pigs breed? This guide provides valuable information and tips for breeders of all levels who are interested in raising these unique and beloved animals. The fact that they do not require much in the way of supplementary grains makes them very cost-effective as well. This is very convenient way to run the heat lamps. Whatever your goals you want to plan before breeding what you will do with your piglets. A kunekune can grow to be between 100 to 400 pounds (although different breeders offer differently sized pigs). It is important to choose pigs that are healthy, have good conformation, and exhibit desirable traits such as good temperament and grazing ability. The pig is capable of controlling its ear movements. Its hams are often proportional to the rest of its body. Dismiss, Tasty Gluten Free Sugar Cookies (sugar free too! Discovering the range of KuneKune Pig colors is an exciting adventure! These are all the tough decisions that farmer need to make on a day to day basis. Kunekune pork is drastically different from the pork that you find in stores. I honestly believe that giving them time to recover. Working with a reputable breeder or consulting with a KuneKune Registry can help ensure that you select the best breeding pair for your goals and needs. in good health before breeding, as any underlying health issues could lead to complications during pregnancy or cause genetic defects in piglets. I hang my heat lamps over the creep to draw the piglets to this area so that they are not squished. Piglets are very sensitive to the cold and will die if they are not kept warm enough. They will rearrange it, and some even make a big bowl in the hay. Kunekune sows are usually excellent mothers and rarely have trouble giving birth and rarely attack their piglets. The Kunekune (Mori pronunciation:[knkn])[1] is a small breed of domestic pig from New Zealand. They will go into season every 21 days (about 3 weeks). Kunekune pigs are easy to care for and breed. Deworming is generally done twice a year. There are various causes of infertility, and the first step to trying to solve the problem is deciding who is at fault the boar or the sow. The meat is dark red and richly marbled, leading to moist and tender meat. These heritage-breed pigs are great for small to moderate-sized farms and homesteads. Do you know someone who could benefit from this information? These pigs are definitely smaller than other domesticated pig breeds. There are several possible causes of sow infertility hormonal problems, a reproductive tract damaged by infection, or too fat or too thin in body condition. Many times the chops and pork steaks resemble beef more than pork. This worked well for me and can be a great tool. This fat gives great flavor to sausages, bacon, and other kinds of meat. Please keep in mind that this means that they already had their first two doses as younger pigs and already is on a regular schedule for deworming which is every 6 months. I use Toxiac AD & E (or Rhini Shield TX4) and deworm with Ivermectin (injectable) at least a week or two before a gilt goes to the boar. Once the sow is fighting off the piglets for food, it is a good idea to provide the piglets with food in a separate area that the sow cant get at. Proper care and attention during gestation and farrowing can help prevent complications and ensure healthy piglets. Boars are usually bigger than sows. Farrowing huts should be roughly 7.5 by 5 feet. For this article I will advise you what I do for my breeding program but, please never substitute this over what your vet suggest to you. Or a combination of bars and heat lamps help as well. They typically reach sexual maturity around 8 months of age. We have a ton of information on managing your herd, feeding 101 and more information on the general care page of our website. They can enjoy life in any climate as long as they have proper shelter for the climate. You may ask yourself what makes these pigs so special the simple answer is everything! Your email address will not be published. This is why most farms are going to grow out non-breeding quality for food. They are made to graze with a short snout, unlike other breeds making them very efficient grazing machines. I hear that all the time. As a result, in raising any type of livestock it will teach children about life and death and even the miracle of birth. Bedding: Whats nice about pigs is that they tend to keep their bedding clean. Breeders combined Kunekunes, Durocs and Berkshire pigs to create a new pig breed called Idaho Pasture pigs. KuneKune Pigs are a lard animal and at that age if overweight, they may have fat around their ovaries. While it is said it is good for them to each to replenish themselves, but I have had one get choked on it and die. Gestational period How long are KuneKunes pregnant? Kunekune Pigs for Sale . . It is important to pay attention the the inbreeding coefficient and to select your breeding pairs to be unrelated at least up to Grandparents. [9] However, breeders have created an alternative Australian breed: the Australian miniature pig. KuneKune pigs are very hardy little pigs and fair quite well in most climates. A few hours before farrowing the sow will often be nesting collecting vegetable matter to make a farrowing area. The photo below is a good representation of this. However, the Kunekune has long hair. First, I don't recommend starting with a single pig. And of course, they will enjoy wallowing in mud which helps keep them cool. Children can learn so much about life from interactions with KuneKune pigs and you dont have to worry about them being chased through the pastures. It is also important to consider the genetic diversity of the breed and avoid inbreeding.

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