• Prior to getting your sow in pig, consider what you will do with the piglets. If you do not have a market to sell them, do not breed them in the first place.
• Breeders should check the coefficient of inbreeding (COI) of their boar and gilt/sow prior to pairing, as a COI of more than 15% needs to be discussed with the registrar prior to breeding and will not be allowed without good reason. There is a breed planning tool on the BKKPS web pages to help you with this.
• Before selling pigs, breeders should ensure new pig owners are aware of their legal responsibilities, how to care for pigs and have realistic expectations of what pig ownership involves.
• All litters must be birth notified within 40 days of birth.
• All pigs should be registered as pedigree Kunekune’s (breeding or pet) at or before sale. All breeding pigs must be registered before breeding and no later than 18 months old. After this time, they will not be eligible for pedigree registration.
• All pigs must be ear tagged with a unique identification number, in accordance with local regulations, by the breeder before they go to their new homes. The ear tag number on the registration certificate must match the ear tag number.
• As registration applications are normally submitted at the point of sale, a receipt should be given to the new buyer stating the pig’s details, including ear tag number and what the pigs are being registered as, eg breeding gilt, pet gilt, castrate, breeding boar.
• All boars sold as pets must be castrated by the breeder before the sale.
• Breeding boars cannot be registered by the breeder in the breeder’s first year of breeding. Pigs sold for breeding must adhere to the breed standard (described on the BKKP web pages). If you are unsure how to select breeding standard piglets to refer to the BKKPS video (add web link), or for a fee, the Society can send an experienced breeder to guide you.
• Any breeder found to be selling pigs as pedigree registered but not registering them will have their membership terminated without refund, and the purchaser is advised to contact Trading Standards.
• It is highly unlikely that all piglets from your litter will be breeding quality. Please grade your piglets and sell those not meeting breed standards as meat pigs or pets. Gilts registered as pets may be upgraded for breeding at a later date if they are deemed breed quality. This will be at the registrar’s discretion.
• Piglets should go to their new homes healthy and thriving. We recommend they are wormed and vaccinated against Erysipelas, but please speak to your vet for local vaccination recommendations and encourage your buyers to do so if the piglets are moving out of your area.
• Purchasers of pigs should be encouraged to join the BKKPS.

Every time you notify a litter, you will be asked to agree to these responsibilities. If any breeder is found not to be following the ‘responsibilities of the breeder’, the society reserves the right to refuse registration or terminate membership without refund.