What are the Different Miniature Pig Breeds?
Choosing a pig can be very confusing. There are a lot of different breeders out there advertising pigs using a million different and fancy words: micro mini pig, nano pig, teacup pig, toy pig, miniature pig, etc. There is no association that has clarified what all these terms actually mean. These fancy words deal with the size of the full grown pig and each breeder has their own definition. There are only a few different breeds of small pigs. Many of the pigs being sold are crosses between many breeds, which is great and part of how there are so many great colors, patterns and sizes. Be aware that pigs are not normally full grown until they are 2-3 years of age. Pigs tend to do most of their main skeletal growing by 18 months of age. After that they fill out and add weight, but their height and length do not tend to change unless they become obese.
The mini pigs were first truly documented by the bio-medical research industry. According to The Mini Pig in Biomedical Research, Scientists started using pigs more frequently for research purposes in the 1940s. There were many advantages to using smaller pigs in a research setting, so they used some feral miniature pig breeds like the Yucatan, the Westran or the Vietnamese Potbellied Pig. However, most of the miniature pig breeds used ended up being creating by crossing many types of pigs. There were a lot of breeds mixed together throughout the years: Guinea Hogs from Alabama, Wild boars from Catalina Island, Piney-Woods Pigs, dwarf Ras-n-lansa pigs from Guam, Ohio Improved Chester Whites, Yorkshires, Tamworth, Landrace, Large White, Vietnamese miniature pigs, Palouse pigs, Feral Swamp Hogs from Louisiana, and many more that aren't documented.
Some of the above breeds have ended up in the hands of breeders and over time these pigs have been bred down in size. Since there has been no true documentation or registry for miniature pigs, no one really knows what breeds of miniature pigs are mixed in their lines. You must see the parents to have a good idea, but many breeders now have mini pigs, which are a mix of many of these smaller pig breeds, standing around 12-15" tall when full grown.
The mini pigs were first truly documented by the bio-medical research industry. According to The Mini Pig in Biomedical Research, Scientists started using pigs more frequently for research purposes in the 1940s. There were many advantages to using smaller pigs in a research setting, so they used some feral miniature pig breeds like the Yucatan, the Westran or the Vietnamese Potbellied Pig. However, most of the miniature pig breeds used ended up being creating by crossing many types of pigs. There were a lot of breeds mixed together throughout the years: Guinea Hogs from Alabama, Wild boars from Catalina Island, Piney-Woods Pigs, dwarf Ras-n-lansa pigs from Guam, Ohio Improved Chester Whites, Yorkshires, Tamworth, Landrace, Large White, Vietnamese miniature pigs, Palouse pigs, Feral Swamp Hogs from Louisiana, and many more that aren't documented.
Some of the above breeds have ended up in the hands of breeders and over time these pigs have been bred down in size. Since there has been no true documentation or registry for miniature pigs, no one really knows what breeds of miniature pigs are mixed in their lines. You must see the parents to have a good idea, but many breeders now have mini pigs, which are a mix of many of these smaller pig breeds, standing around 12-15" tall when full grown.
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Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs:
These pigs are originally from Vietnam, but where imported to the U.S. & Canada in the 1960s. These pigs can grow to 20" tall and range from 100-250 pounds. They are extremely social animals, but are also known for their stubborn and independent streaks. Potbellied pigs have short legs, a short snout, a sway back, a potbelly, a straight long tail, and they tend to be very portly and round in their appearance. |
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Juliana Pigs: Juliana pigs are smaller and more petite in their bone structure than the potbellied pig. They were brought to the U.S. from Europe. They have straight backs, longer snouts, they are always spotted, their legs are longer than the potbellied pig. Juliana pigs are lean, long and athletic in appearance. They can range in size from 10-16" tall and weigh no more than 60 pounds when full grown. They have a very friendly and outgoing personality. |
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Guinea Hogs: Guinea Hogs are rare and unique to the U.S.. They are thought to originate from West Africa. They are usually black, have a sturdy build, a curly tail, they have a straight back and no potbelly. They are highly active, alert and intelligent. They can grown to 22" tall and can weigh from 150-300 pounds when full grown. |
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Ossabaw Island Pigs: The hogs of Ossabaw Island, off the coast of Georgia, are descendants of Spanish pigs brought to the New World over 400 years ago. They were small range pigs with prick ears, heavy coats and long snouts. Ossabaw hogs are usually black, although some are black with white spots or light with black spots. They tend to weigh 80-150 pounds. |
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Kune Kune Pigs: The KuneKune Pig is a delightful breed of swine once near certain extinction. They were only found in New Zealand and kept by the Maori people. They are known for their extremely laid back, docile, friendly personalities. The Kune Kune is covered in hair which can be long or short, and straight or curly. Hair colors include black, brown, ginger, gold, cream and spotted combinations. It has a short, round body with short legs and two tassels under its chin called wattles. They stands about 24 inches tall and weigh 150-250 pounds. |
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Mexican Yucatan Pigs: Parent stock for a miniature pig herd was obtained from the progeny of pigs imported from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The Yucatan miniature pig is slate-gray, essentially hairless, and has a docile temperament. The Yucatan miniature pig is native to tropical regions. They weight 150-180 pounds when mature. |
