Kunes are a grass grazing pig and can cope with a high fibre diet, with adult Kune 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 rations, be careful that the supplement or scraps are of sufficient quality for what the pig needs.
Are there any foods that I canot feed them?
Scraps of waste human food must never be fed to pet pigs. Waste food is defined by law as any meat, bones, blood, offal or other part of the carcass of any livestock or of any poultry, or product derived there from or hatchery waste or eggs or eggshells. Also no broken or waste foodstuffs (including table or kitchen refuse, scraps or waste) which contain or have been in contact with meat, bones, blood, offal or with any other part of the carcass of any livestock or of any poultry. Great care must be taken in this matter, for example bread from a meat sandwich must be not given to pigs because it has been in contact with meat, which is a prohibited food.
How much land do they need?
As Kunes thrive on grass it is very important that they have enough grazing for most of the year. The normal recommendation for keeping outdoor pigs is 5-6 pigs to the acre. It must be remembered that as well as eating grass they also walk on it all the time, and in wet weather the land will get cut up especially in gateways etc. you therefore get better use from your land if you can divide it up in to fairly small areas, either with pig wire or electric fencing. Your grazing will also last longer if you have some hard standing, a pen, a yard or a stable, where you can keep them if the land is very wet.
What kind of housing do they need?
If you have a stable Kunes will do very well with a thick straw bed in the corner of it. Alternatively they will live in a sty or an Arc in the field. There are many different types of arcs. The corrugated iron type are not really suitable, they can be hot in summer and cold in winter. There are some very good wood or plastic arcs available.
What kind of fencing do I need?
Pig wire as its name suggests is a good fencing although small piglets will go through the mesh. It is a good idea to run one strand of barbed wire or a rail along the bottom of the wire to prevent them pushing it up. Electric fencing can be very effective with pigs. With electric fencing several different pens of pigs can be kept in the same field, in separate units living in arcs. Also pigs can be constantly moved so they do not graze off their own droppings.
Do pigs need mud?
Pigs need to wallow in summer to keep cool and prevent sunburn. You can either keep an area moist so they can turn it into mud or provide a metal wallow bath. If you do not provide a wallow they will often knock over their water in an effort to create one themselves. They only like mud when they are hot. In winter they are very unhappy to be wet and dirty as this can cause rheumatism and arthritis.
Are pigs really dirty and smelly?
No, as discussed above, in winter they love to be warm and dry. Pigs never soil their beds if they have a choice and will always have toilet areas away from their beds that are easily cleaned.
Should I keep a boar?
The more boars kept the better for the breed, as there will be more genetic variability. A boar cannot be kept with the sow all the time, unless you want two litters of piglets a year so you will need additional housing and grazing. The boars are easy to handle, and great characters, but all male pigs grow tusks, and like goats and cows with horns, you have to be careful they do not catch you by mistake, if you're worried by the tusks, they can be removed.
How many piglets do Kunes have?
On average they have between 3-14 piglets, after a gestation period of 112-116 days. Pigs in general give birth easily, and Kunes are very good mothers who do not seem to mind you handling the piglets at all.
Can I eat Kune Kunes?
Yes, they are very good to eat, they are normally slaughtered at 8-10 months. Information from the Kune Kune pig association GB