"Teacup Pigs" is a type of miniature pig, created by crossbreeding Tamworth pigs and Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs. The piglets are only as small as a teacup. Miniature "Teacup Pigs" have become the new favorite among animal enthusiasts.
Chinese name: 茶杯猪
Latin name: Teacuppigs
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Species: Miniature Pig
Teacup pigs originated in countries such as the United States and Japan after World War II, initially used as experimental animals. Among common mammals, pigs have the most similar tissue and organ structure and physiological characteristics to humans, and using animals such as monkeys and dogs for experiments can easily cause controversy. Pigs seem to be a more ideal experimental animal. Therefore, scientists have been breeding small experimental pig breeds with uniform quality and stable genetics through breeding methods for half a century (Experiment miniature pigs, EMP), their small size makes them easy to feed, breed, and manipulate in experiments, such as Pieman-Moore pigs, Hormel pigs, Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs, etc. China has also cultivated suitable strains for experiments using local miniature pig breeds such as Xiang pigs, Wuzhi Mountain pigs, and Dianan small-eared pigs. These local miniature pigs can still be used as excellent meat pigs and have a certain share in the meat market.
The history of keeping mini pigs as pets is much shorter. For example, in the United States, Vietnamese pot-belly pigs were introduced to American zoos in 1988 and quickly became expensive pets, being the most common pet pigs raised abroad. In China, the most common "miniature Xiang pigs" sold in the immature pet pig market are Bama pigs, which come from Bama Yao Autonomous County, Guangxi. The so-called introduced pig breeds are mixed with the false names. For example, the so-called "Japanese Xiang pigs" and "Thai Xiang pigs" are actually gimmicks played by merchants because the term "Xiang pig" belongs exclusively to China. They may only be domestic Xiang pigs or pot-belly pigs.
It is recommended for enthusiasts to keep teacup pigs, which can be considered as the smallest breed among pet pigs. Because of their size similar to a teacup, they are affectionately called teacup pigs. This breed of pet pigs is created by crossbreeding Tamworth pigs and Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs. They have no special requirements for living environments and are easy to raise, which makes them very popular.
African swine fever, also known as "hemorrhagic fever", is an acute, feverish, contact-transmitted infectious disease caused by the African swine fever virus, a member of the pestivirus family. It is a type of infectious and parasitic disease with highly contagious and lethal characteristics. This disease only infects pigs under natural conditions, and pigs of different ages, genders, and breeds, as well as wild boars, are susceptible to it. It can occur at any time of the year. African swine fever is an acute, contact-transmitted porcine infectious disease characterized by high fever in diseased animals, severe organ bleeding, and high mortality rate, but it does not pose a direct threat to humans.
Don't be fooled by the small size of teacup pigs. Despite their small stature, they have a big appetite. It's important for owners not to let them eat as much as they want. The food intake should be controlled. It's better to follow the principle of small meals throughout the day rather than overfeeding them. It's not worth the risk of overfeeding. Before feeding them, owners should thoroughly clean the food, except for pig feed. After cleaning it, it's not too late to feed the teacup pigs!
On regular days, owners should also regularly check their teacup pigs' body condition or administer vaccinations. Taking them outside to bask in the sun and breathe fresh air can be of great help to their growth!
1. Brushing hair. Choose a small pet-specific comb for brushing pigs. Before brushing your pet's hair, gently stroke them to relieve their nervousness. When combing, be gentle and careful to avoid injuring your pet.
2. Bathing. Actually, guinea pigs are very clean pets and will usually groom themselves to keep their bodies clean. However, there are limitations, so as a parent, you should still bathe guinea pigs regularly to remove dust and dirt from their bodies. After bathing, use a hairdryer to thoroughly dry their hair to prevent them from catching a cold or getting sick.
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