Domestic mini pigs: varieties, maintenance and nutrition

Many modern people dream of having a mini-pig, because they walk with them on a leash and dress them in clothes with rhinestones.
Meanwhile, he has a lot of worries. We will talk about cute piglets further. According to breeders, miniature pigs are purchased by completely different people, but more often by representatives of creative professions. It is quite possible to keep a mini-pig in an apartment, but buyers are mainly owners of private houses, where the pet will have plenty of space and will be loved. By the way, people, having seen a pig in a cup in a cute photo, buy it for themselves in the hope that the pet will remain that way. However, it happens that the animal grows rapidly, bites, and destroys repairs.

Where and for how much rubles to buy a mini-pig

It is important to evaluate your own strengths. Are you willing to spend about 2 decades of your life on a little pig that needs constant attention? If the answer is positive, it is worth considering one subtlety: a person may be allergic to a decorative pig.

Experts recommend purchasing a dwarf pig exclusively from a breeder - in a nursery or a specialized club. It is possible that on the Internet or on the market, the seller is capable of literally putting a pig on it. And after a year, your pet can turn into a 200-pound carcass.

A mini-pig has a large head and ears, and thin legs, but this is not always noticed by a buyer who is not involved in breeding these animals. The smaller the pig, the more expensive it will be. A large breed will cost about 25 thousand rubles, a miniature pig costs about 40 thousand rubles. By the way, it is quite possible to find a cheap option, but it is risky. In general, the cost of a domestic pig in Russia varies in the range of 3-45 thousand rubles.

Many options are offered on the Avito website, but special nurseries are undoubtedly beyond competition. In the second case, there is the opportunity to communicate with the owner and thoroughly examine the future piglet. In Russia there are 5 large nurseries, and a lot of small breeders who breed pigs directly at home. The owners of dwarf pigs recommend talking to people who have already adopted a pet there before purchasing them in a certain place. It’s time to look at the album with photos of other, already adult pigs that were raised in this nursery to assess the prospects.

Mini pigs: price

The average cost of a small pig is from 25 to 30 thousand rubles . You can buy it both as a pet and for the purpose of creating an enterprise for breeding and selling ornamental piglets.

It is best to buy pets from specialized farms, where breeders will provide you with all the necessary documents and tell you about the pedigree of the young animals. Here you can see the parents of the piglet and see what will grow out of it.

According to advertisements on the Internet and in the market, it is not recommended to choose a pet, because unscrupulous sellers can slip you a pretty little one. A pig, which will eventually grow into a huge pig.

Features of mini pigs

When buying a pet, you should definitely inspect the skin to make sure it is not overly dry and coated. A healthy pig is moderately well-fed. But if the hip bone protrudes, then this indicates rickets. It is important to observe behavior: a healthy mini-pig is cheerful, mobile, and active.

Many people are interested in how long does a little pig live? The average duration is up to 15 years. Mostly, buyers buy a mini pig when it is very small. In the first 2 weeks the animal eats milk, and later it is transferred to an independent diet. The sooner the owner takes the pig into his home, the sooner it will become attached to him.

You also have to choose the gender of the mini-pig. By the way, gender does not affect the size of a pig, however, males acquire fangs in the 4th year, which is why they can injure you or damage walls. The solution is to file the fangs or remove them.

As for the pedigree, it does not matter at all, since it does not provide guarantees regarding the adult individual. The behavior of a little pig is influenced not by heredity, but by upbringing by the owner.

Basically, a mini-pig living in an apartment eats vegetables/fruits, cereals, and dairy products. Stewed, salty, fried and sweet foods should not be given to the pig. By the way, special food has been developed for miniature pigs. The latter can be purchased on the Amazon website, but Russian breeders prefer natural products for their pets. A mini pig eats little: 250-300 grams of food per meal; you should feed your pet 2-3 times a day.

Getting to know decorative pigs

Decorative animals can be of various breeds, each of which differs in size, weight and appearance.

Mini pig breeds

Decorative pigs have 30 breeds , among which the most popular are:

1. Mini Mayalino. These are the smallest pigs in the world, weighing only 450 grams at birth. Adults weigh up to 10 kg. Originally bred in Italy, dwarf animals were used for laboratory purposes. But they soon became popular among pet lovers. The breed is quite difficult to breed and raise piglets, so it is not very common.
2. Bergströsser knirt. The name of these most common dwarf pigs translated into Russian means “little ones.” The weight of adult females reaches no more than 10 kg, and boars - about 15 kg. The fur of pigs can be white, black or red. "Toddlers" are very friendly, communicate well with other four-legged animals and love their owners.
3. Siberian miniature. The breed, bred in Russia, quickly became popular in Europe, where it received the name “mini-Sib”. Adapted to Siberian frosts, the animal weighs up to 50 kg. He has a large layer of fat and a thick undercoat. It is not recommended to keep mini-sibis in an apartment, since pets need frequent walks in the yard.
4. Gottingen mini pig. More recently, a new breed was developed, which quickly spread due to its fertility. The live weight of an adult pig reaches 100 kg. She has an unusually elongated body, a cute round belly and black coloring. This funny creature is very voracious and can eat everything that catches its eye. Due to these qualities, keeping the breed in an apartment or house is not recommended. It is best to build a special pen for her in the yard.
5. Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. An animal with a saggy belly and a wide chest weighs about 100 kg. The coat color of the breed is mainly black with white spots. Red Vietnamese pigs are less common. Pigs are distinguished by bristles that stand on end if the pet is scared or happy. Decorative animals are very clean, so they practically do not smell. They require a heated room to maintain them.
6. Wisenau. Representatives of the breed weighing 20-25 kg are distinguished by black and white fur and an elongated snout without wrinkles. Most often they are kept in the yard and free-range. With proper upbringing, the pet will not spoil lawns, lawns and beds with its digging.

