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Types
of Miniature and Exotic Pet Pigs
To
our knowledge there are at least six (6)distinct types
of miniature pigs:
Vietnamese Pig(also called Potbellied Pig)
Juliani Pig (also called Painted Miniature Pig)
African Pygmy Pig(also called Guinea Hogs)
Yucatan Pig (also called the Mexican Hairless)
Ossabaw Island Pig (also called 'Feral" pig)
Kunekune Pig
There are "spin-offs" from some of the listed pigs.
The descriptions and sizes, of these pigs, will vary
with the crossing of one breed to another.
Vietnamese
Pig or Potbellied Pig or Potbelly Pig
This breed of pig has long been a favorite because of
its captivating appearance and tractable disposition.
The general appearance of a potbellied pig is a pronounced
potbelly, swayed back, small erect ears, and a straight
tail.
Height: (Measured at the withers): the typical height
is less than 18" with the ideal height being around
14".
Weight: from 60# and up.
Nose: short to medium length
Colors: black, white, or black and white.
Juliani
Pig or Painted Miniature Pig
Juliani pig traces its ancestry back to Europe and was
developed through a selective breeding program to enhance
small size, temperament and intelligence. They were
imported to the United States. They are reported being
the result of crossing several breeds. They have small
to medium ears, a slight potbelly, short hair, sway
back, short, straight tail. Sometimes called "The Painted
Miniature," their colors can be red, red and black,
red and white, white and black, black, silver and silver
and white. The legs are longer than the potbellied
pig's and they are slightly smaller. They have a gentle
disposition and love to play.
Height: 12" to 18"
Weight: 50# and up
African
Pigmy Pig or Guinea Hog
The African Pygmy pig arrived from Africa to the Southern
United States during the days of slave trade providing
food for the poor in the rural United States for generations.
They are documented in historic journals as huge, red,
hairy pigs. What are called Guinea Hogs today have
evolved as listed below. They are not dwarfs, but reportedly
a true midget. They are not swayed back, or do they
have a potbelly. They are shorter in forequarters than
the hind quarters with a moderately short snout, slight
bristling and thickening at the nape of the neck. They
are active, alert, and highly intelligent. They have
straight backs, a curl in their tail, medium sized ears,
non-wrinkled skin, with bristly hair. They are stocky
with short legs. They bond readily to humans and prefer
to be close to their favorite people.
Height:
14" to 22"
Weight: 60# and up
Yucatan
Pig or Mexican Hairless
Yucatan Pig originated in Mexico and Central America.
They have straight backs and no potbelly, short snouts,
sparse hair coats and medium size ears. They are slate
gray to black in color and are usually very gentle.
They are often used in laboratories since their skin,
cardiac and other systems resemble those of humans.
The larger type have males weighing up to 210 lbs. And
females up to 180 lbs. The laboratories have bred for
the smaller type and produced the miniatures which weigh
up to 100 lbs. and heights of 16" to 24."
Ossabaw
Island Pigs
Ossabaw pigs are categorized as a feral pig. "Feral"
pig is defined as stock that is "wild, untamed, uncultivated,
born in the wild, and/or in a wild state after escaping
from captivity." They are known to have been running
wild for nearly 500 years with no introduction of domestic
or other outside blood. They were brought for food
by the colonists who settled in Georgia, possibly representing
the primitive pariah-type village pigs of Medieval Europe.
On the mainland of the United States they have been
crossed with many domestic breeds. However, the strain
is thought to have remained pure off the Georgia coast
on Ossabaw Island.
Ossabaw pigs have long snouts, heavy coats and prick
ears. They have excellent temperaments, are lively,
and extremely intelligent due to their wild heritage.
They are very friendly, easy to train and bond with
all members of the family including other pets. It
is reported that they will live up to 15+ years.
Though insular dwarfism allows the hogs on the island
to stay as
small as 40-90 lbs, we are told that in captivity on
the mainland they can easily get up to 200 lbs.
Height:
Desirable 14" to 20"
Weight: 40 lbs. to 90 lbs.
Colors: Solids including gray, blue and red. Spotted
include black and white, striped: red and black and
calico, black, white, and red. Solid white is rare.
Kunekune
Pig
The Kunekune pig have a short, turned up snout and have
pire pire (tassels) hanging from their lower jaw (about
4 cm long) this being one of the most obvious and distinctive
features of the Kunekune. Their legs are short and their
bodies are short and round. The color range includes:
black, black and white, white, gold, tan and brown.
They are delightful, very placid and friendly.
Height: 16-24 inches
Weight: 70 lbs. and up.
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