
Kunekune Nutrition
Key notes:
Feed a high fibre diet; allow to graze grass constantly.
Feed a variety of protein sources to meet lysine requirements and help the Kune feel full.
Restrict any refined carbohydrates such as sugary goods, bakery, or even rice and bread.
Offer a small amount of high quality supplement to meet micronutrient requirements. Scatter on the ground or amongst the hay to reduce ‘scoffing’, and encourage natural behaviours.
Encourage grazing on gentle slopes or feed at the top of a hill, to encourage some exercise.
Kunekune Nutrition
If you’ve ever looked into pig nutrition, you’ve likely encountered overwhelming jargon, confusing calculations and numbers galore. That’s because most information out there relates to commercially farmed meat-breeds. These fast growing feats of nature are a whole different ball game to our small, fat Kunekunes, which are slow to grow and lay down fat like it’s their job.
Good nutrition is so important for pigs, and so easy to do wrong, that many pig owners often face challenges such as nutritional deficiencies, obesity, disease, and other health issues. In Kunekunes (which literally means “fat and round” in Te Reo), we are usually dealing with…you guessed it...obesity and obesity related diseases, such as heart disease and arthritis.
In this article, we'll dive into key considerations for feeding Kunes at different life stages, address common feeding mistakes, and highlight essential nutrients to support your pig’s health. If you’re rearing piglets or breeding sows of a fast-growing meat bread, head over to our article here.
Salad, salad, salad!
Let’s take a quick refresher. Pigs are omnivores, much like humans, and require both animal and plant proteins to thrive. Unlike ruminants (such as cows, goats, and sheep), pigs have a single-chamber stomach. This means they can’t efficiently process large amounts of fibrous or leafy plants like ruminants can. For most pigs, grass can make up about 10-50% of their diet depending on their life stage, but it should never be their sole food source. The good news is, Kunekunes and other heritage-type breeds do seem to glean a little more from pasture than other breeds. The extra fibre also fills them up, and helps to battle obesity. Think salad, salad, salad. So our first step with Kunes- Get them grazing. Graze them on a gentle slope for a bit of exercise, even better!
Get that lysine in!
With all the hype around “Essential Amino Acids” in humans, this term may be nothing new to you. Pigs are no different. Essential amino acids are the protein building blocks that the body cannot create on its own; they must be consumed through the diet. One such amino acid is called Lysine, and is a common reason for a ravenous appetite in pigs. Pigs should stop eating when they’re full, but if lacking this amino acid they will continue to EAT EAT EAT until they fulfill those minimum protein requirements!
Kunekunes should be fed variety of protein sources to get all those building blocks in, and very low refined-carbohydrate diet. Remember adequate protein does NOT mean excessive protein. Even protein will lay down as fat if in excess of the animals requirement.
Feeding Kitchen Scraps
Many pig owners love the idea of feeding their pigs kitchen scraps—it’s cost-effective and a good way to reduce food waste. But let’s be deliberate with what we’re feeding- your pig is not a garbage disposal unit. Feeding your pig improperly balanced scraps can, and will, lead to health problems. For adult Kunes, check your kitchen scraps meet the following requirements:
Limit (or ideally eliminate) refined carbohydrates. Bakery food, bread, rice, and sugary junk food, are all no-go’s. These foods are very high in energy, very low in any real nutrition, and will not fill the pig up, leading to overconsumption. Starchy vegetables are a staple food source for pigs rooting in the wild, just be careful to balance with high protein.
High in protein, from multiple sources. Dairy products are a good source of protein in moderation. Beware, overdoing the dairy all at once can cause gut upsets. Meat products are a good source, but must legally be cooked at 100C for at least an hour, to reduce any chance of Foot & Mouth Disease establishing in New Zealand.
High fibre. Whole grains are okay in moderation, as pigs have a limited ability to digest these without processing, so will simply add to the fibre intake. Don’t forget most of their fibre intake will be through the pasture.
Not all kitchen scraps are safe for pigs. For a complete guide on kitchen scraps head to our animal care course on Pig Health & Husbandry.
When they need a little more
Our fast growing meat breeds have very large litter sizes, and piglets that skyrocket in size, taking a huge toll on the sow and her milk supply, and requiring very deliberate nutrition for both mum and bub. This almost always includes specifically formulated pellets or other supplements.
Our Kunes, however, grow very slowly and have significantly less piglets. Remember an overweight sow can be very high risk of a problematic pregnancy and poor milk supply, so be sure to cater to your breed.
A lactating Kunekune mum will still require higher levels of calcium and higher calories late in pregnancy. She should consume around 1.5kg of an appropriate supplement a day (formulated for pregnant Kunes). She should still have free access to pasture and encouraged to keep her exercise up.
When piglets are born, they will soon start nibbling her food alongside her, which is usually fine and just what the supplement is intended for (always check the label). Once weaned, they can be offered a “grower pellet”, to make sure they get the protein and micronutrients they require for growth, but check the label for Kunes specifically, as it is usually a small amount at just 0.5kg of pellets a day. Most importantly, be sure to stop feeding the diet when they are 15 weeks old.
From here on, the lower protein, higher fiber diet is the way to go so they don’t become obese.
Conclusion
Feeding pigs is more complex than simply tossing them kitchen scraps. To ensure optimal health, pigs need a balanced diet tailored to their specific life stage and health needs. Whether you're raising a pig as a pet or for farming purposes, it's crucial to be mindful of their nutritional requirements. By providing fresh, safe kitchen scraps as a supplement, a small amount of well formulated pellet for the core of their nutrition, and a full day of grazing and exercise, you can help your pigs live happy, healthy lives.