Why Kune-Kune Pigs?
When I first started with farm animals, I wasn’t sure what I wanted. I considered everything—I had sheep I couldn’t keep contained but I thought about getting goats for milk or a mini cow. The options felt endless. A friend with a mini farm mentioned she had piglets and, while she hoped to keep them, offered one if I was interested.
That sent me straight down the Kune-Kune rabbit hole. Charlotte was my first, and she was incredibly easy to learn and love. Since she was my only farm animal at the time, we bonded quickly.
A few months later, I brought home Abby and Addison, a pair of five-year-old sisters being rehomed about an hour and a half away. They clearly came from a loving family that just couldn’t give them the attention they needed anymore. After a hard fight getting them loaded, we finally made it home.
Despite having a pig fence, I listened to my younger brother and let them into the pasture—never listen to younger brothers. The fence needed repairs, and they escaped into the woods almost immediately. After a few days, I caught Addison and kept her in a stall, which helped keep Abby close until the fence was fixed. It wasn’t ideal, and at the time I thought I’d made a huge mistake—but the story wasn’t over.
Charlotte eventually broke out of her pen and joined the girls so easily that I left her out. Not long after, Cooper came along. I had always wanted a boar someday, just not that soon—until someone reached out. His previous owners loved him but wanted him to have more space, and that’s how he became part of our farm.
That’s the story of how I ended up with all of my pigs. It was hard at first—earning the older girls’ trust and keeping Cooper from shimmying under the fence. He was often found at my neighbor’s house, thankfully she didn’t mind and thought he was cute. Even with the challenges, I’d do it all over again for my Kune-Kunes.
When people visit, they usually focus on the Highlands—and I love them—but my pigs are truly my besties. It’s hard to explain until you’ve had a pig of your own. They’re just the best.
If you’re looking for a starter farm animal, I’d recommend a Kune-Kune over almost anything—even chickens. They’re a pasture pig, so they require less feed than most breeds, and they don’t rut. If you ever visit and see dirt patches, they’re from Carl the donkey—he loves dust baths.
KuneKunes are also the smallest purebred pig. Abby and Addison are fully grown and weigh around 275–325 pounds. They have beautiful coats with thick, straw-like hair in a variety of colors.
While mine will always be pets, Kune-Kunes can also be a great option for families interested in raising pigs for harvest. They’re often considered a lard pig, but because they’re easy to raise and more affordable than larger breeds, they’re a popular and practical choice.