Small neat pigs with smart eyes, a good character, neat and unpretentious - mini-pigs - are becoming more popular among pet lovers. Animals are easily trained, accustomed to the tray, do not have a specific aroma. The features of their content will be discussed in the article.

History of occurrence

Piglets were bred in a selective way in the mid-twentieth century by German scientists. “Parents” is a lop-eared Vietnamese breed and small boars of short stature. The Vietnamese attracted breeders with good immunity, small size, high intelligence, illegibility in food and a tendency to cleanliness.

Breed description

The life span of a little pig is ten to fifteen years. Growing up over two years, the piggy gets used to the family, children and adults love to play with a good-natured pet. Dimensions allow you to keep an animal in a city apartment.

External characteristics

There are no specific standards for mini-pigs. About ten breeds of a small pig are bred in the world, differing in color, body contours, and head shape.

Breeders of the USA, England and Germany were engaged in breeding small piglets for decorative purposes.

Six common types of mini-pigs are known:

1. Miniature colored pig. Differs in a variety of color, hence the name. Growth reaches 45 cm, weight - 12–13 kg.

2. Kun-kun - herbivorous mini-pig (translated as "gingerbread man"). Grazing, not tearing out the roots, without spoiling the bushes and trees. There are brushes on the lower jaw. The body is shaped like a ball. Friendly and good-natured animals.

3. Spotted Osabo pigs. There are red and smoky, golden in color, but mostly spotty black and white. Maximum weight - 90 kg, height - up to half a meter.

4. Mexican bald. Has no bristles, silver or gray. Its growth is 60 cm, the individual gains weight up to 90 kg. The internal structure is close to human organs. Often used in laboratories.

5. Dwarf African (Guinean). Quickly adapts to new conditions. The main color is black, it happens in little white socks. There are gray spots, erect ears, a tail with a spring, and a thick pile.

6. Mayalino - The smallest representative of mini-pigs. The weight of the newborn piglet is up to 500 g. The species was bred in Italy.

Weight and dimensions

The aim of breeding a small pig was to breed a short breed with a small weight. Modern mini-pigs are born with a weight of 400 to 600 g. The animal grows for two years, then gains weight, gradually turning into a ball or cube weighing from 70 to 90 kg (depending on breed).

The growth of babies varies from 10 to 20 cm, an adult wild boar grows up to 0.5-0.6 meters.

Did you know? The smallest registered Mayalino in adulthood weighed 800 g.

Character

Lovers of tiny pigs appreciated the complaisant nature of the pets. Intelligence and perseverance distinguish representatives of the breed of mini-pigs. The piglet has fun and frolic like a child, but is able to be frightened by a loud scream, knock, splash. Getting used to the owners, the pig shows devotion, unusual even for dogs.

The emotions of a miniature pig are not inferior to humans. Rejoicing and upset, the pet does not hide feelings. Piggy conservatism is striking: getting used to the arrangement of objects in the room, time and place of feeding, the mini-pig is badly rebuilt, it can blub and be capricious.

Relocation, relocation, relocation to new owners lead to severe stress, even the death of the animal.

Advantages and disadvantages

When buying a mini-pig, it is important to get acquainted with the advantages and disadvantages of keeping and raising a pet.

• Positive features:
• hypoallergenicity;
• cleanliness;
• friendliness and complaisance;
• easy to train;
• omnivorous;
• quickly get used to the toilet;
• lack of unpleasant aroma;
• Do not fade, love to swim.

• Negative qualities:
• high price;
• obsession in communication;
• emotions express with a loud screech, constantly grunt;
• afraid of drafts and dampness.

Recommendations for choosing good individuals

The dwarf pig firmly took a leading place among pets. The compact size and the absence of an allergic reaction to the animal allow pigs to be kept in an urban apartment from an early age.

