Curious about what it takes to raise Kune Kune pigs? It’s really much easier than you think! Raising your own pork is a rewarding way to get the highest quality meat around. Plus, they are great helpers on the homestead or even in a backyard!

I love Kune Kune pigs for a few reasons.
1. They typically don’t root around in the ground. There are always exceptions to the rule, but overall they are gentle on the land.

2. They have a gentle temperament. Again, always exceptions, but Kune Kune’s are typically even tempered. Now, I still won’t send my kids in the pen without an adult, but that is more about their size and tusks.

3. Lard pigs! Kune Kune’s are known to be lard pigs, or pigs that produce a high quantity of fat which can be rendered down to lard. Especially if you follow an Animal Based diet or Carnivore diet, lard is gold!

The only downside is that Kune Kune’s take 18-24 months to reach a processing size to fill your freezer. That is a lot longer than a meat pig which is only about 6 months.

So… what do Kune Kune’s need?
1. Shelter – depending on the age of the pig will affect what kind of shelter you need. Our piglets were in the garage with heat lamps until they were old enough to be out full time.

2. Space- If you are just raising Kune Kune’s for meat and not going to breed them, at minimum they need 16 ft x 16 ft.

3. Water- Lots of water! Pigs can’t sweat like we do. They cool off in a wallow of mud and water and drink a lot more than you’d expect! Water is super important.

4. Shade – For all the reasons above, they need shade to stay cool.

5. Food – This is where things get interesting. Ideally, they should be eating organic non corn or soy based. While yes, this is more expensive, keep in mind the quality of food you feed your pigs impacts the quality of food you’ll eat.

There are other things that your Kune Kune will need, but these are the basics!