Miniature pig

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Miniature pig

Full-grown miniature pigs

Traits

Pig
Sus scrofa domesticus

A miniature pig (also mini pig, or micro pig, or teacup pig, or "designer pig", or "nano pig", or
"apartment pig", or "pocket pig") is a breed of pig developed and used for medical research or as
an Exotic pet. Miniature pigs weigh between 22.5 kilograms (50 lb) and over 68 kilograms (150 lb)
when fully grown. 'Mini pig' has become an acceptable, if imprecise, term that is used to distinguish
the difference between farm pigs and smaller breeds such as Pot-bellied pigs, Choctaw
Hog, Kunekune (and specimens derived by cross breeding with these). It should be noted that there
are no breeds called teacup or micro or even mini. These are all adjectives and not breeds of pigs. [1]

Contents
[hide]

1History
2Medical research
3As pets
4Other notable references
5Notes
 6References

History[edit]
In the 1960s, Chinese pigs that grew to be 150200 pounds (6891 kg) were sent to zoos in
Western cities[2] and were used for medical research in the fields of toxicology, pharmacology,
pulmonology, cardiology, aging, and as a source of organs for organ transplantation.[3] These
comparatively smaller pigs were easier to work with than the larger farm pigs, which typically reach
weights of 300-500 pounds.[4] Pot-bellied pigs also became a fixture in many zoological parks where
their small stature, sway backs, and potbellies attracted the attention of visitors. [5] The purchase of a
few potbellied pigs by wealthy pet owners helped start a new trend in pet pigs. [citation needed]
The popularity of miniature pigs grew in the 1980s, with pet potbellied pigs appearing everywhere
from New York apartment complexes to small hobby farms. However, the trend was short-lived,
mostly due to city ordinances forbidding raising farm animals within the city limits. Furthermore,
many owners came to realize that even a 75 kilograms (165 lb) pig was difficult to handle in most
housing situations.
The 1990s and 2000s saw a rising trend of marketing pet pigs that were supposed to be much
smaller than even the potbellied pigs, and therefore suitable pets for house and apartment owners.
While multiple animal protection groups and pig breeders question or deny the existence of true
"miniature pigs",[6] there are currently breeders selling piglets claimed to be miniature pigs in North
America and in the United Kingdom.[citation needed] The misleading terms have grown to include other
adjectives to represent breeds that do not exist. [7]
In the mid-1980s, Keith Connell of the Bowmanville Zoo in Ontario imported breeding potbellied pigs
to Canada, which became the foundation for the potbellied pig in North America. [8] Because of
customs laws, only their offspring could be sold in the United States. US zoos were the main target
for the piglets, but private owners soon began purchasing them as pets. Up to five additional imports
were made in the following 10 years. To track the pedigrees, the Potbellied Pig Registry Service, Inc
(PPRSI) was created to preserve these bloodlines and establish a breed registry in the United
States. This registry was dissolved in the late 1990s. [8]
The Miniature Potbellied Pig Registry Service, Inc (MPPRSI) was established in 1993 to provide a
registry for those pigs who were pedigreed in the PPRSI and met the breed standard, when fully
grown not being more than 37 centimetres (15 in) tall and weighing under 25 kilograms (55 lb).[9] All
of the foundation pigs were dual registered in PPRSI and MPPRSI. [8]

Medical research[edit]
Miniature pigs have been used for medical research, including toxicology, pharmacology,
experimental surgery, pulmonology, cardiology, xenotransplantation, and aging.
The Gttingen minipig (or Gttinger or Goettingen Minipig) is a breed of miniature pig developed for
use in biomedical research. Beginning in the late 1960s at the Institute of Animal Breeding and
Genetics (Institut fr Tierzucht und Haustiergenetik) at the University of Gttingen, Germany, the
breed was developed by crossbreeding the Minnesota minipig, the Vietnamese Potbelly Pig and the
German Landrace pig.[10]
In May 2015, the China Academy of Agricultural Science announced that its research team had
successfully produced F-25 (the 25th generation) of inbred Chinese Wuzhishan Mini Pig (WZSP),
with an inbreeding coefficient of 0.99519.

As pets[edit]
Young mini-pig on the streets of Condesa neighborhood (Cuauhtmoc borough, Mexico City) during an
earthquake in May 2014

Miniature pigs can be used as pets. They are very intelligent animals (4th smartest among
mammals,[citation needed] or according to David DiSalvo writing in Forbes they are "widely considered the
smartest domesticated animal in the world" -pigs ... can move a cursor on a video screen with their
snouts and even... learn to distinguish between the scribbles they knew from those they saw for the
first time...)[11][a] and can be easily house-trained.[15] They can also be taught how to go through a
doggy door or ring a bell at a door to notify their owners if they need to go outside. They are
hypoallergenic and often do well with people that have usual animal allergies as they have hair and
not fur. They do, however, "blow their coat" meaning that they shed most of the longer hair once a
year, usually in Spring or early summer to prepare for the warmer months ahead. Because pigs do
not sweat (the often used term "I'm sweating like a pig" is a misnomer since pigs only sweat a small
amount from their snouts), they shed to help keep cool in the warmer summer months. This can
often be a hassle as they can shed a large amount of long, stiff hair that can pierce through the skin
if stepped on or embedded in clothing. It is common for the pig to gain bald spots or be mostly bald
through summer and fall, and most of the hair will grow back. Though the main assumption about
pigs is that they are very dirty animals, in fact, they will usually only get muddy or dirty when
provided with a much needed outside area to gain vitamin D from sun/rooting soil and grass for a
diet, and use the mud as a sunscreen or cooling agent to keep their body temperature regulated.
Wallowing, as it is referred to, is when a pig will root up a certain area of dirt and roll around in the
mud to get a nice layer of mud on their skin to protect against the sun and as a bug repellent.

