10 Things to Know About Owning Kune Kune Pigs

In the early summer of 2018, David and I loaded our kids up into our Jeep and drove to pick up two baby Kune Kune pigs, whom the kids immediately named after their favorite Disney characters at the time: Tinkerbell and Mr. Smee (if you know you know!).

How Kune Kune Pigs Can Lighten the Load (and the Bill) on Your Homestead

If you’re toying with the idea of raising pigs but dreading the extra work and expense, let me just sing the praises of the Kune Kune breed a little more. Kune Kune pigs are truly the MVPs of low-maintenance livestock, which, as someone who balances kid-wrangling with farm chores, is music to my ears.

Here’s how these friendly oinkers make life easier and cheaper:

• Built-in Lawn Mowers: Thanks to their preference for grazing over rooting, they’ll keep the grass down for you—no more wrestling with the weed whacker every weekend. Our backyard edges look tidier than ever, and I haven’t mourned my neglected trimmer in months.
• No Rooting, No Repairs: Because they aren’t big on rooting, you won’t be dealing with mud pits or torn-up pastures. Say goodbye to reseeding grass or fixing craters in the yard—your boots (and your back) will thank you.
• Rotational Grazing Champions: Use a simple electric fencing setup (ours is just two wires at piggy nose height, seriously easy) and you can shift them from area to area, letting them naturally fertilize your lawn as they graze. It’s like having a slow-moving landscaping crew that pays you in lush green grass.
• Feed Bill Savings: In the summer, Kune Kunes thrive just by munching on grass. When the cold hits and the yard’s looking barren, we switch to a blend of alfalfa pellets, mini pig feed, and the ever-popular table scraps. Some winters, they basically live on hay and leftovers—efficient and budget-friendly.
• Easy Enough for Everyone: With their friendly personalities and manageable size (even our kids help with their care), they don’t require the muscle that bigger breeds demand. This makes daily chores less of a CrossFit session and more of a gentle stroll.
• Waste Not, Want Not: Thanks to their ability to thrive on kitchen scraps, very little goes to waste in our house. Cucumbers that got a little mushy, last night’s green bean leftovers—straight to the pigs. It feels like a win-win: less food waste for us, free snacks for them.

All this to say, Kune Kunes fit into the homestead like they were made for it. They deliver a tidy yard, manageable chores, and significantly reduced feed bills, all while charming the socks off of everyone they meet.

Though they be but little, they poop like a big animal. We sometimes rotate them between the backyard and the pig pen (side field) and after a few days in just one space, whatever area they’ve designated their bathroom area is just COVERED…

In the past few years of Kune Kune pig ownership (with a highlight being throwing a pig themed birthday party), we’ve learned a few things about owning pet piggies and I thought I’d share our top 10 takeaways:

