Mini-pigs: description of breeds, how long they live, conditions at home

Mini pig is a dwarf domestic pig, which is actively used for experiments and laboratory research, and is also used as a decorative animal. Those who wish to acquire such a peculiar pet for themselves must have certain knowledge regarding existing breeds, the rules for choosing and the specifics of care.

Where did they come from

Even in the middle of the 19th century, scientists from different countries jointly tried to reproduce a new variety of small pigs. During the research, Vietnamese breeds of pigs were used due to their small size and soft nature.In the 1970s, Russian scientists of the genetics of the Siberian Branch of Sciences of the USSR, in the process of long-term selection work, obtained the domestic pig pig breed.

Why buy them

Many farmers buy pygmy pigs, called mini-pigs, because of their attractive, gentle nature. The piglet pleases its owners with mobility and mercy. A pet usually lives in a house or apartment with the owners.

Pig Breeds

There are many breeds of ornamental pigs, the most popular of them are considered.

Bergstresser knirth

The breed is great for breeding at home and apartment conditions. An adult weighs no more than 30 kg.

Mini Mayalino

Italian breed of piglets, selected by Stefano Morigni for more than 10 years. This pig is included in the Guinness Book of Records. The average weight is about 10 kg, and the height is 20 cm. The breed was bred recently and is not distributed due to the difficulty in breeding and susceptibility to diseases.

Wiesenau

German breed, whose representative weighs about 20 kg at the age of 2 years. They are very popular because they look cute, like to be scratched and grunt with pleasure.

Miniature Siberian

Russian breed from the times of the USSR. Representatives weigh less than 50 kg. They are resistant to the extreme Siberian climate.

Goettingen mini-pig

These are pigs of German origin that look like their Vietnamese relatives. The weight of such an animal varies from 70 to 90 kg.

How to choose

Now getting a mini-pig is not a problem, because this breed is popular. Experienced pig breeders advise choosing a pet pig in a nursery for the following reasons:

• after the purchase, contact with the owner of the cattery is not lost, and if you have questions, you can contact;
• huge selection of breeds.

Advice! It is not recommended to buy a pig in the markets, as a large number of scammers will try to sell ordinary piglets under the guise of a mini pig.

Before buying, follow the behavior of the parents of the piglet and choose the appropriate option for yourself, since the nature of the parents is inherited. The most valuable are piglets of a small mini-pig. Only born pigs have a weight of about 40 g, and already an adult is about 15 kg. If their weight exceeds 25 kg, this is not a real mini-pig.

When buying, give preference to he althy and mobile piglets with a pronounced pink tint, smooth coat, elastic ears, a spirally twisted tail. It is advisable to purchase a pet at the age of 2 months, since individuals fed with mother's milk have good immunity and are less susceptible to diseases than those that were previously sold.

The price of a mini pig pig ranges from $300 to $1,500 depending on the age of the breed. But its content will not require the allocation of huge funds, approximately, as well as for another pet: a small puppy or a kitten.

What to feed

Mini Pigs eat all kinds of fruits and vegetables, especially apples, pears and bananas. It is better to rub or grind all products, and also combine them with cereals, which are pre-steamed with boiling water. A domestic micro pig will not refuse cereals in the form of compound feed. Twice a week it is recommended to give pets dairy products in the form of cottage cheese. In small portions, you can give the piglet fish, chicken meat, beef, carefully removing the bones.

Specific care

A pig takes time to adapt to a new environment. His taming is a rather laborious process. At first, the pig will be afraid of sudden movements, so you need to approach it slowly and only offer to try the treat with your outstretched hand.

For this funny pet, it is important to develop the right diet, prepare his personal space in the form of a bed, as well as take care of him and take time for walks and games.

Piglets will feel uncomfortable in small apartments, and keeping in a cage and aviary is also considered unsuccessful. Usually, the owners allocate an old sofa, armchair or a large basket for the pig. The pet's personal space should be well ventilated and at the same time be protected from drafts.

Slippery flooring will cause a lot of inconvenience to the mini pig, as it will constantly fall. Before buying, carefully inspect the room for open wires, electrical appliances, household chemicals and other dangerous items. It is advisable to hide them away from the curious pig.

The pet needs to be on a hard surface so that the hooves are naturally erased, otherwise the flooring of the house will be damaged.They need to be cut at least once every 2 years, referring to a specialist. Males are recommended to be castrated, otherwise they will be angry and aggressive. Pigs live according to the presented schedule and quickly get used to it, remember their place and are not indifferent to water procedures.

Note! Decorative pigs live from 10 to 15 years.

Possible diseases

Mini-pigs at home can be exposed to many colds. Therefore, you should not offer cold water to pigs in hot weather, and also warm food to room temperature.

It is mandatory to vaccinate against rabies, plague and other equally serious infections.

If your pet is infected with parasites, you need to contact an experienced veterinarian for advice. In order for the mini pig not to transmit parasitic diseases to humans, it is necessary to monitor its hygiene.

Mini pig breeding

Send the male mini-pig to the same room with the female, familiar to her, for at least 15 hours. This is enough for them to get to know each other, and the mating process takes place. Many pig farmers recommend repeating the summary after 5 days again. The pig will give offspring 118 days after fertilization, so calculate the time and prepare a small paddock or a warm basket in advance. For 2 months, piglets should be close to their mother and drink her milk.

Differences from a normal pig

There are significant distinguishing features that make it easy to distinguish a mini pig from an ordinary domestic pig that is raised for slaughter:

• mini pig is small even after it grows up;
• pig and adult pet does not emit unpleasant odors, so it can be kept in the house, apartment and other enclosed spaces;
• mini piglets have thicker coats;
• they are expensive, so not everyone is available.

Before buying, be sure to ask the seller for the pedigree of the piglet, ask for a passport and other documents to avoid fraud.

Recommended