'Teacup-sized' immature miniature piglet

Breeders claim that micro pigs can potentially make great pets, but that there are considerably more
risks involved when buying a micro pig over other common pets, such as cats or dogs. The biggest
concern is that, since there is no established breed of "teacup pig", there is no guarantee that the pig
sold as such will actually stay small.[16] It may be possible to reduce the risk of ending up with a large
pig by looking at the pig's parents and grandparents if possible. [17] However, since pigs can breed
years before they fully mature, unscrupulous or ignorant breeders may show off parent pigs which
are not fully grown themselves, so have not reached their full adult size. [18] Some breeders may
falsely claim that a mini-pig is guaranteed to stay under a certain weight, and sometimes will
recommend a diet regimen that starves the animal and unnaturally stunts its growth. [19] Pigs need
enrichment activities to keep their intelligent minds occupied, if pigs get bored, they often get
destructive.[20]
Some towns and cities have ordinances disallowing farm animals within city limits; a pig is usually
considered a farm animal regardless of their size. As well, many small animal vets will not treat pigs.
Since these animals have a life span of 15 to 20 years, they require long term commitment. Due to
their ability to bond, combined with their need for attention, people who have limited time for a pet
may find a pig far more than they can handle. Additionally, if pet pigs are not properly trained when
they are young, they can strive for dominance and become aggressive. [21]
There are multiple animal rescue organizations set up to find new homes for pet pigs which have
grown too large or otherwise unmanageable for their owners. [22]

Other notable references[edit]

A Yucatan miniature pig is the unofficial mascot of the Animal Rescue League of Boston. [23]
The world's smallest wild pig species is believed to be the 71 centimetres (28 in) long wild pygmy
hog which lives in Assam, India.[24] It is an endangered wild species, not appropriate for
domestication.

Notes[edit]
1. Jump up^ David DiSalvo's article in Forbes refers to via an article in
Penn State Agricultural Magazine[12] referenced from 'Pork' by
Catherine Becker at The Ohio State University[13] referencing work by
Candace Croney, now head of Purdue center for animal welfare
science[14]

References[edit]
1. Jump up^ "Mini Pig Info". Mini Pig Info. Retrieved 2016-10-21.
2. Jump up^ John Pukite (1999). A field guide to pigs. ISBN 1-56044-
877-6.
3. Jump up^ Sachs, DH; Galli, C (2009). "Genetic Manipulation in
Pigs". Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation. 14 (2): 148
153. doi:10.1097/mot.0b013e3283292549. PMC 2687522
. PMID 19469029.
4. Jump up^ "Ag Facts: Swine". Oklahoma4h.okstate.edu. 1985-03-05.
Retrieved 2016-04-04.
5. Jump up^ 'Mini-pigs' at pamperedpiglets.com Accessed 27 January
2017
6. Jump up^ what-is-a-mini at miniaturepotbelliedpigregistry.com -
Miniature Potbellied Pig Registry Service, Accessed 26 January 2017
7. Jump up^ "Is there a "teacup" or "micro" pig?". Mini Pig Info.
Retrieved 2016-10-21.
8. ^ Jump up to:a b c "History". Miniature Potbellied Pig Registry Service,
Inc. Retrieved 4 Feb 2013.
9. Jump up^ About Miniature Potbellied Pigs - Miniature Potbellied Pig
Registry Service, Inc.
10. Jump up^ Bollen, PJA & Ellegaard, L.(1996). Developments in
Breeding Gttingen Minipigs. In Tumbleson & Schook (eds.) Advances
in Swine in Biomedical Research. New York: Plenum Press
11. Jump up^ David Disalvo 2014/11/26 how-smart-was-that-turkey-and-
ham-before-it-became-dinner at forbes.com Accessed 27 January
2017
12. Jump up^ "In a Pig's Eye" - by Eston Martz Penn State Agricultural
Magazine, Fall/ Winter 1997 Penn State College of Agricultural
Sciences Accessed 27 January 2017
13. Jump up^ Catherine Becker: 'Pork' at u.osu.edu Accessed 27
January 2017
14. Jump up^ 'Croney to head Purdue Center for Animal Welfare
Science' Accessed 27 January 2017
15. Jump up^ Mini Pig Care guide
16. Jump up^ You must have been told a porky: 'Micro' pig grows to 25
stone and takes over its owners' home By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 12:51 EST, 27 July 2012 | UPDATED: 15:00 EST, 27
July 2012
17. Jump up^ Minimizing risk when buying a micro pig About Micro Pigs
and their size - UK
18. Jump up^ Teacup Pigs All the Rage, But Animal Welfare Group
Urges People to do Homework Before Taking One Home October 28,
2009
19. Jump up^ "Instead of providing breed-appropriate feed and portions,
her breeder recommended tiny, toy breed puppy-appropriate food and
water bowls." at yurtopian.com/2013/01[dead link]
20. Jump up^ what-is-it-really-like-to-have-a-pig-as-a-pet at
minipiginfo.com/dear-pig-whisperers-blog
21. Jump up^ Pot Bellied Pigs as Pets
22. Jump up^ "Sanctuary ... abandoned, ignored, hoarded or even
outlawed" Accessed 27 January 2017
23. Jump up^ Meet Rosie a Yucatan miniature pig May 10, 2009
NECN.com
24. Jump up^ Mini pigs are big success on farm 15 October 2007 BBC
News

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Pigs

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla
Suborder Suina
Family Suidae
Subfamily Suinae
Genus Sus

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Pigs
Categories:
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Pig breeds originating in Canada
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