Miniature pig
Encyclopedia
A miniature pig is one of the breed
s developed and used for medical research or developed for use as a pet
. These smaller pig
s were first used for medical research in Europe
before being introduced to the United States as pets in the 1980s. Since then, the animals have been used in studies by scientists around the world, including for study as a source of organ
s for organ transplant
ation. Some miniature pigs are also kept as pets in European countries.
ese pot-bellied pig
s that grow to be 150–200 lb (68–90.7 kg) were sent to zoos in Western nations in the 1960s. In the mid 1980's Keith Connell of the Bowmanville, Ontario zoo imported twenty breeders to Canada. Two of the pigs died in quarantine. The remaining 18 unrelated pigs were the foundation for the Potbellied Pig in North America. Because of the customs laws, only the offspring could be sold to the United States. US zoos were the main target for the piglets, but private owners soon began purchasing them as pets. Up to 5 additional imports were made in the following 10 years. To help track the pedigrees, the Potbellied Pig Registry Service, Inc (PPRSI) was created to preserve these bloodlines and establish a breed registry in the United States. These pigs average 150-200lbs. This registry was dissolved in the late 1990's.
The Miniature Potbellied Pig Registry Service, Inc (MPPRSI)was established in 1993 to provide a registry for those pigs who were pedigreed in the PPRSI and also met the breed standard of less than 15 inches tall. All of the foundation pigs were dually registered in PPRSI and MPPRSI.
In the UK, British micro pigs have been bred by Rob Rose in Cumbria since 1996.These pigs are a cross between KuneKune pigs (a NewZealand pig that weigh around 200lbs), Gloucester Old Spots (800lbs), and Tamworths (800lbs). After several generations of crossing the pigs have been marketed as truly tiny pigs that work well as pets. Unfortunately they have not been bred long enough to be considered a true breed and are not a consistent size or shape. After the initial press releases, breeders began popping up all over Britain trying to push pocket-pigletts wich later became genuine hogs unfit for suburban dwelling. This is one owner's tale of her 2ft tall "teacup pig" from the "Little Pig Farm" owned by Jane Croft. Jane Croft is no longer breeding pigs and has filed for bankrupcy. British micro pigs are not only found in zoos, animal parks and open farms, but are also kept as pets.
In this days people also use the names mini, pixie, dandie, micro, thimble and pintsize, as well as teacup.
Unfortunately there are breeders who are selling "miniature" pigs that are simply immature. Newborn piglets can be as small as 4oz and easily fit in a teacup, but will not stay tiny. Because potbellied pigs don't reach their mature size until they are three years old but can breed as early as three months, some unscrupulous breeders are selling newborn piglets born to immature parents and claiming the babies will stay small. It is important for any potential owner to check out the parents and adult siblings and only choose reputable breeders who have years of experience.
, pharmacology
, and aging.
miniature pig is the unofficial mascot of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
The world's smallest pig is believed to be the 28 inches (71.1 cm) long wild pygmy hog
, an endangered species which lives in wildlife sanctuaries in Assam
, India
.
The CBS
television series How I Met Your Mother
features a miniature pig in the episode entitled "Hooked
". It is used by Barney to tempt girls into his apartment before he seduces them, and is also used so that Lily could learn to reject her old high-school boyfriend Scooter.
British micro pigs can be seen on ITV's show The Lakes in 2011.
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
s developed and used for medical research or developed for use as a pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
. These smaller pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
s were first used for medical research in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
before being introduced to the United States as pets in the 1980s. Since then, the animals have been used in studies by scientists around the world, including for study as a source of organ
Organ (anatomy)
In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues . The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ. For example, main tissue in the heart is the myocardium, while sporadic are...
s for organ transplant
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
ation. Some miniature pigs are also kept as pets in European countries.
