This information is provided to help all prospective potbelly pig owners know the minimum standard for breeding potbellied pigs. Good ethics and animal husbandry make good breeders, who provide healthy pet pigs with good dispositions.

The Breeder - Breeding Practices:

• Houses her potbellied pigs in a clean, healthy, non-stressful environment.
• Keeps all of her pigs current on all vaccinations, licenses, and permits.
• Retains a veterinarian who can verify my herd's health program and care.
• Does not underfeed her pigs in the hopes of keeping them small. (Less than 1 Cup of food per day)
• Does not inform her clients that pigs can be kept small by feeding them less than 1/2 cup of food twice a day. Guidelines for adequate nutrition are given in the chart below.
• Breeds females according to their age, size, and development - not before her third heat and not younger than 8 months of age.
• Breeds a sow and a boar that are no more closely related than 4 generations because of potential for genetic birth defects.
• Provides proper prenatal and post farrowing care to her breeding pigs and their offspring, including piglet vaccinations and neuter/spay.
• Does not wean her piglets younger than 5 weeks of age.
• Does not place her piglets younger than 7 weeks of age, with all eating solid food well and minimally socialized.
• Sells only neutered males and females if intended as pets.
• Has a Veterinarian who provides a health paper and permit number for all pigs that travel across a state line, as per FDA requirement.
• Permanently identifies any pig sold, unless waived by client.

The Breeder - Client Education:

• Maintained or is maintaining a potbellied pig as a house pet so she can experience first hand the care, feeding, housing, training and veterinary care necessary to produce a happy, healthy pig.
• Continues to educate herself in the care and breeding of the pet pig by means of recognized published materials. She also shares the experience of a potbellied pig by doing community service as found in nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, schools, etc.
• Conducts a verbal interview of prospective pig parents so that she understands the knowledge base and prospective living conditions of the piglets she is placing.
• Asks her client to be sure and check all local zoning ordinances and neighborhood association rules as they relate to the pet pig prior to placing the pig.
• Explains to the prospective pet pig people the physical and behavior characteristics of a pet pig, so they can realistically determine if this is a pet appropriate to their life style and expectations.
• Is honest with her clients about the expected size of her adult potbellied pigs. She bases this size expectation on her pigs that are at least Three Years. She explains to her clients the variables that determine the size of an adult.
• Provides prospective clients with references from her current pet pig parents.
• Supplies her clients with information regarding proper feeding, housing, training and veterinary care. She adds her own "extras" to this minimum support, such as information about potbellied pig clubs and organizations, resource books, Veterinarian Lists, and other related materials.
• Is available to answer questions and provides ongoing support to those who buy her pigs.

The Breeder - Piglet Placement

• Provides a written Sales Contract to all of her clients and honors any agreement, claim, or guarantee made to the buyer.
• Guarantees all pigs she sells to be healthy and free from genetic defect.
• Replaces a pig that is deemed otherwise by a qualified veterinarian or refunds the cost of the pig.
• Sells only pigs registered with one of the two recognized Potbellied Pig Registries (National Potbellied Pig Registry or International Potbellied Pig Registry ).
• Provides at the time of the sale correct registration paper and written medical history of each pig sold.
• Allows the prospective client to opportunity to visit her farm to see her herd's living arrangements and the adult size of her herd. Shows her clients the breeding parent pigs or supplies accurate information and photographs of them.

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PET PIG FEEDING GUIDELINES

Nursing to 6 weeks Free feed a starter ration 6 weeks to 3 months

Gradually decrease from free-feeding until each piglet receives 1 to 1 1/2 C of grower per day.

Piglets and Breeding Stock

3 months to adult approximately 2 cups of quality pig food per day. Quantity of food is related to the individual pig's metabolism and the pig's total calorie in-take each day.  After 3 months old proper amount of food is defined by the appearance and condition of the pig. Two cups a day the average amount, some pigs require more some a little less to maintain good condition.    
 

Pets:         Pre Placement        Permanently ID pigs
              Biannual             E/R and *L, worm	  
			  Your Veterinarian will supply the exact vaccination for your local area.

Males        By 6 weeks          Neuter 

Female        Between 4 weeks      Spay
              and 6 months

NPPR Informational Links

The National Potbellied Pig Registry
408 Creekside Drive
Murphy, Texas, 75094

To Contact Registrar - Email