If you choose to breed one of the Kune Kunes that you purchase from us then you may decide to register your piglets, just as we do.
 
We register with the AKPR (American Kune Kune Pig Registry)
We personally choose to register to prove that our piglets are purebred quality Kune Kune's, to document their pedigree lineage, and to ensure you are receiving the highest quality piglet. If you choose to register you will undoubtedly have questions on how. You generally will want to only register piglets that are considered breed-able stock and are within breed standards. For helpful information on desired breed standard check out this link: http://www.americankunekunepigsociety.com/breedstandard
Piglets considered not in standard still will usually make wonderful pets or can be added to meat programs, if they aren't registration quality. 
 
I am always glad to help you throughout the process, but the information on this page can be used as a wonderful reference for any time or to share with other future breeders.
 
The steps outlined in this article are for registering with AKPR.
Note: If your stock is not registered with the AKPR, but AKKPS instead, no need to fret, you can still register your offspring with the AKKPS. You can also dual register. Feel free to message me with questions.
 
Step 1: Ensure the Dam and Sire (aka mom and dad) are both registered with the AKPR. When you purchased your pig you should have received Registration paperwork from the breeder with their AKB or AKPR numbers listed.
 
Step 2: If you have not already done so, join the AKPR and set up your farm Pre-Fix.
Your Pre-Fix is a unique identifier to your farm used for registering upcoming litters.
Ours for example is MCGFM for McGuire Family Farm.
 
To Join the AKPR click here: https://www.americankunekunepigregistry.com/join-
Membership is $40 paid annually. Registration renews each January. So if you join in June you pay $40 to cover the remainder of the year, then $40 will be charged in January to cover that full year.
When you join you will be asked for your farm name and will be asked for your preference for Farm Pre-Fix. If none are available, Tammy with AKPR will email you with available choices.
 
Step 3: Create a Litter Notification. Once you’ve joined the AKPR, this will be step 1 going forward each time you have a litter. First thing you will do is create a litter notification.
 
Prior to creating a litter notification take a close inspection of your pigs. Take photos if possible. Note the coloration. The number of wattles (if one wattle on each side, they are double wattled, so they have 2 wattles). Note the sex of each individual piglet.
 
Go to https://www.americankunekunepigregistry.com/ then click FORMS at the top of the page, then click LITTER NOTIFICATION.
Fill out all required fields. Here is where that farm pre-fix you initially set up comes in handy.
·        Fill out the sex of each piglet, usually starting with males.
·        Select the total number of wattles for each piglet
·        Select if the piglet was born dead or alive
·        Select the coloration of the piglet. If you are unsure of color, a helpful source is http://www.americankunekunepigsociety.com/page-1861804.
 
After filling out the litter notification, in a week or less you should receive an email from Tammy with AKPR advising you of the AKPR numbers assigned to each piglet.
Save these AKPR numbers. I recommend keeping a list with the AKPR numbers and piglet information for reference.
 
Step 4: DNA Registration
DNA registration involves gathering hair follicles from each piglet and sending to UC Davis, a lab in California so they can verify your Kune Kune piglet and pedigree.
 
1.     Register with UC Davis https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/
·        Click Login to My Account on the left side of the page
·        In the center of the page, look for New Customer?
·        Click Create Account
·        Write down your username and password for next time
 
2.     Order Tests (Instructions and paperwork needed to submit follicles will be available at end of ordering process)
·        Go to https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/
·        At the top of the page, click ORDER TESTS
·        Select PIGS at the top of the page
·        Check American Kune Kune Pig Registry (AKB) for Primary Registry. (This automatically applies the discounted rate of $29 per test)
·        For the Breed drop down, select Kune Kune
·        Enter the name you will be assigning each individual piglet. There is no set rule for this. Personally I use our farm pre-fix MCGFM then the bloodline of the piglet. For example, I may name the piglet MCGM Tapeka 3 or MCGFM Tapkea 4 and so forth.
·        For Registration Number, enter the unique AKPR number that was assigned to your piglet during Litter Notification
·        Enter the sex of the piglet
·        Enter the color of the pig (same used at Litter Notification)
·        If you already have a microchip you will be using for the pig, enter that number. This field is optional, if you are tagging, tattooing or don’t know the microchip number yet you can leave it blank.
·        Pictures are usually optional unless you have certain rarer coloration that may require photo proof such as High White or ILF Blended Belly Band. Personally, I upload a photo for each piglet for reference.
You will be prompted on payment methods after the above information is submitted. Once paid for, you will be able to print instructions on how to submit the samples.
3.     Gather and submit hair samples.
To do this you will need to prepare a few items first:
·        Sturdy tweezers or pliers
·        Individual plastic bags for each (I use plastic sandwhich bags)
·        A regular legal sized envelope
·        A Stapler to attach everything together
·        A sharpie to write the pig name on each bag
·        Regular Postage (I use 2 stamps just in case)
 
First, I recommend giving the piglet a bath and allowing the piglet to completely dry
before getting a sample.
Gathering follicle samples works best with 2 people. One to hold the pig and the
other to tweeze.
 
