The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: beagh-suffolks on February 08, 2015, 01:12:14 pm
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im looking at getting a few of theses, them seem to be real good on the ground compared to most other breeds...anyone any experience with them
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maybe
We have two kune kune's that eat grass and don't dig.
My neighbour up the road has two kune kune's in 3 acres, and they dig like stink ! Holes all over the place !!
So you may be lucky, you may not !
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Where are you ! We have a sow who's farrowing in 2 weeks !
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They may not be as hard on the ground as "big" pigs and maybe if they have endless grazing they don't dig, but we've had KKs twice and they did dig for sure. Great pigs though - had the most delicious pork joint yesterday :yum:
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They don't "plough" the same as other pigs but they still poach the land when it's wet. We have kept Kunes for about 6 years plus other breeds. I can find no fault with the other breeds but the Kunes are still here! Sweet temperaments, don't seem to want to roam (apart from one sow) and lovely tasting meat.
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They don't "plough" the same as other pigs
Ours did. They dug some fairly big holes. Agree about temperament and meat though :thumbsup:
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My Kunes dont dig and I have had them for four or five years now, I bred the two that oaklands pigs have and glad to hear they still dont dig :thumbsup:
My pigs overwinter outside and they dont dig whilst outside over winter, I have two pigs outside right now and they are on haylage and grass and far too fat, hoping they will loose some condition soon
I think it depends on where you get them from though as some kunes will dig just as much as other pigs will, I got saddlebacks over the summer and put them in a pen of grass to dig it up and they didnt touch it ??? so I dont have much luck with rooting pigs
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One point of note worthy of mention is that a lot of the "Kunes" out there aren't actually Kune Kunes at all.
I've seen all shapes and sizes of Heinz variety, small crossbred pigs being advertised as Kunes.
Buy them from a reputable source, we have a few on the forum. :thumbsup:
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The only way to be truly sure they are kunes is to ensure they are regiserable from registered stock
The kkps of Great Britain will let you know who your closest breeders are !
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:wave: Dedicated Kunekune keeper alert ;)
They're fab pigs to have, whether as outdoor pet or pork. Great temperaments, easier on the ground (and the feed bill) We have kept most of the traditional breeds over the years and are now concentrating purely on Kunekune.
Drop me a pm with your location and I'll point you in the direction of breeders in your area (I'm kk club secretary ;))
HTH
Karen
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I have 8 Kunes, and mine do dig but not deeply, they just roll the turf back and snuffle around underneath. When I move them I'm going to scrape off all the loosened turf and sow beet / turnips / greens / beans there ready for them to return in winter.
They're very friendly and confidant. I don't have an intact male, just gilts and castrates, they all get on very well together and snuggle up into a very small space at night.
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Be aware that unless you are very hard-hearted and businesslike you may get too fond. I have two elderly sows and could as soon sausage my dogs as them.
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Well our sow just knocked us sideways by producing 14 little bundles of fun so we definitely have some spare!!!