tribble hill farm co

*Enlarge the photos below to each gallery*

Why Pigs?

Why not?  This would be my first answer but there are endless good reasons for a farm or homestead to raise pigs. For starters, our family suffers with intense food allergies which makes finding meat that isn't cross contaminated with allergens very hard.  Also, meat in store is not ideal for many reasons:  poor quality, limited selection, dyes / preservatives / other harmful ingredients, despicable factory abuse and to make matters worse, it's at a premium price.  Due to intense factories needing fast growth rates to meet supply and demand, most breeds are hybrids and grow fast but the trade off is poor tasting meat.

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Due to so many factors, it became necessary for our family to provide ourselves with meat in a clean, controlled environment without cross contamination and added ingredients. Not only do we choose what our pigs eat but they are happy and very much loved. Our foundation herd will give us future registered breeders to help other farms and other offspring who will be raised as pasture pork. 

Why KuneKunes Specifically?

KuneKune means short and round in Maori. We absolutely love these short and round pigs.  Here's what we love about them and why we chose them for our family:

• They have cute faces with upturned snoots; This means they aren't tough on land since they tend to not root up pastures like other breeds.

• They do great on small farms.

• They are friendly, well mannered and easy to handle. No aggressive boars to worry about.

• They have short legs and a thick body.  Body = Meat.

• They are a heritage breed and we love participating in the preservation of heritage breeds! While some hogs are more susceptible to disease and parasites than others, heritage pigs are naturally resistant to a variety of diseases and parasites. As an added bonus, we are helping to conserve a rare breed. 

• They are slow growing for a meat that is a true delicacy.

• KuneKunes are healthier for you. The meat is  higher in beta carotene, vitamins D and E, and good fatty acids that lower cholesterol and help keep a human body healthy.  Supermarket meat is from purposefully bred lean carcasses, but fat  is what makes heritage pork so delicious. 

• They don't stink. 

• They love belly rubs. This might be the most important factor :)

Breed History

KuneKunes originated from the Maori Islands of New Zealand.  There aren't many details surrounding their beginnings but it's agreed that visiting whalers brought pigs to trade with the Maori people in the 1800's.  In the 1900's KuneKunes were a common village companion to the Maori.  The breed went nearly extinct when the Maoris moved into houses and the free-ranging pigs were left behind.

In the 1970s they were rediscovered by two wildlife park employees, Michael Willis and John Simister, who  saved them from extinction. With only about 50 pigs left in existence, the pair managed planned breedings and the start of a breed registry.  Currently  there are two registries which serve the US: The International Kunekune Hog Registry and the American KuneKune Hog Society.  We are members of both organizations and registered with both.

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Today there are a few thousand KuneKunes in the US thanks to the efforts of the originals founders and imported lines which started in 1995.  All Kunekunes in the US go back to the original imports from New Zealand and the UK.  The original import lines are as follows:

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BOAR LINES:

Andrew (imported in 2005 from the UK)

Te Whangi (imported in 2005 from the UK)

Boris (imported from New Zealand in 1995)

Tonganui (imported from New Zealand in 1995)

Mahia Love (imported from NZ in 2010)

Tutanekai (imported from NZ in 2010)

Tuahuru (imported from NZ in 2010)

Whakanui (imported from NZ in 2010)

Tutaki (imported from the UK in 2010)

Ru (imported from the UK in 2011)

BH Tutaki (imported from the UK in 2011)

SOW LINES:

Jenny (imported from the UK in 2005)

Trish (imported from the UK in 2005)

Rona (imported from NZ in 1995)

Wilsons Gina (imported from NZ in 1995)

Aria Giana (imported from NZ in 2010)

Tarutaru (imported from NZ in 2010)

Tapeka (imported from NZ in 2010)

Momona (imported from NZ in 2010)

Fijoa (imported from NZ in 2010)

Haunene (imported from NZ in 2010)

Rebecca Gina (imported from the UK in 2010)

Kereopa (imported from the UK in 2011)

Sally (imported from the UK in 2011)

Trish (imported from the UK in 2011)

Awakino (imported from the UK in 2011)

BH Rebecca Gina (imported from the UK in 2011)

KuneKunes of THF