How to gather hair samples:
1.     I tweeze hairs near the rump, above the tail. Pull the hairs so that you are getting the bulb of the hair. Don't worry, this isn't real painful for the pig, more of an irritant to them.
2.     Tweeze 3-4 good pulls until you have about 30 or so clearly visible hairs.
Don't touch the hairs with your hands, just put them straight from tweezer into the baggie.
3.     Press and seal the baggie, write the pig's name that you will be registering the pig as.
(ie, MCGFM Tapeka 3)
4.     Repeat the above process for each pig until you have a baggie for each.
 
Take all baggies and staple to the bottom of the form where indicated that you printed from the VGL site or the one they emailed you.
There should be 3 pieces of paper you printed. One is the form that goes to UC Davis. The second is the proof of payment that goes to UC Davis, the third is proof of payment that you keep for your records.
As indicated, the form and proof of payment, you need to include in the envelope. The forms will state if they need to be included in the envelope.
I staple the baggies at the bottom of the main form as indicated on the form.
Fold the form with attached baggies neatly into a regular legal size envelope.
Address to the address specified on your form. Ensure you have a good return address just in case.
Allow 7-14 days for results to be emailed to you.
Once you receive results, if all is good, you will receive NCS DNA Case numbers for each piglet.
 
Now that you have your AKPR number from the Litter Notification, and you have your NCS number from the DNA verification, you can finally complete registration of your piglets!
 
Step 5: Prior to registration you do need to decide what method of identification you plan on using.
There are 3 acceptable methods:
1.     Ear Tagging
2.     Microchipping
3.     Tattooing
We personally use the Microchip method. You can also choose to both Microchip and Ear Tag. To cross state lines, some states may require Ear Tags. Personally I don’t like the look of them and I generally sell locally.
 
If choosing microchips, we purchase these: https://www.microchipidsystems.com/product/usa-840-official-microchip/
For needle size, I select "Mini Needle with Mini Chip". Choose the volume you need, usually I purchase in packets of 5, you can purchase larger volume. I don't add the reader, then I checkout.
 
If you choose to tag you can purchase USDA approved ear tags here: https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=1ed4fa8c-774f-44d1-94d4-1a399599849a
 
Step 6: Register with AKPR
 
1.     Go to https://www.americankunekunepigregistry.com/
2.     Click FORMS at the top, then REGISTRATION.
3.     Fill out all forms.
·        Sire Herdbook number is the AKPR number for the sire. (Will be on your AKPR Registration Paperwork when you purchased your Sire)
·        Dam is the AKPR number for the dam. (Will be on your AKPR Registration Paperwork when you purchased your Dam)
·        Herdbook number is the one for your piglet, the AKPR number you received at litter notification.
·        The DNA case number is the NCS number you received from UC Davis.
·        Form of identification will depend on if you microchipped, tagged or tattooed.
·        Given Name (AKA) will depend on if you want the pig to have a secondary name. For example, maybe you like to call your pig Olivia. But for the official name you went with the Farm Pre-fix/Bloodline Method (MCGFM Tapeka 3). You can put Olivia for the Given Name so that you can still reference your pig as Olivia on paper when needed.
·        For "Registering to" enter your information until the potential buyer has paid for the pig in full.

Transfer is free and takes just a couple of days to complete on average. To Transfer, just go to the AKPR home page, select FORMS then TRANSFER and fill out the new buyers information. They will be emailed the pedigree showing they are now the owners at the bottom.
 
Congratulations! Your Kune Kune's are now registered!
You can be proud you are working towards providing quality stock to your customers.
The next time you should be able to register faster now that you have everything set up.
If you keep good paperwork and notes, including pedigrees for your piglets and breeding sires and dams then registration should be a breeze next time.
 
Good luck in your future Kune Kune litters!