KuneKune care basics

Kunekunes are a grass-grazing pig and can cope with a high fiber diet, with adult Kunekunes being able to maintain body condition on good quality pasture alone. As pasture quality varies, however, it is normal to supplement their diet when pasture is in short supply. If you don’t want to use commercial feed, be careful that the supplement or scraps are of sufficient quality for what the pig needs.

Pregnant and lactating sows should always be fed at a higher rate, as their nutritional needs are greater. For young pigs a good quality supplement should be used up until about 9 months of age during their growing phase.

Different foods contain different ratios of protein, carbohydrate, and fiber: pasture contains about 3% protein, bread up to 8% protein but with high carbohydrate, potatoes 0.5% protein, milk 3.5-5% protein. Cheese is also an excellent supplement, but like milk can cause diarrhoea because of the fat content.

The main commercial pellets vary from 12 to 16.5% protein, but not all contain the essential vitamins and amino acids of a nutritionally complete food.  Be sure to not exceed the recommended daily feeding amounts when supplementing with pellets.  It is very easy for KuneKunes to become overweight and not so easy to help them loose it.  For this reason, fruits should be given sparingly. 

Pigs should be fed twice a day when needing to be supplemented, and have ready access to clean water. Adult sows can drink up to 5 litres of water a day during lactation, particularly during hot weather.

Pigs are bossy when it comes to socializing with other pigs, so try to avoid mixing strange pigs together unnecessarily. They have a definite social hierarchy in a group situation and don’t readily welcome newcomers to the group, although given the chance they will forget their differences and all sleep cuddled together on a cold night!  Give it time!

Kunekunes will usually graze quite happily with other types of animals in pasture, although feeding time can be a bit chaotic. Pigs are very social animals and are happier kept in pairs or groups. Many breeders run the boar and sows together for long periods of time and only separate them at farrowing time.

Pigs will often eat afterbirths from other animals and may sometimes also take baby lambs/goats, so don’t run Kunekunes in with other stock at birthing time. Good netting fences or electric fences are often needed to keep pigs confined, although a single hot wire can control a well-trained pig.

KuneKunes cannot sweat and are not heat tolerant and so need an area of shade or a well-ventilated shelter in summer. Given the chance, they will make a mud wallow to keep themselves cool and keep the flies off.  A kiddie pool or trough makes a great place for Kunes to cool off.  If the pigs are having problems with biting flies in summer, use a fly repellent.

The ideal pig shelter is one that is big enough to hold all the pigs with some room to spare, is well ventilated but not drafty, and will keep out the rain. A solid floor is best, and bedding such as straw or hay can be added for warmth.  They love to burrow down and sleep in a pig pile!