Mini pigs proving popular as pets
Like 2 Dislike 0 Published on 21 Jul 2015
UK MINI PIGS
SOURCE : AP TELEVISION
RESTRICTIONS : HORIZONS CLIENTS ONLY
LENGTH: 3:27
Devon, United Kingdom - recent
1. Pennywell Farm owner Chris Murray walks through farmyard into pig nursery
2. Various of baby Pennywell mini piglets in pen
3. Close of sow (mother of piglets) licking piglets, Chris Murray walks into shot and strokes pig
4. Close of piglets
5. Various of Chris Murray herding pigs into corner with a pig board, then picks up a piglet
6. Close of Murray holding a piglet
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Chris Murray, Pennywell farm owner
"To breed these Pennywell miniature pigs its taken eighteen generations, last nine years. We did it because we run a tourist attraction here and we found that pigs are really popular as an animal with visitors. But they all loved picking up the piglets and you couldn't do that safely with the commercial sows because they're quite, very protective as mothers. So what we wanted to do was breed an animal that was both friendly and also stayed small for a long time."
8. Close of Kune Kune pigs (pronounced Coony Coony)
9. Close of Pennywell piglet being stroked
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Murray Pennywell Farm owner
"The breed of pigs to get these colours and these sizes are old English breeds of pigs, a top cross of New Zealand breed, the Kune Kune then crossed out again into our Pennywell pig, and then started breeding down to the Pennywell miniature. And in doing that you get a lovely, sweet natured pig with wonderful colours."
11. Piglets with mother sow
12. Mid of Katie Mason calling pigs
13. Wide of pigs running across field
14. Close of pig running
15. Wide of Katie Mason opening gate for pigs
16. Various of pigs walking into house
17. Pigs walking around inside house
18. Close of pig looking at cat
19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Katie Mason, pig owner and Pennywell Farm activities leader
"Having pigs as pets is brilliant, very similar to having a dog in the house. The thing is with the pigs is because they are so intelligent they have this nasty habit of being able to work things out."
20. Various of pig in kitchen opening oven door with snout
LEAD IN:
A farmer in Devon, England, has spent nine years breeding what he believes to be the perfect pig pet.
The Pennywell Farm Miniature Pigs are a mix of traditional English and the New Zealand Kune Kune pigs.
The result is a good natured, small pig.
STORYLINE:
Ever wondered what it would be like to have a pig as a pet?
Well Chris Murray, an ex-pig farmer, is on a mission to prove that his miniature pigs are the ideal companions.
Murray owns and runs the Pennywell Childrens' Farm in Devon, England.
He has spent the last nine years cross breeding pigs in an effort to produce a breed of pig which is small and good natured.
He says pigs have always proved to be very popular with the visiting public, but it was crucial to produce a pig which was small and manageable as well as good natured.
Murray first though of breeding the pigs so that people could safely pick them up.
The pigs are a mix of traditional English pigs and most importantly the extremely good natured New Kune Kune breed (pronounced Coony Coony).
The result is a tiny miniature pig with a good temperament that can be handled safely.
It is also very important that the mother pigs are good natured so that they allow people near their piglets without becoming aggressive.
Chris Murray says there is a historical attachment to pigs, with many films, nursery rhymes and childrens' stories featuring pigs.
The farm prefers to sell the pigs in pairs, retailing from around �250.00 UK pound each ($500 US Dollars).
Katie Mason works at Pennywell Farm as an Activities Leader.
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