The cutest bacon you'll ever see

I saw this article from the BBC this morning, and these pigs are just too cute.

Quote:

Mini pigs are big success on farm

The pigs, which are about a fifth of the size of ordinary pigs, have been a hit with visitors at Pennywell Farm.

TV celebrity Jonathan Ross bought two of the pint-sized porkers as pets at £150 each and there have even been offers from as far away as Australia.

The pocket pigs are a variant of the rare kune kune breed, which is native to New Zealand.

Chris Murray, co-owner of the farm near Buckfastleigh, began cross-breeding the pigs nine years ago and believes he has the perfect pet pig.

He said: "Pigs are very cute when they are young, but they outgrow a home environment and can be aggressive when they get older. These pigs are just at home indoors or outdoors."

Some pet pigs, such as the Vietnamese pot-bellied variety, have in the past been bought for their cuteness. But they fell out of fashion when it became clear how big they grow.

There are no big surprises in store for anyone who falls for the Pennywell miniatures. An average adult pig weighs about 500kg (1,102lb), but the mini pigs weigh only 70kg (154lb).

The world's smallest pig is thought to be the 28in-long wild pygmy hog, an endangered species which lives in wildlife sanctuaries in Assam, India.

Mr Murray said: "They are easy to house train and have a good temperament. A sow would normally snap at you if you picked up one of her litter, but these are amazingly content."

Mr Murray doubts if they will be appearing on restaurant menus. "They are too small," he said. "It would be uneconomic so it's unlikely they will be used for meat and there is already a huge amount of different pig meat available."

Think mini pigs could catch on in the States?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I've wanted a pig since Hey Arnold! came on the air. It seems like these pigs would actually be about the size of Abner.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I'm simply not seeing the "cute" here. Also, despite being "mini" they apparently still grow to weigh 150 pounds. That's like a st. bernard. St. bernards are freaking huge.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

150 pounds doesn't seem too terribly big, but we've always had large breeds of dogs as pets (several German Shepherds, a Bullmastiff, etc.) so my perception of "big" in animals is sort of skewed. I could see this catching on in the States down the road, especially if someone famous brought them out in the open. Like, if Paris Hilton decided to start carrying around one of these guys I think sales would go through the roof here in the U.S. (it's sad but true).

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Adara

Like, if Paris Hilton decided to start carrying around one of these guys I think sales would go through the roof here in the U.S. (it's sad but true).

The pig would be heavier than Paris, so that's not going to happen, unless she rides it around.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Sorry, I have a deep-seeded hatred of swine. I refuse to see the disgusting things as anything but a menace to crops, much less cute But they taste quite nice, I must say. Anyhow, they look to *bizarre* to be cute.

Stick with kittens and puppies, please~

And yeah, if Paris Hilton tried carrying even a little piglet under her arm, she'd snap in half =V

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

They maybe small and cute looking (at least while they're still newborns) and are allegedly well tempered and easy to house train. But has anything been said of their manners outside of the house? Because I wouldn't want to have to clean the little guy everyday because it goes out and rolls in the mud all the time. (Stereotypical pig behavior, perhaps false, but I'm just going to make the assumption here)

FELIPE NO

AW CUUUUTE!

My older sister loves pigs, so she would probably buy something like that, but I wouldnt. Whether they're big or small, I'm sure that pigs would smell bad. They'd probably shed less than a cat or dog, but that wont them any less smelly.

How ya doing, buddy?

Just don't get their hair wet.



Jam it back in, in the dark.

Oh, and be careful not to let them in graveyards.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

They're still pig ugly.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by nuttyturnip

The pig would be heavier than Paris, so that's not going to happen, unless she rides it around.

We all know she likes riding....

But more seriously, yes, it probably could. It actually sounds intriguing if theyd stay under 100pounds, but as is, it might become a celebrity "cool thing".

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I really should buy one. The irony would far outweigh the price of caring for it.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I wonder how long it takes them to grow full size and if you can do anything to keep them healthy and their weight down to a reasonable level.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by nuttyturnip

So did they find out how much sausage meat they can get outta it?

FELIPE NO

Can you import these to the US? The cost of shipping must be a bitch. $300 for some pig? Hmmm.

They are awfully cute though. It'll be an interesting and unique pet.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Well, if we starting breeding these like dogs, I wouldn't rule out actually having truly "mini" pigs some where down the line. >.>;

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Trigunnerz

some pig

Awww.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

The picture of them in the pumpkin is pretty cute! It still wouldn't stop me from turning them into a piggy pumpkin pie, muwahahaha.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

They are sooooo cute!!!!! I couldn't eat something as cute as that, which is easy for me because I don't like bacon

Most amazing jew boots

Well, now I'm going to feel terrible the next time I'm at Denny's.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I always, ALWAYS feel guilty looking at pictures of the animals I eat. Good thing I don't eat too much pork.

How ya doing, buddy?

They're cute when they're squinting their eyes like the one on the scale, and are all bunched closed together. If it made a really cute oinking sound as well, I think my heart would melt.

However, I still can't shake the slovenly image or normal pigs. I think these pigs would be happiest rolling around in mud and frolicking around. Far too much cleanup involved there.

FELIPE NO

Just in case anyone sees one of those pigs and gets hungry.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?