Göttingen Minipig

History and Characteristics:

The Göttingen Minipig was bred in the 1960s by researchers in Minneapolis, Berlin, and Munich, with leading work carried out in companion animal genetics at the Georg August University of Göttingen. As one of the smallest known domestic pig breeds in the world, with a very high degree of anatomical, physiological, and metabolic similarity to humans, it is ideally suited for a wide range of research applications. The model has been thoroughly characterized through numerous projects; its mechanisms of action are well documented and scientifically recognized. Its early completion of growth compared to conventional domestic pigs and its compact size—adult minipigs weigh 45–55 kg—are particularly distinctive features.

They are also used as search boars or can be found in zoos. The Göttingen Minipig is derived from three ancestral breeds:

Minnesota Minipig

Vietnamese pot-bellied pig

German Landrace

Since that time, all pedigree data and performance traits of Göttingen minipigs born have been documented, archived, and genotyped using 50,000-SNP chips. The global population comprises approximately 1,200 breeding animals distributed across five countries (Germany, Denmark, the USA, Japan, and South Korea).

Marketing:

For the sale of minipigs, there is a cooperation with the company Ellegard, which organizes worldwide distribution. In the region of Lower Saxony, it is also possible to purchase animals bred in-house directly from the experimental farm.