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Maialino pigs

22 9:18:42

Question
I have been looking for a very small pig for a while now. My problem is i dont wanna spend alot of money on it. Are all royal dandies expensive? What is the difference between a royal dandie and a maialino pig? And Lastly, Are there any breeders in the United States near Kentucky or in the Eastern Region?

Answer
There is ZERO regulation on breeding pot-bellied or other miniature pigs. The few organizations, like NAPPA, dedicated to these pet pigs can enforce their rules for members, but have no control over independent or "back yard" breeders. Consequently, breeders with a knack for marketing often invent cute names for their own pigs. These pigs are not any particular breed or strain or species, they just happen to be the pigs owned and bred by that particular person.
The "Royal Dandies" have been around for awhile. I personally do not own one, but the people I know who do have one or two say they are exactly like ordinary pot-bellied pigs.
"Maialino" is the Italian word for roast suckling pig. A suckling pig is a baby farm hog, not a pot-bellied pig. UDSA rules and regulations forbid the use of pot-bellied pig meat in commercial pork products due to the poor eating quality.   I haven't seen anyone advertising miniature pigs with this name.
The best way to find a small pig inexpensively is to visit a rescue or sanctuary and adopt a small, full grown adult. All sorts of pigs end up in sanctuaries, including pigs with registration papers (several Blue Ribbon Champion pigs were adopted from a rescue as babies from a registered sow). A baby born at a rescue to small parents is just as likely to stay small as a baby born at a breeder to small parents.
A good resource for adopting pigs is www.pigplacementnetwork.com  The volunteers will work with you to find the pig that is perfect for you.