You can buy a pig with good parameters by contacting a nursery or breeders with extensive experience and good reputation. Choosing a favorite for children, you need:

1. Get advice from the ownerrelating to factors such as the number of piglets in the litter, the male’s pedigree, the age of the mother of the babies, the characteristics of the upbringing and feeding, the specifics of the care. Lack of clear answers, confusion in the story indicate insufficient experience or false information.
2. Meet the parents: observe the behavior for 10-15 minutes, pay attention to growth, weight of adults. The uterus can weigh up to 15–20 kg, the Vietnamese viscous, gettingen, and Siberian miniature gain more weight. Newborn pigs weigh between 500 and 800 grams.
3. The nature of the producers is passed on to the offspring. Having looked closely at the behavior of the older generation, they choose a piglet with the desired temperament.
4. External indicators of a healthy baby - pink smooth skin, a tail twisted by a spring (a directly hanging tail indicates the presence of worms), playfulness, good appetite. The eyes are shiny, the patch is moist, the ears are clean, the hooves without growths.

Features of breeding and care

The popularity of mini-pigs is growing. Having engaged in breeding thoroughbred babies, they get a significant profit: two polls occur each year, bringing ten to twelve piglets each. The maintenance and feeding of mothers and children differs little from ordinary pigs, it requires attention and compliance with sanitary norms and rules.

Content Terms and Conditions

Compared to its large relatives, the little pig is an accurate girl who demands her own space. It is better not to settle such a tenant in a small-sized apartment.By fencing 3-4 square meters, the pets are provided with a comfortable existence: they organize a sleeping place, install a toilet tray of the right size in the corner chosen by the pig. The pigs are also provided with plastic toys, a soft rug for relaxation.

Wires, sharp objects, household appliances, cleaning and detergents are hidden: the pig is curious, it tastes everything. Leaving home, the piglet is sent to the fence, preventing damage to furniture, undermining of parquet, linoleum, etc.

The best place to live a baby pig is a country house. A separate booth is being built in the courtyard, the area of ​​which is 4-6 square meters. meters, for walks fenced area up to 10 square meters. m. Main conditions: a warm room (not lower than 15–18 ° С in winter) and the absence of drafts. The toilet is arranged in a convenient place for cleaning.

Sunbathing is a prerequisite for the proper development of mumps. Daily walks in the fresh air will help your pet grow healthy.

Feeding

Miniature pigs are omnivores and voracious, constantly beg for goodies. An unbalanced diet will cause obesity of the pet, reduce motor activity and can lead to death.

Important! Pirrigate Pgrow up to a diet from the first days.

The right diet, walks in nature will help the pig develop correctly, be fit, playful and fun. Up to a year, adolescents are fed four times a day, then twice a day. After consultation with the veterinarian include vitamin complexes once a season.The menu includes:

• low-fat cottage cheese, dairy products;
• greenery. From the beginning of spring, replaced by grazing;
• fruits (except citrus fruits);
• vegetables, fresh and boiled;
• boiled meat, fish fillet (limited, no more than twice a week);
• feed additives - yeast, bone meal, fish oil;
• pumpkin along with peel and seeds (serves as a remedy for helminths);
• combined cereal mixes - buckwheat, barley. It is necessary to steam.

Products are selected in good quality, vegetables and fruits are pre-washed, chopped. In winter, you need to provide your pet with premixes, vitamin supplements. The quantity and dosage are set by the veterinarian.

Prohibited Products:

• salt, spices;
• sweets;
• scraps from the table;
• Exotic fruits;
• fried, smoked, spicy;
• dry food for cats and dogs.

Mini-pigs drink a lot of water. The liquid and feed should be at room temperature, the water is filtered (you can not boil).

Cleaning and care

Dwarf pig does not cause allergies, does not emit a specific pungent odor, with proper care pleases with tenderness and cheerful disposition.Bathe the pig as it gets dirty. Piglets love to take baths, for safety, a rubber mat is placed at the bottom of the tank. Water temperature - 60–70 ° С. Wash the animal from the back, with gentle movements, avoiding water entering the auricles. With soft scratching movements, wash behind the ears.

After the bath, the boar is wiped dry with a soft towel or cloth. They do not let out into the street for 30–40 minutes, exclude drafts in the room.

Hooves are cut every three months. Self-trimming is performed only if there is experience, it is better to invite a specialist.

