Mini vs. Micro - What is the Difference?
On this page you will get all the facts on what a Teacup, Micro, Nano, Premium Micro and a Dwarf Pig really is!
While looking into pigs as pets you may see MANY different names/terms being used. Some of these may be: Teacup, Micro, Nano, Premium Micro, Dwarf, Micro Potbellied, and Pocket. These TERMS are used by people to explain that their pigs are smaller than a standard Potbellied Pig. By using these terms it does NOT mean the piglet will stay the same size as a chihuahua. ALL piglets will grow to over 12" tall! There is NO fully grown pig (properly fed) that will stay the size as a small dog (under 40 pounds). It has yet to be proven and trust us.... every ethical breeder has asked for proof from people who claim they have them! These are only MISLEADING terms!
While looking into pigs as pets you may see MANY different names/terms being used. Some of these may be: Teacup, Micro, Nano, Premium Micro, Dwarf, Micro Potbellied, and Pocket. These TERMS are used by people to explain that their pigs are smaller than a standard Potbellied Pig. By using these terms it does NOT mean the piglet will stay the same size as a chihuahua. ALL piglets will grow to over 12" tall! There is NO fully grown pig (properly fed) that will stay the size as a small dog (under 40 pounds). It has yet to be proven and trust us.... every ethical breeder has asked for proof from people who claim they have them! These are only MISLEADING terms!
History of the Miniature PigPigs have been used by scientists for many years due to their organs being within close relation to humans. It was found these animals were easy to work with and research with them had continued. In Europe, the miniature pig had started to be bred down to a more manageable size to use within the labs and started to surface as additions to farms and households as family pets. In 1980, miniature pigs started to surface in the United States as pets. Over time these miniature pigs have been bred down by breeders to create the miniature pig we have today.
The miniature pigs you see today are mixed of many different breeds. Many ethical breeders (originally in the United States and recently within Canada) have selectively bred down these miniature pigs to make the ideal family pet. As the miniature pig grew in popularity through the United States as family pets, many breeders started to use terms such as Teacup, Micro, and Dwarf to separate their pigs from the standard Potbellied Pig. Many purchasers heard these terms and thought it meant the piglets would not grow and would stay under 20 pounds. It was very unfortunate when UNETHICAL breeders jumped on this very untrue band wagon and started promising unrealistic weights for their piglets. Due to this, many pigs ended up in shelters or being re-homed due to them exceeding the weight guaranteed by the "breeder". On the internet today there are still many "breeders" claiming they have adult pigs under 40 pounds. It has yet to be proven of a healthy ADULT (4 year old) pig to be under 40 pounds. Ethical breeders have the miniature pig lines bred down to be 12" - 17" and this took multiple generations. Breeding down sizes is not as simple as putting the smallest male and female together. This would not guarantee smaller pigs. Without knowing the health history of the male and female and the lineage of both parents, the breeder is unable to eliminate negative health issues within the line. This is the difference between "backyard breeding" and breeding with set standards (ethical breeding). It is important for a breeder to make sure they are only breeding their healthiest stock. This does not mean breeding pigs with deformities or genetic health issues. A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words... |
Storm - Pregnant in this photo - 2.5 years old in this photo
Charlotte - 5 years old in this photo
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Image Below: Photo taken from the internet when Goggled Teacup pigs
Image used from www.cutiestpaw.com
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Image Below: Elly May as a piglet. Notice the characteristics of Elly May in this Photo and the characteristics of the piglet in the photo to the left.
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Picture Below: Elly May as an adult
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