Kunekune Breeding Stock Raised for Calm Temperament, Strong Mothers, & Tender Meat
How It Started
We fell in love with this breed when we raised a Kunekune feeder piglet alongside a pair of Red Wattle piglets. The Red Wattles were sweet, but got pushy as they got older, not to mention they had their own idea of landscaping that tore our pasture apart. The Kunekune was sweet as could be and barely had an impact on our land.
When butcher day came, we cooked up a chop from a Red Wattle and a chop from the Kunekune. The Red Wattle was good, but still very dry and nothing notable about the flavor -- it still hit the benchmark for grocery store pork. The Kunekune chop on the otherhand made us stop and say, "That is succulent!" Gourmet, restaurant-quality pork! Taste, texture, and tenderness were all there in a perfect, power-packed tastebud punch. We had found our pig -- and were never going back.
Why Kunekunes?
This delightful, slow-growing, lard breed of heritage pig has a temperament as uniquely sweet as the meat itself! A non-destructive breed that doesn't exceed 300-400 pounds and prefers to graze and minimally root makes this pig an absolute essential to any pork program!
Our Selection and Breeding
Our herd's breeding stock was hand-picked from 200 in 12 genetics that help get meat into your freezer by the time a piglet reaches its 1st birthday. Some breeders have bred the fat cover in Kunekunes to be minimal and more geared for meat.
We like a more balanced fat profile and keep a good mix of leaner meat focused pigs as well as some fatties. The result is a balanced pig with a good fat and meat ratio. More and more consumers are seeking out animal based fats more often, and the Kunekunes provide an excellent level of fat for lard, soap, candles, facial, and body products. We want to keep that in our herd while still having a pleasing amount of meat for the plate.
Our Benchmarks for Good Breeding Stock
The iconic, up-turned nose of the kunekune is essential to keep this pig a grazing pig, and not a destructive rooter. We genetically test our pig herd for meat tenderness, mothering ability, and other traits. Anything that doesn't have a sweet temperament or can't care for their litter of piglets on their own has no place in our breeding program.
Legs, feet, and bone structure are essential for a pork-focused pig that can handle the weight of its own body, plus the weight of a boar breeding her, and the weight of carrying a massive litter of piglets. Brains can't be left up for discussion -- we've had some dumb pigs before. If they look great but they can't tell if a feed bucket is a friend and not a scary monster, there's a serious neuron firing problem.
Our Quality Control
For meat tenderness genetics, we test through Igenity Swine's genetic testing. All of our pigs have scored 7's, 9's, or perfect 10's for tenderness! When I spoke to the lab about our results, they stated over the phone, "How are you getting these results? Pork breeders all over are trying to get these results and they can't!" He was shocked when I told him these samples were all from Kunekune pigs!
These are truly a special pig that deserves all the effort to preserve these special genetic traits.
AKKPS (American Kunekune Pig Society) registration ensures that each pig:
Registered Kunekune pigs provide confidence in genetics, predictability in traits, and long-term breeding value.
At Dos Lobos Ranch, we maintain accurate records and breed with intention to preserve the qualities that make Kunekune pigs unique.
Our pigs are selected for docile, manageable personalities that make them ideal for families, homesteads, and pasture-based farms.
We prioritize sows that consistently:
Our herd maintains 200 in 12 Kunekune genetics for pork production and growth rate, and supporting genetic diversity while preserving traditional breed characteristics.
As a working farm that also produces pork, we select breeding stock based on how well they perform not just in the pasture—but on the plate. If we don't want it in our own breeding program, we won't consider it for yours either. And to be honest, we make more money selling the pork, not selling breeding stock -- so for us to pause and consider offering a piglet for sale as a breeder... trust me, we evaluated it for own breeding herd first. If it didn't make the cut for us, it's probably because we don't have an opening to employ another pig, but it's too good to be turned into bacon.
Why registration matters and buying stock from registered pigs is important.
Choosing registered Kunekune pigs ensures:
For farmers serious about breeding, registration is essential.
For homesteaders, it provides confidence that your animals will behave and perform as expected.
And your new pig will be a real Kunekune -- not a mix mistaken for a Kunekune. We see that a lot, and then folks are disappointed in temperament, pasture destruction, and sometimes terrible meat.
What you can expect from your Kunekune pigs from Dos Lobos Ranch.
