Pot-bellied pig
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The pot-bellied pig is a breed of domesticated pig originating in Vietnam. 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 a weight of around 200 lb (90 kg). Pot-bellied pigs can be easily discerned from other pig breeds by their size, their short snout, and their large pot belly. Most are predominantly black or grey in color.
Because pot-bellied pigs are in the same species as ordinary farmyard pigs and wild boars, they are capable of interbreeding. Male pigs, called boars, and female pigs, called sows, become fertile at a young age, long before they are completely physically mature. Pot-bellied pigs are considered fully grown at 2-3 years of age.
These small pigs are frequently kept as exotic pets in the United States and other Western nations. They are intelligent and easy to train to perform tricks for a food reward. Many pig owners walk their pets on leashes. Pigs can also be easily trained to use a large litter box. There also exists the Göttinger 'mini' pig and the Resident of Munich miniature pig that are bred in medical labs, but are also frequently used as pets in Germany. The New Zealand Kunekune pigs are significantly larger than the Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pigs, but smaller than Commercial Pigs. Kune-Kune's are reasonably popular in the UK and were brought there in the early 1990s.
George Clooney was famously known to have owned a pot-bellied pig named Max, although it died in December 2006. This is the classification of a potbellied pig: Kingdom: Anamalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Suidae Genus: Sus
[edit] External links
- Potbellied Pig care, information, and resources
- Potbellied Pig FAQ, Blog & Information Pages
- Pot-bellied Pig FAQ
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