gloster old spot or kune kunes

[foxywench]

im looking for an orchard breed.
wont be ready to buy for a while, im still in the farms "planning stages" lol...
but i do know i WANT pigs.
the hope being once ive got my orchard established they would get to raid it every day as a clean up crew, and a couple of piglets raised for butcher (the rest would be homed with others looking fro a good dual purpose (or for meat)

so i need a bred thats generally not a deep rooter, one who wont kill the trees by digging and will happily munch away on the fallen fruit.
they will have acess to a small pen as well (and i may use them as mini plows/fertilizers in temp pens over areas i plan to use for vegatables)

in my searching ive come across 2 breeds that realy interest me...
the old spot (i grew up in england and around these big mushies)
and the kune kune. i love the look of both, of course the kune is smaller but has a big price tag...could be an interesting project to get involved in...

so does anyone have expereince with either of these breeds?
im planning on keeping a pair to start.

 

[lupinfarm]

My mum loves kune kune's, but I believe they're kind of like a pot bellied pig. As someone who grew up in an English household and for most of my childhood in England, I must correct you. I really like the Gloucester Old Spot. The Old Spots are a predominent source of bacon, but they're also fattier than most commercial breeds. The Old Spots also reach around 300lbs at mature weight, so they are a more managable breed. My concern with them is availbility and finding breeders as well as cost. The American Pig club? I think says their status is critical so they may be harder to find.

The Kune Kune is a small pig, pot bellied type and they are also fairly rare. Most of the breeders I've found are located in the UK or NZ.

Goodluck! Have you considered pot bellied pigs? I worked at a stable that had 4, and they were all blue/black/white spotted... kind of looked like Appy horses!

 

[no nonsense]

Just be careful about falling for the sensationalistic claims put out by some of the rare breed conservancy associations. I mean, it sounds wonderful, a pig which cleans up the apple orchards, but think about it. ANY pig will do that. Some of these groups seem to find extraordinary claims for a breed trait, just to have something else to set it apart from any other. The goal is of course, clever marketing, to get people to choose breeds based on their wants, and breed them to conserve them. You can use any pig to do what you want. No matter which breed you choose, even the Old Spots, you can only really allow them access to the orchard for short periods at a time, or else they'll root up all your ground, and possibly your trees. Of course you'll only need them to do that job for a few weeks in the fall, maybe slightly longer if you stretch out your harvest period with multiple apple varieties which mature at different times. You'll need to keep them in a seperate pen for most of the rest of the year. There's nothing wrong with keeping a few pet pot bellies or kune kunes for that purpose, if you want to spend the money, just be careful of exaggerated claims. Sheep will do the job just as well, once your trees are mature, if allowed only occasional access too, and they won't tear up your ground.

 

[Livinzoo]

I have experience with my 4 old spots and 2 york/hamp crosses. The crosses rooted extensively. My old spots root occasionally. In fact my largest old spot, a 1 year old gilt (soon to be sow), has been on the same area since October with her 4 goat buddies and a LGD and the only areas damaged are several small holes from the dog and a 1 foot by 3 foot area that had some really soft mulch on it. This was only damaged after a large amount of rain. And she only rooted maybe 3 inches down. The yorks had holes everywhere!! Each day we tried to guess where the new destruction would be.

My younger 3 old spots have been in a larger area and they rooted under their food barrel and in a few smaller areas after heavy rain. Now they have ripped a tarp off their shelter and pushed a dog kennel around. And my boar tried to go under the fence to get to my oldest pig. She has always been with the goats and was with the feeder pigs. I tried to put her with the younger pigs and she wants back with the goats. LOL She actually has a goat buddy that curls up and sleeps on top of her. She wanted with the boar one day and I let her in and once he had done his deed she ran to try to get back in her pen with the goats.

I love my old spots. If you need help located a breeder near you let me know.

 

[kstaven]

The only Kune kune's I ever saw could tunnel like gophers.

 

[foxywench]

lol, i can only imagine.

ive come to the concludion ill probably go with old spots or Pot belly for the heck of my grandfather used to have one potbelly who was more dog than pig, and i also actually like potbelly meat so...so hey why not dual breeds lol

 

[mlktrkdrvr]

I love my old spots. If you need help located a breeder near you let me know.

I have 2 young GOS gilts from the princess line and looking for a young boar. Can you give me names close to Nebraska? We got ours from Sorrels in Kansas

 

[Diamond Wire Farms]

If you like Potbellies for their personality, you would LOVE Kune Kunes. Our Kunes are much more personable than our PB.


Where are you located? I can help you find a breeder, if you are interested in meeting some Kunes in person.

I tried to post some pictures, but no dice. Being new to Herds. Apparently BYC addiction doesn't lend you any slack here!