Miniature pig

A miniature pig, minipig or micro-pig is a type of domestic pig characterised by its unusually small size but has no formal definition and can cover a variety of breeds. Some miniature pigs – such as the Cerdo Cuino of Mexico, the Lon I of Vietnam, the Ras-n-Lansa of Guam in the Marianas Islands and the Wuzhishan of Hainan Island in China – are traditional breeds of those areas.^{: 238 : 714} Many others have been selectively bred since the mid-twentieth century specifically for laboratory use in biomedical research; among these are the Clawn and the Ohmini of Japan, the Czech Minipig, the German Göttingen Minipig, the Lao-Sung of Taiwan, the Russian Minisib, the extinct Minnesota Miniature of the United States and the Westran of Australia.^: 7 Some minipigs have been bred to be marketed as companion animals.^: 652

Miniature pigs generally reach their full size in about four years, and may live for up to fifteen. Some may reach a height of 50 cm (20 in) at the shoulder and a body length of 100 cm (40 in).

Young miniature pigs are sometimes sold as so-called ‘Teacup Pigs’ as pets. However, this term is used loosely and can refer either to young miniature pigs or piglets from larger breeds that have been underfed. Due to these breeding practices and the frequency of owners surrendering pigs when fully grown, the practice of selling miniature pigs as pets or as ‘teacup pigs’ is considered by some to be cruel.