Göttingen minipig
Breed of swine / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Göttingen minipig (also known as the Göttinger or "Goettingen" minipig) is a breed of miniature pig. The Göttingen minipig is the smallest domestic pig breed known in the world; as an adult, they weigh around 35 kg (77 lb).[1] Beside being known for their exceptionally small size, the Göttingen minipigs are known for their docile nature and very clean and well-characterized health status. Raising of this breed began in the late 1960s at the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics (Institut für Tierzucht und Haustiergenetik) at the University of Göttingen, Germany, by crossbreeding the Minnesota mini-pig, the Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig, and the German Landrace pig.[2] Göttingen minipigs are highly favored as pets,[3] however, the breed was specifically developed for biomedical research. Today, they are extensively bred at four separate locations globally.[4]