1. Kune Kunes don’t root. Kind of like cows, they just go around all day eating the grass in the backyard and they don’t root it up to make into mud (probably because they have hair covering their skin so they have built-in protection from the sun?). This grazing habit means they’re surprisingly low-maintenance for a pig—they do a fantastic job of “mowing” the lawn, and unlike other breeds, you don’t have to worry about them turning your yard into a mud pit. Our lawn has honestly never looked better, thanks to these little landscapers.
2. They may look like the size of a 40 pound dog, but when fully grown, they are HEAVY. We don’t know how much they actually weigh because it is literally impossible to lift Mr. Smee (as if he would let us anyway) and David’s picked up Tinkerbell before out of necessity– he guesstimated she weighed about 150 pounds, and she’s certainly more petite than her BFF male companion. Neither pig goes up past my knees– they’re fall smaller than our dog Kaiser, who weighs ~110 pounds but is also part bucking bronco.Kune Kune pigs are actually one of the smallest breeds of pigs, which means they don’t require as much food to reach their full size. Don’t be fooled by their compact frames, though—what they lack in height, they make up for in sheer heft! Their size makes them much easier to manage than larger pig breeds, especially if you’ve got kids or grandparents about. It’s a lot less intimidating for everyone when your pig weighs less than a linebacker and doesn’t tower over the family dog.
3. They are extremely smart. We trained Tinkerbell to sit by giving her treats when she sat in literally one afternoon. Whenever David feeds them food scraps, he snorts like a pig (I’m not making this up, it’s a crack up!) and as soon as they hear him make the sound they both start snorting in response and come running. They know what time the kids get home from school and are frequently by the fenceline to greet the kids despite never otherwise hanging out in that area of the yard.
4. They love being touched… especially ear scratches and belly rubs. They don’t necessarily let strangers pet them (well, Tinkerbell doesn’t really but Mr. Smee isn’t picky). They adore being scratched around their ears and then they’ll start to lean into whoever is petting them, and eventually flop down on their side and lift their little hoofs in the air for you to rub their belly! Just like a dog. It’s absolutely hysterical. They love it so much they’ll usually just lay there afterwards soaking it up.
5. They make excellent pets for little kids– they’re more gentle than any other animal we’ve had, dogs included. We frequently wear flip flops around them in the backyard and they don’t stop on our feet. The kids put their stuffed animals on Mr. Smee’s back and he loves it. The kids feed them right out of the palm of their hands and they’re so gentle and never nip or anything!
6. They don’t try to escape unless they run out of food or clean water. We put in an electric fence in the pig pen because they kept trying to escape and then we realized they just needed fresh water and not gross water. They haven’t really tried to escape since. We just realized in fact that the electric fence hasn’t been working… no idea how long it’s been broken! (PS: this is our favorite food bin that has a rotating lid… these pigs are so smart they can knock off the lid of a regular food bin if they have the chance!) Honestly, these pigs are impressively easy to contain—as long as their basic needs are met, they’re content to stay put. We simply run a couple of electric wires low to the ground (right at snout level) around the perimeter where we want them, and it’s been more than enough. They’re so docile and chill, we’ve never had issues with them testing fences or plotting escapes (unless, of course, we forget their water—then all bets are off, lesson learned!).
7. They don’t need any extra food in the summer– they just graze on grass! And in the winter it’s easy to feed them a mixture of alfalfa pellets with miniature pig feed, and then table scraps.We were honestly a little skeptical at first about how little supplemental feed they’d actually need. But the Kune Kunes are truly built for this—once the grass starts growing, they happily sustain themselves just by grazing all day, which makes them incredibly low maintenance (and pretty budget-friendly). When winter rolls around and the grass takes a break, we just switch over to a combo of alfalfa pellets, a bit of mini pig feed, plus whatever veggie scraps and leftovers the kids didn’t finish.We’ve even had winters where they thrived on just hay and kitchen scraps, no grain at all. They’re surprisingly hardy—ours have done great through some pretty chilly months without ever losing condition, and we never have to stress about special diets or fancy feeds. Once the gardens are producing, we’ll toss in some garden extras as treats, but honestly, they’re perfectly content munching away on whatever’s green (or leftover) and make it super easy for us to keep our feed costs next to nothing.
8. Though they be but little, they poop like a big animal. We sometimes rotate them between the backyard and the pig pen (side field) and after a few days in just one space, whatever area they’ve designated their bathroom area is just COVERED. It dissolves with rain water into the grass and our lawn is pretty freaking luscious now in May, but in the wintertime when the grass isn’t growing and we haven’t had those lovely April showers… that part of yard is not even walkable. (We’re talking about 1/3 to 1/2 of an acre or so that they designate their bathroom area.)
9. They can be ridiculously fast. Piglets have thin skin that is susceptible to ticks (thankfully by the time they’re around 1 year old their skin is too thick for ticks to attach) and one time Tinkerbell had a big fat deer tick on her skin. David tried to remove the tick and once she realized what he was trying to do, she became exceptionally gifted in the speed department and he literally could not catch up to her no matter how fast he was running. Neither one of us expected that!
10. You’ll fall in love with their personalities. Mr. Smee is so chill and laid back– he’s cool to hang out with because he’s up for pets but not annoying. Tinkerbell is a drama queen and often incites major backyard drama by running around squealing for no reason (I’ve watched this happen on more than one occasion), which spikes the interest of the dog, who then chases her to see what’s going on and she squeals bloody murder and acts as though he’s trying to kill her. Then the hens get all riled up and freaked out and everyone is affected (except Mr. Smee, see above comment) until Tinkerbell gets bored with her made-up drama and loses interest. We all crack up at all the little antics she constantly pulls for attention or to get one more treat. We also appreciate how Mr. Smee is always up for a good long belly scratch whenever you’re in the mood for some drama-free company.

