Said to be the smallest breed of pig, the Juliana pig is often referred to as the miniature painted pig because of its small size and its markings. The Juliana was bred to be small, by selectively breeding other small breeds and small pigs. It is not formally recognized as a breed but tends to be considered a good pet because of its gentle and affectionate nature.
Prospective owners should be aware that because the Juliana’s size comes from selective breeding, there is no guarantee that a small Juliana piglet will retain its tiny stature when it matures. You could end up with a much larger boar or sow than you expected.
Read on for more information on the fascinating Juliana pig.
Quick Facts About Juliana Mini Pigs
Breed Name:
Sus scrofa domesticus
Common Name:
Juliana
Place of Origin:
Europe
Uses:
Pet
Boar (Male) Size:
20–60 pounds
Sow (Female) Size:
20–60 pounds
Color:
Silver, black, cream, red, or white body
Lifespan:
10–15 years
Climate Tolerance:
50°–80°F is ideal
Care Level:
Moderate to high
Juliana Pig Origins
Juliana pigs are not recognized as a true breed, which means that their origins are not truly known. However, it is widely accepted that these painted miniature pigs were first bred in Europe. They were bred to accompany owners, as pets, on farms, and were created by selectively combining other small pig breeds. Their tiny size means that they are rarely farmed because they would produce minimal meat.
However, their meat is said to taste like any other pork, and their small size means that they would be easy to farm.
Image Credit: We1003mike, Shutterstock
Juliana Pig Characteristics
Appearance
The Juliana pig usually weighs between 20 and 40 pounds. They are referred to as painted because they have spots or markings that appear painted and are a different color to their coat. Common colorings include black spots on a white coat, but there are many variants. They are closer in build and appearance to a wild pig than a pot-bellied pig.
Size
There really is no guarantee that a small piglet will become a small pig. While most Juliana pigs top out at 40 pounds and cannot be considered a Juliana if it weighs more than 65 pounds, any individual pig can grow much bigger than this.
Image Credit: Joe Herlong, Shutterstock
Are Juliana Good for Small-Scale Farming?
Juliana pigs are bred as pets and are not kept as livestock. Although their small size means that they could be kept in a yard or small field, they need regular human interaction, and they would only yield a small amount of produce.
Do Juliana Pigs Make Good Pets?
This type of pig has been bred specifically as a companion pet. As such, they have been bred to be sociable and friendly. Like all pigs, they are very clean animals that can be house trained and that will get along with people unless they are threatened or endangered. They do require a lot of attention, however, and they do have moderate care requirements, including hood management and regular feeding needs. If buying a Juliana piglet, bear in mind that there is no guarantee it will remain a small pig and you could end up with a full-size pig.
Image Credit: Joe Herlong, Shutterstock
Are They Trainable?
Miniature pigs, including the Juliana, are said to be as trainable as dogs. Some owners attest to the fact that they are more intelligent and can learn more commands than the average canine. They respond to positive body language and praise and are especially susceptible to food-based training using high reward food-based treats.
Can Juliana Pigs Be House Trained?
Juliana pigs can be trained to go to the toilet outside, inside, or a combination of the two. This is achieved using the same positive training techniques as mentioned above.
Do They Make a Mess?
Like all miniature pigs, Julianas are considered very clean animals, although they have a reputation for being dirty because they enjoy wallowing in mud. They do this because pigs cannot sweat, and they use the mud to cool down. Once potty trained, the Juliana can get upset if it makes a mess indoors.
It is important to remember that a mini pig is a pet and, much like some breeds of dog or cat, they require human attention and regular care. This type of pig should not be left alone for longer than four hours, so if you regularly go out to work all day long, you should reconsider getting a mini pig as a pet.
Do Mini Pigs Like to Cuddle?
One of the reasons that mini pigs, like the Juliana, have become such popular pets, is because they enjoy cuddling and they enjoy receiving love and attention. Owners often provide their Julianas with blankets and cuddly toys for their pigs to love.
Image Credit: Joe Herlong, Shutterstock
Do Pigs Get Attached to Humans?
Pigs are very sociable animals and when kept as pets, they will form a close bond with their humans. They like to be stroked and petted and especially enjoy being massaged. They can get upset and suffer separation anxiety if left alone for long periods.
Diet
Mini pigs love to eat and are omnivores. They will naturally forage for insects, and you can feed them insects yourself. They also like vegetables and fruit. You can feed leafy greens in moderation. Most owners offer a diet that consists of around 50% commercial pig pellets, with the remainder made up of fruit, vegetables, and occasional treats. You should expect to feed approximately 2% of the pig’s body weight, each day.
Care
Ensure your home is pig proofed before bringing a mini pig home. As well as hiding chemicals and other potential toxins, you will need to find a secure place for trash cans, and you may want to avoid keeping food in low cupboards because these are intelligent animals that can quickly master the door to a reliable food source.
Provide regular playtime, ideally every day. Pigs will play with dog toys and if you don’t provide toys yourself, your Juliana could pick up anything it deems to be fun.
Provide a corner of a room that will belong to your pig. Put a blanket in a dog bed, invest in a litter pan, and use large dog bowls for food and water. If you keep your pig indoors, it will need regular time outdoors to get adequate vitamin D. They also appreciate time foraging and just digging around in dirt and grass.
Although it should be done only when necessary, you can bathe your pig if it gets smelly. Try to find a floating toy or two to keep them busy, because few pigs enjoy bath time.
Hooves need trimming every year and this can be done by the vet or you can learn to do it yourself.
The Juliana pig is not a recognized breed of pig but is a type of mini pig that weighs around 40 pounds and is kept as a pet because of its cute appearance, loving nature, and modest care level. Although small, the Juliana does require regular contact with humans and you will need to ensure that its food and water requirements are met, but if you can do so, and you are at home enough to provide the social interaction a pig like this requires, the Juliana pig can make an enjoyable domestic pet.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe....Read more
