March 16 & 17, 2010
2nd Annual Passion for Pigs Seminar and Trade Show
Holiday Inn Select (Expo Center), Columbia, MO
For more information to be an exhibitor or to attend, contact Julie Lolli at julie.nevets@centurytel.net.

"BEAUTIFUL PIGS" by Andy Case
Our wonderful English breeder, Andy Case, has just published his second book soon to be available through AMAZON.com.  To get on the notification list to purchase this wonderful "coffee table" book on pigs, go to AMAZON.com and search by title or author.  It is available for purchase in June of 2009.

July 23, 2009

Disclaimer: I received my new copy of "Beautiful Pigs" by our wonderful English breeder, Andy Case with great anticipation. It is a wonderful coffee table book with an abundance of great information, however, I was surprised to see that under the description of the KuneKune Pig, it says that this breed of swine never curls its tail. I believe this must be an editorial error as purebred individuals of this breed can have a straight or curly tail. The American KuneKune Breeders' Association (and Registry) describes the KuneKune Pig standard with regard to the tail as follows:

Purebred KuneKune Pigs can have a straight or curled tail. Both are considered correct, however, there will be preference given to the curled tail when judged in the showring. Eg: Straight = 0 points, Curled = +1 point.

Further note that some individuals that normally carry their tail in a curl, may relax their tail making it straight. Conversely, some individuals that carry their tail straight under most circumstances, can curl their tail when nursing from their dam or when they become startled or challenged by another pig. It is important to recognize that other miniature pig breeds such as the Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig breed never curl their tail.

Meet The Kune Kune
New Zealand's Little Pig With The Big Personality
Click here!
 

PASTURE ESTABLISHMENT, DESIGN, AND MANAGEMENT FOR OUTDOOR HOG PRODUCTION*
Thursday, August 28, 2008 9am - 4pm
Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Goldsboro, North Carolina
*Take advantage of this informative workshop and learn how to keep your pigs on pasture for the health of your pigs and for the benefit of the environment through sustainable farming practices.

9/4/08
Just returned from the seminar on pasture for pigs in Goldsboro, North Carolina. A special thanks to Lee Menius and Jim Green for providing us with an abundance of useful information. We were shuttled by bus to the "study" pastures and observed the various effects that differing numbers of pigs per acre had on the grasses and soil (simulated by varying sizes of pastures holding five pigs each). The previous study pastures were also visited to observe the level of re-growth and record which plant life recovered most quickly and abundantly. The classroom portion was informative and added to the knowledge and tools which I gained and will apply to the design and establishing of a pasture for the kunes. We had a wonderful lunch, southern style, shared with kind folks and spent some time making new friends. Thank you, Lisa, for all of your help with directions and tips on how to handle that crazy humidity!

ANNOUNCEMENT: KUNEKUNE DISPLAY
Los Angeles County Fair, Pomona, California
September 9 through 28, 2008

We will have on display for educational purposes our handsome breeding boar, Winston, and our beautiful sow, Carrington, along with 1 year old Loretta (gilt), and two boar piglets, Gunny and Ruger. These purebred, registered kunekunes exhibit gorgeous colors of ginger and black, brown and white, and black and white marbled. Our mature pigs have our signature "teddy bear heads" and short, up-turned snouts. As the kunes grow and develop, their snouts increasingly turn upward resulting in this very unusual characteristic much like the now extinct Small White Pig. We invite you to come experience these very rare and unusual pigs in person.


ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION COURSE*
December 4-5, 2008 11am - 7pm & 8am - noon
Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, Minnesota
*Want to learn how to do A.I.? Prepare for your upcoming breeding program by taking a course this winter.



FARROWING COURSE*
April 9 & 10, 2009
Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, Minnesota
*A must for anyone breeding their kunekune pigs. Get valuable info from this hands-on course.