Fun Juliana Pig Facts For Kids

The Juliana pig or miniature painted pig is a small domesticated pig originating from Europe. These pet pigs belong to the Suidae family of miniature pigs. This mini pig is either rust, silver, black, cream, red, or white-colored body. Domestic pigs are considered Eurasian boar subspecies. The Juliana pigs were bred by selective breeding of several varieties of pigs. They are mainly bred to work on farms with humans. These miniature pigs have been around for quite a while, but their root ancestors have not yet been found. They are referred to by their domestic scientific name because Juliana pigs are not yet officially classified. The common scientific name used for miniature pigs is Sus scrofa domesticus. The scientific name Sus scrofa domesticus was given by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Later in 1777, the domestic pigs were classified as separate species from wild boars. So, Johann Christian Polycarp Erxleben gave the scientific name Sus domesticus. The Vietnamese pot-bellied pig was the first miniature domestic breed of pig that became popular as a pet in the 20th century.

If these facts about the Juliana pigs are interesting, you may also enjoy domestic pig and pot belly pig facts too!

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What type of animal is a Juliana pig?

The Juliana pigs are the products of selective breeding. The Juliana pig temperament is usually peaceful as they are bred to be in farms or homes. Breeders carefully breed these pigs to give them a small body. The Juliana pigs are bred with other miniature breeds like Kunekune and Pot belly pigs. They make very good pets. They are also known as the miniature painted pig, micro pig, mini pig, teacup pig, and pygmy pig. These mini pigs are very intelligent, curious, and according to many owners, they are easier to train compared to dogs.

What class of animal does a Juliana pig belong to?

The Juliana mini pig belongs to the mammal class of animals.

How many Juliana pigs are there in the world?

There are only a few purebred Juliana mini pigs in the world and these are not available as pets. When breeders say that they sell Juliana pigs, those pigs are mixed breeds, usually of the pot belly pigs. The exact number of these pigs in the world is not available.

Where does a Juliana pig live?

This mini pig is found in several places across the world. Since they are bred to be house pets, the breeders import them from Europe. They are found on farms or in houses.

What is a Juliana pig's habitat?

These miniature painted pigs can adapt better than wild pigs. These crossbred animals do not have a wild habitat but still require a good environment. The common habitats of the pig species are swamps, woodlands, moist forests, and regions with abundant reeds. The Juliana pig breed prefers regions with cool temperatures. Their skin is sensitive to extreme heat and severe cold. It is best to have a fenced gazing area for these breeds as they are prey animals. Predators like stray dogs, wolves, and coyotes must be kept out. This breed needs to placed in regions that can keep them cool as it is difficult for them to cool off because their body is unable to sweat.

Who do Juliana pigs live with?

This mini pig lives humans. Well-trained pigs can also get along with cats and dogs and will also help correct any destructive behavior.

How long does a Juliana pig live?

The average Juliana pig life span is 15-20 years. These crossbred mini pigs are known to have a shorter lifespan due to the process of selective breeding. However, there are records that show that these mini Juliana pigs can live a longer life as long as they are well-fed and healthy.

How do they reproduce?

Breeders breed these small pigs by a selective breeding process. The adult Juliana pig reaches sexual maturity around six to seven months. The average gestation period is 112-120 days. The estrus lasts up to three days. During this period the female is receptive to the male and this stage is known as standing heat. This stage is the reflexive response of females when they come into contact with the saliva of a mature male. The female response is triggered by the Androstenol pheromones. The maternal recognition of pregnancy takes place on the 11th or 12th day of pregnancy. To ensure better reproductive response in a pig, they should be provided with good nutrition for better health. The female Juliana pig produces 5-10 piglets. It is also possible for the female to produce up to 25 piglets.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the miniature Juliana pig is not available. In the past, a few records showed that these small animals were endangered. However, currently due to heavy breeding these species are not threatened.

What do Juliana pigs look like?

The small-sized Juliana pig breed has a rust, silver, black, cream, red, or white-colored body. This breed has various spots on its body. These spots can be black, red, or white. They have a fur coat. When the coat hair gets longer the spots can fade. Their coarse and thick hair coat can get longer in winter. Their skin has the tendency to become flaky and dry. Their length is more than their height. They have an athletic and lean appearance. They resemble a feral pig or a hog by appearance more than a pot belly breed. The distant feature of the head is their snout which is neither snubbed nor turned up but straight. They have blue to black almond-shaped eyes. They have small erect ears. Their appearance should not be flabby or round. Their top line is of good length and straight. The wide shoulders and belly are more firm than the pot belly breed. The legs are set well apart. When in motion their legs converge. They have strong and slightly set-back hocks when viewed from the side. Their tail is straight when they are relaxed. When this breed is in motion or is excited, the tail tends to curl or twist. When this breed is shaved or washed, the pigmentation on the skin is visible.

How cute are they?

The small Juliana pigs are widely considered as cute and adorable by appearance.

How do they communicate?

There are a number of ways these small animals communicate in. They communicate through scent and vocals. Some of the body language they use to communicate is tail wagging, rolling, charging, digging, and many more. They show affection by licking, snout kissing, and cuddling.

How big is a Juliana pig?

The small Juliana pig size from the chest to the base of the tail is 12-26 in (30.4-66 cm). Their average size range is 15-17 in (38-43 cm).

How fast can a Juliana pig run?

The exact speed of these mini Juliana pigs is not available. However, the speed of domestic pigs is 11 mph (17.7 kmph).

How much does a Juliana pig weigh?

The small Juliana pig weight is 28.6-59.5 lb (13-27 kg). Once they start growing the Juliana teacup pig grows twice their weight or size.

What are their male and female names of the species?

There are several names given to pigs at various stages:

Any full-grown Juliana pig: boar.

Any male after castrated at an early stage: barrow.

Any male after castrated at a later stage: stag.

A virgin female pig: gilt.

Mature female pig: sow.

What would you call a baby Juliana pig?

A baby Juliana pig is called a piglet. A juvenile male pig is called a shoat.

What do they eat?

These small animals can adapt to any diet. Real pig pellets make great food for their balanced diet. For better health, they can be fed vegetables and fruits. They also eat grass, insects, and roots.

Are they dangerous?

No. They do not pose any danger to humans unless bored or threatened.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, they are bred for this very reason.

Did you know...

For the traditional Irish fisherman, it is a belief that the mention of pigs brings bad luck.

The unofficial mascot of the Animal Rescue League of Boston is a Yucatan miniature pig.

These animals are some of the cleanest animals in the world.

In some places, it is illegal to own pigs except for farms.

Winston Churchill once said 'Dogs look up to you. Cats look down to you. Give me a pig! He looks you straight in the eye and treats you as equal.'

Having your own Juliana pig

The small Juliana pig price of a purebred costs about $1000. They are usually sold when they are seven weeks old. It is necessary to feed your pet by hand to improve their socialization. You can also train them to use a litter box like household cats. Make sure that they do not use your cat's litter box. You can use pine pellets or shavings for their litter box. The Juliana pig care must include skincare as their skin can become dry and flaky. It is best to bathe them in baby shampoo and regularly apply lotion to their body. They adapt pretty well to a dog bed. It is also required to let them bask in the sun.

Are Juliana pigs good to eat?

Yes, Juliana pigs are good to eat. One of the many reasons that people eat Juliana pigs is that the purebred species need small space and cost less. They taste like all other pork.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including a zonkey, or wild goat.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Juliana pig coloring pages.

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