The National Pig Association (NPA) is urging the public not to follow the current trend of keeping micro-pigs as fashion accessories, as such action could lead to “serious animal welfare problems” and increased disease risks for commercial herds.
“Some miniature pig lines were originally developed for medical research and can carry genetic mutations responsible for deformities linked to animal dwarfism, such as deformed skulls and weak limbs,” said NPA.
“Other lines of micro-pig have been developed by successively breeding from litter runts, which can lead to expensive vet bills caused by genetic weaknesses and susceptibilities, including walking difficulties and obesity.”
NPA also warned that keeping micro-pigs could also pose a risk to the nation’s commercial pig herd as micro-pigs can catch and spread diseases such as foot and mouth with such outbreaks, in many cases, being harder to trace as some owners “may not be aware of the legal requirement to register them”.