All of our Kunekune pigs are:
This results in pigs that are:
Availability is limited, and many piglets are reserved before weaning.
We recommend joining our reservation list to:
Our Selection Process
Our Breeding Stock Guarantee for Piglets
We've certainly been burned on breeding stock before and don't intend to do the same thing to anyone else investing in a breeding-quality pig from us. Should your pig develop a structural fault (feet, legs, back, etc.) that was not identified when you took your pig home, or if your pig fails to successfully breed, we will replace your pig free of charge with an equal or better replacement piglet from a future litter. Should a pig fail to thrive in your care or is injured, resulting in a physical defect, this replacement guarantee will not be honored.
Why We Raise Kunekunes
Kunekunes are sweet tempered, easy on pasture, and the meat quality is just simply amazing. They are the whole package and check a lot of boxes for easy to manage livestock, pasture improvement (impossible with most pig breeds!) and not destruction, and pork that is unmatched in flavor. Even though they are slower growing, we believe they are well worth the wait for that incredible, gourmet pork!
What We've Learned Raising Kunekunes
We’ve learned a lot over the years—more than can probably be summed up in one place—but these are the lessons that have stuck with us.
First, no Kunekune is perfect -- you select for the best... and the rest go into the pork program.
Second, breeding management matters more than most people realize. Kunekunes need to have litters consistently—typically twice per year—or they can become prone to reproductive issues like ovarian cysts. This is a known challenge in the breed and something that has to be planned for from the start.
This ties directly into the first lesson: there will always be more pigs coming along, and every litter is another opportunity to improve your genetics.
Third, there is strong local demand for high-quality, pasture-raised pork. Here in North Texas, we’ve found there is always a need for good, honest meat—and that creates a reliable outlet for pigs that don’t make the cut as breeding stock.
And finally, if you're going to build a breeding program, you need a pork program, too. Without it, you’ll quickly find yourself financially strained trying to support pigs that didn’t sell as breeders.
That’s why we consider ourselves a pork-first program and a breeder-quality piglet program second.
Pork keeps the lights on—and keeps your family fed.
And truth be told…
if you can’t bring yourself to eat these cute, sweet little pigs…
you might not be hungry enough. 😉
Our registered Kunekune pigs are ideal for:
Kunekune Pigs For Sale In Texas
200 in 12 Kunekune Pigs For Sale in North Texas
What is AKKPS registration for Kunekune pigs?
AKKPS registration documents a pig’s lineage and verifies that it meets breed standards set by the American Kunekune Pig Society. This provides confidence in genetics, predictability in traits, and long-term breeding value.
Are registered Kunekune pigs better?
Registered pigs offer predictable genetics and are preferred for breeding programs, though they are also beneficial for homesteaders seeking reliable traits. They provide more consistent traits such as temperament, maternal ability, and growth performance.
Do you sell Kunekune piglets or only breeding stock?
We offer both feeder and roaster piglets and breeding stock depending on availability. Many piglets are reserved before weaning, so joining our reservation list is recommended.
What are 200 in 12 Kunekune genetics?
“200 in 12” refers to pork-focused genetics in the Kunekune breed that specifically breeds for a growth rate that consistently hits 200 pounds in 12 months, so pigs are butcher weight exactly at a year of age. Older lines of Kunekunes typically reach 200 pounds by about 18 months of age. Some breeders have already achieved 300 in 12 genetics in their Kunekune breeding programs, but those genetics are not as widely available yet.
Are Kunekune pigs good for beginners?
Yes. Kunekune pigs are known for their calm temperament, smaller size, and ease of handling, making them one of the best pig breeds for homesteaders and first-time pig owners.
How are your Kunekune pigs raised?
Our Kunekune pigs are pasture-raised using rotational grazing and daily human interaction. This produces animals that are calm, healthy, and well-adapted to pasture-based systems.
Where are you located and do you allow visits to your farm?
We are located in North Texas, and many of our customers travel from across Texas to purchase Kunekune piglets and breeding stock from us. We love mentoring new pig owners whether you're raising breeding stock for your own program or if you're just purchasing feeders to grow out for your own freezer. We don't mind showing off our herd and what we do! However, extra precautions will be taken for anyone wanting a tour who already owns livestock (shoe disinfection) for biosecurity reasons.
How do I reserve a Kunekune piglet?
You can join our reservation list to receive early access to upcoming litters, select piglets before public release, and plan your pickup timing.