HOW MANY KUNEKUNES SHOULD YOU START OUT WITH?

This is the question that I get the most - "How many KuneKunes should I start out with?"

There are a few things that need to be understood first in reference to Breeding KuneKunes - see below about gilts and boars.

When starting out it is easy to purchase to many KuneKunes and get overwhelmed. Think about it, if you got 3 gilts and bred them all within a 6-9 month time line you could end up with 20-30 piglets. Alarm bells go off in my head with the financial aspect (feed, vet care, vaccines, fencing, etc.) Another worry I always have is does the client have enough areas (a boar area, a sow area, farrowing areas and 2 weanling areas for each sex). And yet another worry is what will my client do with all of these piglets? With all of this being said here are the 2 "PLANS" that I like the most.

In tact males (boars) and females (gilts & sows) KuneKunes should be separated by sex no later than 6 months of age.
Kunes housed together should be comparable in size when under 9 months of age.
Please keep in mind when condering raising Kunes that KuneKunes are herd animals.

GILTS

Gilts start to have heat cycles between 7 and 11 months of age.
They can start to breed at this age but I do not recommend breeding until 14-18 months of age.
Gilts need to be not only physically mature but also mentally mature and being physically mature contributes to a smooth and safe farrowing.
Being mentally mature enables good mothering skills.

BOARS

Boars breeding instincts and capability to breed can kick in as early as 5 to 6 months.
Often boars are actively breeding by 1 year of age but some may take a bit longer to figure it all out.

BARROWS

Lets discuss the versatile Barrow (castrated male pig).
A barrow is like the joker in your card deck
He is can live with any adult pig without the worry of breeding.

PLAN A

PLAN B