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The sow
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
Posts: 27
Location: Lanarkshire in Scotland
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 Posted: Thu Nov 05, 09 8:43 pm Post subject: Micro Pig |
 
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I am a freelance journalist writing a story on the downside of breeding and selling these pigs. I would be grateful if anyone on this forum could contact me on lindafreelancejournalist@btinternet.com if any of the points below apply.
1, You have bought a micro pig and it has grown much larger than you were told it would
2. You have bought a micro pig and it has died or suffered any serious illness within a year of buying it.
3. If you have any photos of micro pigs that have suffered ill treatment.
4. Have you got a pig that for whatever reason you have had to send back to the breeder - what happened, did they take it back.
5. If you have bought a micro pig, were you encouraged to buy two.
Finally is there anyone out there who owns one who lives in a house without a garden of any sorts.
Thank you very much for this help. Names will be kept confidential unless you are a sanctuary and you want you name published.
Linda |
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Shan
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 810
Location: South Wales
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 09 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Linda. To be fair, the majority of people on here would be keeping pigs to eat them. |
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The sow
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
Posts: 27
Location: Lanarkshire in Scotland
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 09 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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I know shan, but there might be some person out there who thought buying a micro pig and contributing to the next generation of unwanted pets was a good idea that they are now regretting |
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Gervase
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 6995
Location: Ceredigion, West Wales
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 09 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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Not having heard of micro-pigs, I Googled.
Blimey. The agency story in the Daily Hate says it all, really.
Set 'em up as the latest sleb accessory, wait a few weeks and then come down on the idea like a ton of bricks.
All aboard the outrage bus. Ting ting! |
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Nat S
Joined: 15 Aug 2008
Posts: 3595
Location: York
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 09 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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Funny how it says in the article that the breeder says they are so amazing she doesn't know why nobody thought of having them as pets before.....they did - potbellies. That didn't work out either 
Pigs are so destructive anyone would be mad to have them in the house! |
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The sow
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
Posts: 27
Location: Lanarkshire in Scotland
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 09 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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I am not too sure how to take your reply gervase, but I am surprised you haven't heard of them as there are 5 pages of micro pigs on River cottage, of which you parcipate. Those in the know have been watching the rise of the micro pig with horror. The story in the nationals is unbalanced and giving the public the wrong idea about owning them. I am trying to balance that view as in the main people don't understand what is behind keeping them. I know it is highly unlikely that someone on here will keep them, but I am posting everywhere to try and get feedback. If you go to the moneywise forum, you will see a couple of pages of comment, sensible may I add on the keeping of these poor pigs. |
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Gervase
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 6995
Location: Ceredigion, West Wales
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 09 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry - I did have a vague memory of seeing something freakish on the BBC website, and so consciously didn't read any of the micro-pig threads on the River Cottage site.
On here, though, I know most of the pig people, so someone posting about micro-pigs was unusual enough for me to open the thread, and one thing led to another... |
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Gervase
Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 6995
Location: Ceredigion, West Wales
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 09 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, Google throws up an interesting counterblast to the original story here |
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chicken feed
Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Posts: 432
Location: the fens cambs
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 09 6:39 am Post subject: |
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 i think this survey is being done rather late in the season you would have been better placed going to some of the shows where the micro pigs have been and asking perspective buyers, buyers, owners & the breeders as previously said on this post most of us using the livestock/pig section keep them for meat or breeding.
i personally keep pigs for meat, chickens for meat & eggs and a micro pig is no more than a fad/designer pet. |
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The sow
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
Posts: 27
Location: Lanarkshire in Scotland
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 09 7:07 am Post subject: |
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Its not actually a survey, but an article for a national newspaper. As a pig breeder myself, you don't tend to find people at shows that own these pigs, so that would not have helped. I think I mentioned that it was unlikely for people on here to have these pigs, however, it might be likely that someone knows someone else. |
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chicken feed
Joined: 27 Aug 2009
Posts: 432
Location: the fens cambs
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 09 7:12 am Post subject: |
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the micro pig breeders had static stands at a few shows this year to advertise these pigs i must say whenever passing the stands you could not get near they were always busy. they had taken a couple of sows and a litter of weaners, so would have been a perfect place to get your information from |
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bodger
Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 6704
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 09 7:17 am Post subject: |
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Small pigs have fallen foul of money makers for years.
First of all, it was Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs that were all the rage. They were exchanging hands for astronomical prices at first, but in more recent times they havent been worth a bean. As far as practicality goes, they are useless. Ten years ago, I was offered a full litter of virtually full grown pigs free for slaughter. I refused, I like some meat with my fat.
The people who joined the gravy train early on made quite a bit of money out of selling VPBs to the unsuspecting.
I can hear howls of objection already but this is how I also view Kune kune pigs and the latest fad to hit the scene, micro pigs. Designer pets . |
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Tavascarow
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 2877
Location: South Cornwall
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 09 7:32 am Post subject: |
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I have never kept or eaten kune kunes but from what I've seen of them they don't look like they will run to fat like a pot belly.
For someone with limited space they may be ideal for home pork & bacon production. Also maybe ideal for someone off grid without freezer space or with small families.
As far as micro pigs are concerned I fear that greed & lack of knowledge will cause genetic problems in their breeding much the same as for many of our 'toy' dog breeds. |
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The sow
Joined: 15 Jan 2009
Posts: 27
Location: Lanarkshire in Scotland
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 09 7:47 am Post subject: |
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Which shows were they at? I went to 9 shows this year, most of them major and I didn't see any micro pigs.
Tavascarecrow, I agree. But they are already suffering genetic problems, it is not something that will happen, it already is. |
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Jamanda
Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 18722
Location: North Devon
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| Posted: Fri Nov 06, 09 7:52 am Post subject: |
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I saw some kune kunes at another DSer's recently. They certainly weren't pets, and were destined for the freezer, the benefit being that a smaller amount of meat is more manageable for a small family. This seems very reasonable to me? |
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