Tiny Hiney Farm

10/10/2025

The big guys…

05/02/2022

Nap time!

02/08/2022

05/01/2019

Some pig facts for National Pig Day!

04/18/2019

KUNEKUNE PIGS FOR THE FAMILY
KuneKunes are sociable and child-friendly. Children love it when they start rubbing on the piglets’ bellies, only to watch the piglets fall over on their sides, as if to say “A litle to the left... It just never gets old. It’s impossible not to smile when it happens. And the thing we love about Kunekunes, that’s unlike any other pig we’ve been around, is the fact that they are so friendly with people.
Hairier than their cousins KuneKunes come in a riot of colors, from cream, white, black and all shades thereof. They ofen have spots.
KuneKunes generally have a pair of watles, feshy tassels that hang from the neck.
Their dish-shaped face and short snout give them “an almost comical appearance,.... The stubby nose also allows them to graze with litle of the destructve rootng associated with pigs. Pasture is a mainstay of the pigs’ diet.
The meat has more lard than the average pork and well marbled.
KuneKunes do well in any climate, but they do need a building or portable hut for shelter. In the winter, “they sleep really huddled together... and stay warm. They really don’t like being alone most of the tme but seem to prefer not having others around at farrowing tme. Sows typically have six to eight piglets in a liter and rarely need help farrowing.
In the summer, the pigs like to cool of in mud wallows.
KuneKunes are a heritage breed with a lot of diversity, untouched by commercial breeding systems, making them extremely healthy. They have pet-like temperaments. You can put as many as fve on a healthy acre of land. They truly are the perfect pig!
Raising pigs on a few acres is very diferent from running a large-scale hog fnishing barn but raising KuneKune pigs is rewarding.
Before you buy, do your research and know what you're getng into! Pigs are wonderful, intelligent, afectonate and sensitve creatures, and although not an ideal pet for everyone they are perfect livestock for small homesteads. Don't find out too late for yourself and the pig that it's not a good match for you! On another note, if your pig is coming from out of state make sure all required paperwork and blood testing have been done. Ask your veterinarian to contact your state vet and GET IN WRITING the requirements for bringing in a pig from out of state. You can also fnd all the current informaton on by state on the USDA website. Be sure the seller has complied with all regulatons to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Many breeders fy piglets all over the country and the airlines do not check the state regulatons but a health certfcate is required by most airlines.

04/03/2019

Rise and shine piggy’s!

02/05/2019

As with any living thing, there is constant evolution, advancement and change to meet a particular form and function which serves a purpose and results in the ability to thrive. This is especially true when working with rare breeds evolving to find a “place” and satisfy the niche market for which they are designed. The Kunekune Pig has forever been a meat pig, a heritage livestock breed raised by the Maori people to nourish and sustain. However this identity was lost due to the modernization/civilization of the Maori people who lost their basis for raising them. Eventually, there was no purpose or ability to thrive, the breed was near extinction.
Conservation efforts saved the breed from this fate, but the question remained as to where and how this breed would fit and find means to thrive. The initial breed standard was broad with little definition, open to growth and evolution, dependent on the development of form, function and ultimately, a purpose.
Fast forward to today, almost 40 years from when conservation efforts began. The Kunekune Pig now resides on three continents and is forging it’s way once again as a heritage livestock breed, in North America this time. Livestock Preservationists have now taken to utilizing this breed for what it was originally intended – a pork producing procine. The Kunekune is a uniquely designed swine forager which thrives in a pasture based environment, is sustainable and environmentally conscious. Input costs are a fraction of standard pork producing swine with an output that can rival even the best pork products that exist! And so, the Kunekune has found it’s purpose once again. After 10 years of actively harvesting, studying and assessing anatomy, carcass merit and product, the AKPR breed standard has been updated to reflect this; elaborating and defining the traits and characteristics that have always existed within the breed while perfecting it’s purpose and functionality as a pastured pork production animal. This will ensure the breed’s preservation through utilization as a Heritage Livestock Breed.
Call it evolution, progress, improvement…..the truth is, a well detailed, defined standard, with specified parameters, focused on purpose is a secure future for the breed. As we continue to produce, grow, harvest and study this breed, further recommendation for definition to the standard is inevitable over time.

02/03/2019

Our newest additions!