First up are our pastured Kunekune pigs. This is the first time we have Kunes on our property and so far I have mixed feelings about them. They are incredibly docile and would be perfect as pets, they are quite laid back and do not root except when they find soft sandy spots to create a nice place to lay down for a nap. They also root in old manure/woodchip piles so keep in mind that they can disturb the soil just not nearly as much as larger pig breeds.
It’s a bit like keeping bantam chickens versus large chickens.
Overall they are easy to keep and quite lazy.
What I like less about them (and this is a personal thing) is what I describe as the “Jack Russel Terrier feel”. The high pitch piggy screams at feeding time, the running around and often right in front (or under) your feet when you need to do something in their pen. It’s something I honestly don’t enjoy. I much rather prefer the low sound my previous Red Pied Husum pigs gave me and rather go into a pen with large pigs.
Homesteading is sometimes more about the purpose instead of preference. To put it simply, I can’t afford to keep any old doe or hen. They are here to serve a purpose, as for the Kunes they are here to manage the grass this year while providing us with meat in the end. No Red Pied could do that job (they would turn my pasture into a wasteland).
I will try to incorporate rooting pigs again in next year’s plans but for now it’s Kunes.
Thanks for your time. Next time we'll get into chickens and ducks.