About Juliana Pigs
I see so many "breeders" here in Canada who advertise they have Juliana piglets for sale. Some advertise their piglets and pig parents as full Juliana and half Juliana. Potential piggy owners shop around, come across these advertisements, and believe they are purchasing a purebred pig. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Many people who have spotted pigs believe they are Juliana pigs. This is mostly a result of the description of the Juliana pig; they are always spotted! However, this does not mean that every pig with spots is a purebred Juliana.
According to the USA based JPAR Registry, a Juliana pig has a lean, slender, body shape with have an athletic appearance. They have a longer, more slender, nose than you would see on a potbellied pig or a mini pig. They have short, erect ears, and almond-shaped eyes. They are always spotted; spotting may be found on the skin under the coat or on the top of the coat. If they have reached over 17" tall they cannot be registered with JPAR (according to JPAR Registry).
The JPAR Registry also has an online database for their breeder directory. This directory shows that breeders with Juliana pigs are located in the USA. It has only been recently that only a few registered Juliana pigs have been imported into Canada! So while you are shopping for your perfect pig, and you are inquiring about a Canadian bred Juliana pig, ask for the registration information of the parent pigs. If the breeder cannot provide proof of registration, chances are they are not registered in the first place and are just a spotted mini pig! Just like our Elly May!
According to the USA based JPAR Registry, a Juliana pig has a lean, slender, body shape with have an athletic appearance. They have a longer, more slender, nose than you would see on a potbellied pig or a mini pig. They have short, erect ears, and almond-shaped eyes. They are always spotted; spotting may be found on the skin under the coat or on the top of the coat. If they have reached over 17" tall they cannot be registered with JPAR (according to JPAR Registry).
The JPAR Registry also has an online database for their breeder directory. This directory shows that breeders with Juliana pigs are located in the USA. It has only been recently that only a few registered Juliana pigs have been imported into Canada! So while you are shopping for your perfect pig, and you are inquiring about a Canadian bred Juliana pig, ask for the registration information of the parent pigs. If the breeder cannot provide proof of registration, chances are they are not registered in the first place and are just a spotted mini pig! Just like our Elly May!
A Registered Juliana PigThe photo to the right is one of the registered Juliana's in Canada.
I have permission to use this photo from my friend at Pigture Perfect Pigs. |
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About Dwarf Pigs
Dwarfism in pigs is an abnormal growth plate function (PubMed.gov). In the 1980's dwarfism was found in a boar being used for research. In 1984, he was bred to three unrelated sows and each piglet was clinically, radio graphically, and pathologic-anatomically examined for dwarfism. It was found that there were piglets in each litter that were passed the dwarfism gene. This proved the gene to be an autosomal recessive inheritance.
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"Dwarfism was observed in a group of 30 crossbred pigs. Affected pigs had short limbs and retarded growth. Reduced long-bone length as well as flattening and caudal rotation of the humeral head and the distal femoral condyles were seen at necropsy. Metaphyseal growth plates in vertebrae were narrow and, in long bones, were closed prematurely. There was a sparing of growth plates in traction epiphyses. Vitamin A toxicosis was considered as a possible cause."
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada |
References:
PubMed.gov. (2000). US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from HERE
PubMed.gov. (1984). US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from HERE
Doige, CE and Schoonderwoerd M. (1988). Department of Veterinary Pathology. Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Retrieved from HERE
PubMed.gov. (1984). US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from HERE
Doige, CE and Schoonderwoerd M. (1988). Department of Veterinary Pathology. Western College of Veterinary Medicine. Retrieved from HERE
To date, there is NO available testing for the dwarfism gene in swine in Canada. What does this mean? Well, it means that NO pig currently in Canada has ever been proven by veterinarian tests to carry the dwarfism gene. Therefore, breeders claiming that their pigs have, or carry, the gene have never tested their pigs; they are only making an assumption that cannot be proven.