Advantages

The main advantage of mini pigs is their miniature size and the ability to be kept at home on the same basis as dogs and cats, with whom they get along very well. The main advantages of small pigs include:

1. Friendly and good-natured character. If you give your pet enough attention, he will become a devoted friend. Mini pigs love their owners very much, sometimes even more than cats and dogs.
2. Dwarf piglets are very clean. They are easily toilet trained and only stick to the places that have been allocated for them. This is especially important when keeping a pig in an apartment.
3. Mini pigs are easy to train and very intelligent. As a result of research conducted by German scientists, it was found that small pets are able to learn more commands than dogs.
4. Decorative pigs are not susceptible to allergic reactions to any food and are omnivores.

In addition to the above advantages, you should know that ornamental pigs are very shy . A pet brought into your home must understand that you will not do anything bad for it. Therefore, in the first days, the piglet should not be forced to have its own company. You can tame it with the help of treats that are given at arm's length. It is not recommended to touch the pig at first.

As soon as the animal gets used to it, it will begin to approach its owner. Healthy piglets in a good mood love to run around, while grunting and squealing.

Mini pig care

It is necessary to purchase a tray for your miniature pig, which will serve as its toilet.
A litter tray designed for dogs will do. Mini pigs are very smart, it is quite possible to train them to go potty. There is no need to fill the tray with litter, as the pet will think that it can be eaten. Sawdust and paper would be appropriate. Your pet should be bathed every three to four days. Pigs love water treatments, so there should be no problems with this. Washing the mini-pig is carried out without soap, foam, or other cosmetics. By the way, the use of household chemicals can cause irritation on the skin. After bathing, you need to wipe the pig dry, wrap it up and only then let it out of the bath so that the pet does not catch a cold.

Like dogs, the mini pig needs 2 daily walks. Thanks to walking, the animal will avoid obesity and lack of vitamins. To prevent the pig from running away, you should use a harness for walks. In winter, you need to walk your mini pig 2-3 times a week or buy warm clothes.

A visit to the veterinarian once every 6 months is required. There is a vaccination calendar for the mini pig. As for castration/sterilization, this is at the discretion of the owners. According to zoologists, castrated individuals are calmer.

Nutrition

Since miniature pigs are omnivores, it is quite easy to create their diet . It should be as diverse as possible. Pigs can be fed:

• porridges made from barley, buckwheat and oats;
• kefir and cottage cheese;
• fruits;
• various greens;
• boiled or fresh vegetables;
• eggs with shells twice a week.

It is better not to overuse potatoes, as they contain starch. But carrots and bell peppers are good for pigs. Sweet fruits are best given as treats during training.

Sugar, salt and various spices should not be added to your pet's food . A little pig should always have free access to fresh water. In the summer, mini pigs love to hang out on the green lawn and nibble on the grass.

Before buying a small mini piggy for your home, you should think carefully and evaluate your capabilities. Miniature pigs are real animals, not toys that you can play with for a while and then abandon. They require certain maintenance and care, as well as constant attention from family members.

Owner reviews

Dwarf pigs are deservedly considered to be hypoallergenic pets, so they can be kept even by those who suffer from asthma. Such a pet usually gets along very well with other pets. In recent years, miniature pigs are increasingly being kept not only for the sake of exoticism - a domestic mini-pig is quite capable of becoming a true friend to all household members.

Domestic mini-pigs have a very highly developed way of communicating using physical contact, as well as various sounds, so the animal builds relationships with its owner in a similar way.

This is interesting! Dwarf pigs are generally very social and active pets. It is not advisable to leave them alone for a long time. In this case, mini-pigs can become very bored and sometimes even fall into prolonged depression.

Before you decide to purchase a pet such as a dwarf pig, it is important to pay close attention to some features characteristic of mini-pigs. Such an animal grunts or even squeals almost constantly and quite loudly. Small hooves knock loudly on the parquet floors, which does not delight the neighbors below. Among other things, indoor pigs will need to be provided with communication and quality care .

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How to tame Minipig?

Sit on the floor next to your pig and offer him some food (for regular training, use plain food, and use pieces of apples and vegetables as treats for special occasions). At first, you can place the food on the floor in front of you and gradually train him to take it from your hands.

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Characteristics of the dwarf breed

The pygmy domestic pig, also a mini pig, is today used for research in laboratories and medical institutions and as an ornamental pet.

Main characteristics of this breed:

• The color of dwarf pigs is black, red, marbled, sand, brindle or mixed;
• mini pigs live 10-15 years, their weight usually varies between 30-120 kg in adulthood;
• suitable for keeping in apartments and private homes;
• intelligent, trainable animals that emit almost no odor;
• in childhood they are playful, but have a tendency to obesity, so diet and walking are required;
• are susceptible to molting, and therefore can cause allergies in humans.

House for a miniature pig

Buying a micro pig in Moscow does not mean locking a miniature pig in a cage. In cramped conditions, the animal will become bored, apathetic or irritable. Small domestic pigs should move freely around the apartment and also have a personal corner. To organize it, you usually allocate an old mattress, sew a soft foam mat, or, if the footage of the room allows, install a wooden house.

Mini pigs price is extremely interesting. They easily open cabinet doors, can get into the refrigerator, manage the bathroom, often chew wires and stick snouts into sockets. To keep your pet safe, do not leave it unattended and remove all dangerous objects from its path. In addition, pigs chew furniture and scratch walls, so it’s worth buying special rubber toys for them that will distract the miniature pig from damaging property.