History
VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese pot-bellied pig
Pot-bellied pig
The pot-bellied pig is a breed of domesticated pig originating in Vietnam.-Description:Considerably smaller than standard American or European farm pigs, most adult pot-bellied pigs are about the size of a medium- or large-breed dog, though their bodies are denser at 8 to 136 kg...
s that grow to be 150–200 lb (68–90.7 kg) were sent to zoos in Western nations in the 1960s. In the mid 1980's Keith Connell of the Bowmanville, Ontario zoo imported twenty breeders to Canada. Two of the pigs died in quarantine. The remaining 18 unrelated pigs were the foundation for the Potbellied Pig in North America. Because of the customs laws, only the offspring could be sold to the United States. US zoos were the main target for the piglets, but private owners soon began purchasing them as pets. Up to 5 additional imports were made in the following 10 years. To help track the pedigrees, the Potbellied Pig Registry Service, Inc (PPRSI) was created to preserve these bloodlines and establish a breed registry in the United States. These pigs average 150-200lbs. This registry was dissolved in the late 1990's.
The Miniature Potbellied Pig Registry Service, Inc (MPPRSI)was established in 1993 to provide a registry for those pigs who were pedigreed in the PPRSI and also met the breed standard of less than 15 inches tall. All of the foundation pigs were dually registered in PPRSI and MPPRSI.
In the UK, British micro pigs have been bred by Rob Rose in Cumbria since 1996.These pigs are a cross between KuneKune pigs (a NewZealand pig that weigh around 200lbs), Gloucester Old Spots (800lbs), and Tamworths (800lbs). After several generations of crossing the pigs have been marketed as truly tiny pigs that work well as pets. Unfortunately they have not been bred long enough to be considered a true breed and are not a consistent size or shape. After the initial press releases, breeders began popping up all over Britain trying to push pocket-pigletts wich later became genuine hogs unfit for suburban dwelling. This is one owner's tale of her 2ft tall "teacup pig" from the "Little Pig Farm" owned by Jane Croft. Jane Croft is no longer breeding pigs and has filed for bankrupcy. British micro pigs are not only found in zoos, animal parks and open farms, but are also kept as pets.
In this days people also use the names mini, pixie, dandie, micro, thimble and pintsize, as well as teacup.
Unfortunately there are breeders who are selling "miniature" pigs that are simply immature. Newborn piglets can be as small as 4oz and easily fit in a teacup, but will not stay tiny. Because potbellied pigs don't reach their mature size until they are three years old but can breed as early as three months, some unscrupulous breeders are selling newborn piglets born to immature parents and claiming the babies will stay small. It is important for any potential owner to check out the parents and adult siblings and only choose reputable breeders who have years of experience.
Medical research
Miniature pigs have been used for medical research including toxicologyToxicology
Toxicology is a branch of biology, chemistry, and medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms...
, pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
, and aging.
As pets
Miniature pigs, also known as micro pigs, have seen an increase in popularity. They can be house-trained, and keep themselves exceptionally clean, despite people believing that pigs are dirty creatures. Micro pigs are unfortunately being abandoned, as many people do not know how to properly care for them. .Other notable references
A YucatanYucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
miniature pig is the unofficial mascot of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
The world's smallest pig is believed to be the 28 inches (71.1 cm) long wild pygmy hog
Pygmy Hog
Pygmy hog is an endangered species of small wild pig, previously spread across India, Nepal, and Bhutan but now only found in Assam. The current world population is about 150 individuals or fewer...
, an endangered species which lives in wildlife sanctuaries in Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television series How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
features a miniature pig in the episode entitled "Hooked
Hooked (How I Met Your Mother)
"Hooked" is the sixteenth episode of the fifth season of the CBS situation comedy How I Met Your Mother and 104th episode overall. It originally aired on March 1, 2010.- Plot :...
". It is used by Barney to tempt girls into his apartment before he seduces them, and is also used so that Lily could learn to reject her old high-school boyfriend Scooter.
British micro pigs can be seen on ITV's show The Lakes in 2011.