a nice breed of pig for a pet-my list of breeds

[dinahmoe]

does anyone have pet pigs?
i want to get a pig to complete my barnyard pets.i only want one but don't think i want a pot belly pig.i remember when i was a kid we had a huge red pig that we raised and he was a big puppy dog but he was for food.does anyone know of a breed that would work.i am thinking a neutered male.color and size doesn't matter and he/she will not be eaten.
thanks for any replies.

this is what i have on my list so far:
GOS-alot of good comments
poland china-?
chester white-?
orchard sandy and black-are these available?
saddleback-?
hereford-?
duroc-aggressive
hampshire-?
yorkshire-?
spots-is this different than the GOS
large white-?
berkshire-?
tamsworth-?
kune kune-$$$$ too high
i am not sure if all of these are even here in the US,just so little info on them other than carcass weights and such.
if anyone has had these before ,i would appreciate your input.
i do plan on getting a bottle baby and it will be spoiled.

 

[lasergrl]

For temperment you cant beat the Gloucestershire Old Spots. had one and was the sweetest pig. Yorks, hamps, durocs, all too aggressive for my taste.

 

[dinahmoe]

Quote:
thanks for the tip.i will go and look them up.i had the hampshires and the yorks on my list,i may need to do some more reading.

 

[bagendhens]

i have to agree with the GOS, they are awesome but they are BIG!

 

[dinahmoe]

i looked up the GOS and they are very cute.big in size is ok.i have plenty of room.around here i have only seen hamps,yorks so my next plan is to locate some pig breeders.i may have to wait till the fair comes back around to find one.
thanks guys.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

They will tear up any yard you have, so make sure you have a good pen. I've raised several, but only for food. I raised Hampshires.

 

[lasergrl]

The GOS are not big rooters. This is what I have read, and how mine was. The "commercial" breeds rooted ALOT, were very fiesty, liked to bite.
I have heard, that large blacks, and red wattles have excellent temperments. The GOS was like a completely different species the way she acted.

BTW a GOS will be ALOT smaller then the commercial breeds when fully grown. They take several years to reach full growth though.

 

[Livinzoo]

I breed GOS. They are sweet, not big rooters and top out about 500-600lbs. I sell registered stock. Sometimes there will be a runt that would be sold cheaper to a pet home.

 

[dinahmoe]

Quote:
my husband did ask about the rooting.
so would you get another GOS?
thanks for the info.

 

[dinahmoe]

Quote:
hey,you are in georgia.great.
do you have a website?i ahve only been able to find the one picture on the net.
i won't be getting one until the spring and i may need to look you up then,for that little runt.not interested in breeding.when i worked for the vet we actually spayed a 300lbs pot belly(pretty cool) but i am thinking a neutered male would work better for me.