Looking after Your Kune Kune Pigs

Make sure that you do not feed them too much, as they will then become too fat. This is likely to kill them from overweight and may prevent them from mating and successful re-production. Neutered boars are particularly prone to overweight. They need a plentiful supply of fresh grass and therefore during the summer they will graze so no supplementary food is required.

A pint size jug of 16% protein nuts or pig mash should be sufficient for an adult pig during the winter. Sunflower oil can be added to these on a couple of days a week. Apples, carrots and fodder beet can be fed to supplement their diet during the winter months. Any fruit or vegetables will always be welcome to the pig, avoid giving them peaches or any fruit with large stones as this can lead to broken teeth. Parsnips may tend to cause mouth ulcers so we avoid giving them parsnips.

Some pigs tend to become constipated on dry food. This can be avoided by feeding pig meal soaked in water or simply adding water to the normal nuts and letting them soak overnight. Sunflower oil, liquid paraffin or Lactulose added to the food will help. Sunflower oil is also very good for preventing dry skin. Pigs require a lot of fresh water.

Kune pigs are hardy animals and will live outdoors throughout the year if shelter is provided in the form of arcs, barns, sheds, sty's or simple shelters from wind and rain etc. Metal varieties are not satisfactory as they will get too hot in summer and too cold in winter. Plastic arcs, as supplied by Farmwright of Devon, are very good. A door made of flexible PVC curtain can be added to arc during the coldest part of the winter. A thick layer of fresh straw on the floor for a bed will keep them warm even on the coldest night. If it is your intention for your pigs to breed, they must have access to a farrowing pen to prevent the Sow from crushing the piglets. Also it will be necessary to keep any boar away from the sow until such time as you require further piglets. When planning your housing these considerations will prevent problems and further expense at a later date.

HEAT STRESS is a serious problem for pigs and MAFF have pamphlets on this subject and therefore in the absence of natural shelter a tarpaulin stretched between their arc and a nearby fence will provide a shelter. They will always look for a stream or a muddy ditch to wallow in and this is the best solution to prevent heat stress. If your ground doesn't have a wet patch, a shallow metal or plastic trough should be provided for them to wallow in.