Got some pasture pigs last week

[Ikarus1]

We have been wanting some pasture pigs for a while here on the ranch. This past week, an opportunity knocked and we answered by jumping in with both feet. A friend brought us 2 Kune Kune intact boars which needed a rehoming spot, and we had some established pasture where we ran our spring batch of meat birds. As soon as they came off the truck, they went straight to the salad bar grass where I had mowed to 5" tall. These 2 are so easy to handle, even Fatback at 350+ lbs is a very docile animals. Theyre almost like dogs, and will beg you for a belly rub!

They already came trained to electric fence so I can move them anywhere I need some grass and brush control.
KuneKune pigs are easy on your pasture and wont root up to a fence. Only the Idaho Pasture Pig would do better on small homesteads like ours, and theyre hard to find.

Ultimately I would like to breed my own "IPP" style pig from the lighter colored boar with Berkshire and Duroc sows and see if I can establish the PPP aka (Mount) Pleasant pasture pig 🤣

 

[Ikarus1]

I highly recommend Kune Kune pigs for first time swineherders. These guys are so docile and easy to handle. Like big pets that you can eat

 

[beamernc]

Are you going to be able to eat your "pets" when the time comes?

 

[Ikarus1]

Are you going to be able to eat your "pets" when the time comes?

These are breeding boars so these are off the menu and yes we have already eaten some kunekune pork.

 

[Chdamn]

Sooooooo. Bbq time next year I should come see you?

 

[Ikarus1]

Sooooooo. Bbq time next year I should come see you?

Yeah but it definite would be a small pig. They take about 2 years for slaughter weight even with me feeding them distillers grain. As many pigs that are going to sale now it may be cheaper to buy a feeder pig and fatten er up for BBQ days

 

[NCFubar]

Do NOT name them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, you name ‘em and the chances of eat in’ ‘em drops big time … especially if your kids or wife does the naming.

 

[Ikarus1]

Do NOT name them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These already came with names, and testicles so the chances were already low

 

[alpharius]

I highly recommend Kune Kune pigs for first time swineherders. These guys are so docile and easy to handle. Like big pets that you can eat

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Those things are too cute to eat.

 

[kcult]

Do NOT name them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I said the same thing to my wife about some extra roosters.

Told her I would write their names on the bags, if she did.

 

[GoWolfpack]

My cousin had a breeding pair named Maple Bacon and Chorizo. When they shut down their farm the animals were all destined for the freezer but a petting zoo saved the pigs. Sweet animals really

 

[Ikarus1]

I said the same thing to my wife about some extra roosters.

Told her I would write their names on the bags, if she did.

Unless you are growing em real big this is what you end up with after plucking...aint even worth dog food

 

[kcult]

Unless you are growing em real big this is what you end up with after plucking...aint even worth dog food

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That's hot.

 

[Bloodyhands]

I highly recommend Kune Kune pigs for first time swineherders. These guys are so docile and easy to handle. Like big pets that you can eat

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@Ikarus1 Is there a place you’d suggest others to buy these types of pigs for similar purpose?

 

[Ikarus1]

@Ikarus1 Is there a place you’d suggest others to buy these types of pigs for similar purpose?

Facebook groups or a local breeder. We lucked up and met a lady who was getting out of farming for a while due to divorce. Once we start to breed KuneKunes we will sell some

 

[kcult]

I think I've heard that kunekune were a desired breed because they don't root, either.

Does that sound right?

 

[Alabamacoastie]

I have been wanting to add a breeding pair of pigs to our pets (sell the babies). But, I read online that pigs should not be kept with goats and cows. "The pigs will bite the nipples off of goats and cows." Do you think this is true?

 

[Ikarus1]

I think I've heard that kunekune were a desired breed because they don't root, either.

Does that sound right?

'pasture pigs' do not root. That's the reason for their upturned snout. Kune Kunes, Idaho Pasture Pigs and American Guinea hogs are all bred for this purpose. So far mine like to eat alfalfa/orchardgrass hay, distillers grain, and the fescue in the pasture.

 

[Ikarus1]

I have been wanting to add a breeding pair of pigs to our pets (sell the babies). But, I read online that pigs should not be kept with goats and cows. "The pigs will bite the nipples off of goats and cows." Do you think this is true?

Mine are male and there's a male nigerian dwarf buck in there with them, so no nipple biting that I know of. Mo (Dynamo) the buck is in there because he likes to fight with his brother. He's scared of the pigs as of right now.

 

[beamernc]

@Ikarus1 Is there a place you’d suggest others to buy these types of pigs for similar purpose?

I looked on craigslist and found quite a few kunekune's for sale. Piglets and adults.

 

[Ikarus1]

I looked on craigslist and found quite a few kunekune's for sale. Piglets and adults.

I would be careful buying other peoples animals unless I knew them. Lots of problem animals out there, although it would be hard to imagine a 'bad' Kunekune unless it was infected with something. Their temperament is just darn near rediculous. I just have to be careful they don't crush me by rolling over wanting a belly rub every 5 minutes.

 

[Leadchunker]

A farm where I have some beehives has a few of these. They butchered a huge one a couple months ago. They got about 50/50 fat to meat, or so I’m told.
If true that might benefit some wild game hunters for added fat.

 

[Ikarus1]

A farm where I have some beehives has a few of these. They butchered a huge one a couple months ago. They got about 50/50 fat to meat, or so I’m told.
If true that might benefit some wild game hunters for added fat.

yeah they're what is considered a 'larder' pig, lots of good fat for rendering and depending on diet, pretty good marbling in the pork. I am looking at getting some hybrid Kune-Berkshire sows to breed for a bit faster growth and hybrid vigor

 

[Ikarus1]

So I haven't updated this thread in a minute. As of right now, we have 4 bred gilts (females), 6 barrows, and 2 intact male KuneKune pigs. We also added 2 sows of mixed Berk/IPP heritage and their 6 IPP piglets.

SO yeah I'm in the swineherding business. We plan on breeding our IPP piglets back to some Kunekune sows next year. The Idaho Pasture pig gets bigger, faster but it's temperament is NOT like a KK...they're wild AF>

 

[Gumby]

You could call them ham & bacon!

 

[Kingding]

Do NOT name them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bacon
Pork Chop
Sausage links
BBQ
Meatballs
The list goes on and I'm hungry 😭

 

[Tug McClutchin]

Very cool seeing pasture pigs! I can't get some because they would end up as pets and I would be unable to do the needful when the time got here. I have gotten very soft in my advanced age especially when it comes to having to end the critters life.

 

[Ikarus1]

These are good foraging pigs. IPPs are definitely an upgrade in that area. Here is our biggest sow, Louise. Thelma went to freezer camp!

 

[Ikarus1]

Very cool seeing pasture pigs! I can't get some because they would end up as pets and I would be unable to do the needful when the time got here. I have gotten very soft in my advanced age especially when it comes to having to end the critters life.

You can always just drop em off at a processor. My 2 sons worked as abbatoir workers in a local USDA shop so I am blessed with in house butchers 😁