[Sylvia]

Has anyone heard of these before? I returned a borrowed Kune boar this morning and saw in a pen what I thought were iron age weaners. They were, in fact, Mediaeval pigs. And, before anyone leaps at me, this is their tale, as I remember it.
A good few years ago (50?) a rich man visited Cook island and saw these tiny pigs. He was taken with them and brought a number of them back on his yacht ( naughty, even in those days!) and kept them as a herd.
Six months later he died of a heart attack and his widow didn't want anything to do with them so the farm worker who had been caring for them took them home. After a while they went to a tenant farmer who kept them for a good few years and then went on to another person who kept them badly.
The RSPCA became involved and the pigs were, thankfully, given as a herd to the person who has them now. They have inbred them to the point where this is no longer feasible and can find no-one with others of this species so don't know where to go from here. (this story is a bit tangled so anyone interested in them, p.m. me for the owners details, they will put it right!)
They are the dearest, friendliest, ugliest little souls and I am very tempted   But I think the best person to keep them will be someone who will develop them, using another breed and who knows what they are doing. I think the owners have been persuaded to have DNA tests done on them and are anxious to establish them as a breed.
Robert, I can read your answer before you type it   but what do other pig enthusiasts think?

[HappyHippy]

Do they look anything like this ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6155172.stm
(Look at the drawing further down the page - not the stuffed one 
The 'Grice' was an old breed of pig found on Shetland (and I'm sure there must be other areas with similar)
but there are also similar 'feral' pigs in most countries - razor backs in Austrailia for example, so it could be descended from these or something similar?

I'd be tempted to get in touch with the museum in Shetland for more information from them, worth a phonecall to the Rare breed survival trust (they have field officers who'll come for a look and might take blood for testing)
Sorry, I can't be of more help......but keep me posted 
Karen 

[robert waddell]

well Sylvia you will know the 7 numbers for the eurolottery tonight
there are a few breeds like this one call them what you want  they are just not recognised as an individual breed
the sailors of old had live pigs on board to have fresh meat and some were deposited on islands
there is an island some where that the pigs swim out to greet the tourists and get food
pics would be nice
was that what  you were looking for

[Sylvia]

Exactly Robert, these pigs were taken on board sailing ships as a supply of fresh meat, plonked down on islands, or maybe swam to them when shipwrecked and developed into these very small pigs. These pigs are very "typey" but the owners(who are very experienced pig folk) can't think how to go on with them with no gene pool to call on.
Karen, I will ask the owners to post some pics as I don't know how. I am still tempted

[robert waddell]

they are probably so inbred that it has reduced the size of them     but without pics we are at a loss to ascertain even remotely what they could be  or descended from    50 years is a long time with no new blood even 10 years can alter a breed dramatically  from what it was to what it becomes with breeding  numbers at birth and size

[Sylvia]

Karen, they do look like these pigs but they have no tusks. Robert, it may not have been 50 years ago, it may well have been 15   I'm a useless gossip! Do you want me to get the whole story on them?   I'll write it down this time.
 I just thought it was an interesting look at pig history.

[oaklandspigs]

there is an island some where that the pigs swim out to greet the tourists and get food
pics would be nice
was that what  you were looking for

Bahamas - video attached
 
Swimming Pigs in the crystal clear sea of the Bahamas
 

[Sylvia]

Yes, Oakland Pigs, they are very much like these, though a bit smaller, but I daresay as with any species of animal, if inbred and a bit short of protein foods they will become smaller. Then, with outbreeding and plenty of grub they become bigger. Humans are the same!

[robert waddell]

so there are white pigs black pigs and pigs that look like OSB  is that correct or is it just the size you are referring to

[Fleecewife]

What would be the chances of going back to the Cook islands and importing fresh semen?  Or have they all gone from there?

[Gary]

thanks for posting the video Oaklands    i can't wait to show my kids that pigs can swim!!! i thought it was just my pigs that could swim with all the rain we've had!!!!

[rispainfarm]

You can't just import fresh seman without massive amounts of paperwork and also money. I looked into importing meishan seman from the US and it was going to cost me at least £2,000. Also some countries don't allow it in any case.  You would also have to have the correct equipment in which to keep it which can cost over a £1,000 as well. I have looked into this so I know from experience.

[Sylvia]

so there are white pigs black pigs and pigs that look like OSB  is that correct or is it just the size you are referring to

Yes Robert, it was size and type I was referring to. These are black and greyish. I will ask the owner to send me an e mail about them and send it on.

[Gary]

im pretty sure there is someone in our country who is now breeding Meishans i read about it in one of my pig magazines i'll have a hunt for it now to double check.

[rispainfarm]

Gary don't hunt, its me  I have the only meishans in the country, which mag did you see it in as my articles on them haven't yet appeared