The ears are cleaned with a damp cloth as they become dirty, at least once every one and a half to two months.

The toilet is cleaned daily, several times. Once every seven days, the containers are disinfected with special preparations.

Important! During a walk on a hot day, a mini-pig must be irrigated with room temperature water to avoid overheating and dry skin.

Parenting and training

The pig considers himself an equal member of the family. Raise a small piglet from the first days. Carefully looking at the pet's weaknesses (stroking the back, favorite vegetables, fruits), they are making progress in education: the kid obediently carries out commands, accustoms himself to the regime, does not spoil the property.It’s not worth indulging a piglet: it will quickly find weaknesses and will use them. A treat should be given as a prize for a correctly executed team.

Piglet is punished by easily clicking on a patch (the most sensitive place). Praised by treating with your favorite treat. Attempts to bite, pranks stop with a slap in the back.

Transitional age is difficult for any creature. The castration (sterilization) of a mini-pig will help to avoid aggression and vagaries.

Did you know? German researchers have proven that a dwarf pig remembers more commands than a dog.

Diseases and their prevention

Mumps are responsible for their health: the presence of drafts, hypothermia on a walk will lead to a cold.

There are a number of diseases that are dangerous for domestic piglets:

• erysipelas;
• rabies;
• parvovirus;
• African plague.

Timely vaccination will help to protect your favorite pigPreventive measures against helminthiasis, ectoparasites are carried out every three months. The body of a pig has much in common with the human. Personal hygiene - washing hands after playing with your pet, bathing and cleaning your pigs will help to avoid unpleasant moments: chlamydia, mycoplasmosis and other diseases.

Breeding mini-pigs

The boar of a dwarf pig reaches puberty at the age of one month, and the pig in 4–5 months. A sign of hunting is restless behavior, an increase in the loop. You can check it like this: by pressing the palm of your hand on the back. The pig in the "hunt" will sit on its hind legs.

Mating is done in the female pen, animals are housed together for a day. After a week, it is advisable to repeat the procedure to be sure of the result.

Pregnancy

Sow pregnancy lasts 118 days (three months, three weeks, three days). The pig should be monitored by a veterinarian, especially for the first time.

An important condition for proper intrauterine development are:

• proper nutrition - You can not overfeed the mumps, especially primiparous. A large weight of piglets will lead to sow injuries, difficult labor;
• walks in the fresh air in good weather. Sunbathing promotes the production of vitamin D, the growth of healthy offspring;
• taking a vitamin complex prescribed by your doctor.

Farrow

Farrowing of mumps occurs in a prepared place. It is important that mommy herself build a nest for future babies from shreds of fabric, diapers, hay and straw. The recommended room temperature is about 30 ° C, the presence of drinking water at room temperature, fresh food is mandatory.

Childbirth is best controlled by an experienced veterinarian who can prevent complications.

Signs of approaching farrowing:

• swollen nipples, with light pressure appears colostrum;
• possible aggressiveness;
• constant tedding of the nest.

Immediately before birth, the pig lies on its side.

After rare attempts, piglets begin to appear. To receive newborns, you need to prepare sterilized scissors, clean napkins, diapers, iodine, boiled water.

Mumps are born in mucus. It is necessary to wipe the baby dry, clean the stigma, mouth from accumulations of mucus inside, and cut off the umbilical cord and burn it with iodine. It is important to carefully remove all traces: the sow can eat them together with the offspring.

Important! The lower and upper incisors of newborns can not be removed - they are designed to better grip the nipple and ease of feeding.

In the first hour, you need to attach the babies to the nipples, drink colostrum.

Additional content tips

When buying a mini-pig, you need to remember:

1. They accustom the piglet to their hands gradually, stretch a treat in the palm of their hand.
2. Excessive custody leads to spoilage of the baby, expressed in the constant demand for food, scattering and spoiling things.
3. A walk is not so much a hygienic procedure as the opportunity for a pet to dig in the sand, fallen leaves, satisfying natural instincts.
4. Growing young animals, they constantly monitor weight gain, the appearance of babies, agility and appetite.