I could go on and on about how awesome it is having kune kune (pronounced cooney cooney by the way) pigs in the backyard, but suffice it to say the last 3 years have provided nonstop entertainment and constant visual interest. These two are our pets– we don’t have any plans to turn them into bacon, if that’s what you’re wondering– though I hear they make excellent meat. On a few frustrating occasions I know David’s been tempted. But no matter what David may tell you, they’re part of our little family here and we love having them around!

What Factors Should Be Considered When Choosing a Pig Breed for Homesteading?

When it comes to welcoming pigs onto your homestead, the breed you select really does matter—and not just because some are adorable enough for the kids to name after Peter Pan characters. Having tried our hand at pig ownership (and survived!), here are the key things we learned to keep in mind as you choose your own bacon-to-be (or just forever pet) breed:

• Purpose: First and foremost, think about your goals. Are you hoping to raise pigs primarily for meat, for their ability to help clear land, or just for companionship? Some breeds, like traditional Gloucestershire Old Spots, excel as foragers, while others, like the American Yorkshire, are prized for their meat quality.
• Temperament: Some pigs are docile and great with families (ahem, our Kune Kunes, who genuinely believe they’re dogs with stylish snouts), while others can be a bit more independent or even feisty.
• Size at Maturity: Piglets are ridiculously cute and manageable, but grown pigs are…well, sizeable. Research how big your chosen breed will get so you’re not surprised when your “tiny” pig ends up outweighing your entire family.
• Feeding Habits: Certain breeds are natural grazers and can thrive on pasture with just a bit of supplemental feed. Others might require more grain or special diets. This has a huge impact on your day-to-day routine (and your feed bill).
• Containment Needs: Pigs are notorious for testing fences. Some breeds are content to stay put, while others consider fencing a mere suggestion. Make sure your fencing matches your pigs’ athletic abilities!
• Climate Adaptability: If you live somewhere with hot summers or chilly winters, make sure your breed will thrive in your local conditions. Breeds like the Large Black are known for their hardiness, while others might need a cozier setup.

When we were researching pig breeds, these were the kinds of nitty-gritty details we had to sift through. Every family’s needs are different, so make sure your breed matches your homestead dreams—and your realities. The right fit is truly worth the digging (and, hopefully, not rooting up your entire backyard).

Kune Kune Pigs and Lard: Why Their Fat Matters

Let’s talk about one of the more “robust” features of our Kune Kune friends: these pigs are lard producers, and proud of it! Unlike some breeds you might see trotting around the fairgrounds hoping to win some blue ribbon for leanness, Kune Kunes come by their nickname of “fat pigs” honestly. They naturally have a higher fat-to-meat ratio—think of them as the well-marbled filet of the backyard barnyard.

Now, if you’re only interested in bacon strips and pork chops, that might sound like a downside. But for those who cook, bake, and generally find a hundred uses for good ol’ rendered lard, it’s actually a huge bonus. Kune Kune pigs (alongside other “lardy” breeds like Mangalitsas and American Guinea Hogs) are basically walking, snorting, grass-powered butter machines.

Why does this matter? Well, if you’ve ever priced out blocks of organic lard at the grocery store (hello, sticker shock!), you know good fat is a precious commodity. Lard is fantastic for pie crusts, roasting veggies, or even making homemade soaps. We’ve been told that when you have just one day of rendering Kune Kune lard, you’re all set for enough high-quality cooking fat to get you through an entire year. No fancy gadgets or endless churning required—just one pig, some patience, and an appreciation for the old-fashioned flavors that real lard brings.

So yes, if you’re a fan of fat (for reasons both delicious and practical), Kune Kunes are your go-to. Their “chubby” nature is not just charming—it’s a genuine asset for any family who loves to keep their kitchen stocked with the good stuff.