Patterns On Piggies, Curious - Stripes, Patches Etc!

[Kallasia]

Hi All,

So, I've seen many pictures of adorable piggies with all manner of patterns (or lack thereof) and many different styles of coat. But it occurred to me that I've never seen a spotty pig, like a dalmation...

Do spotty pigs exist? Or is it all stripes and patches?

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Yes spotty pigs do exist and are also called dalmation, tho their spots are not as clearly defined as in the dog variety. They are not very common tho and can not be bred together as 1 in 4 of their young will be "lethals", which are pigs born with microphthlamia genes. These pigs often die within a couple of days of birth or need specialist care for life, such as provided at TEAS. @furryfriends (TEAS)

 

[Kallasia]

Yes spotty pigs do exist and are also called dalmation, tho their spots are not as clearly defined as in the dog variety. They are not very common tho and can not be bred together as 1 in 4 of their young will be "lethals", which are pigs born with microphthlamia genes. These pigs often die within a couple of days of birth or need specialist care for life, such as provided at TEAS. @furryfriends (TEAS)

Thank you for this information. Do you know what it is about spots that makes them have health problems? Is it like pugs?

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

The spots are not the problem, dalmation pigs are just as healthy as any other. Dalmation pigs have a dominant spotting gene and a recessive non spotting gene, if 2 are bred togther 50% of the offspring will have this same combination, 25% will have two recessive genes (and no spots) and the other 25% will have two dominant spotting genes but for some reason (one of those freaks of nature) when this happens a whole bunch of mutations occur. The piggies are always white, blind, have maloccluded teeth and a lot of other health problems, many not surviving their first day of life

 

[Kallasia]

The spots are not the problem, dalmation pigs are just as healthy as any other. Dalmation pigs have a dominant spotting gene and a recessive non spotting gene, if 2 are bred togther 50% of the offspring will have this same combination, 25% will have two recessive genes (and no spots) and the other 25% will have two dominant spotting genes but for some reason (one of those freaks of nature) when this happens a whole bunch of mutations occur. The piggies are always white, blind, have maloccluded teeth and a lot of other health problems, many not surviving their first day of life

That's awful. And most peculiar. Thank you for sharing this information with me

 

[flowerfairy]

Same thing in hamsters I believe.

 

[Freela]

Yes, spotted pigs do exist... called dalmations, like the dogs. They are white with black spots. I've also seen the odd pig with spots of color other than black (white with brown spots or white with red spots are the two I've seen.) As pointed out above, they do carry the lethal gene, but I don't think that's why they are uncommon, as roans also carry the lethal gene and there are lots and lots of roans out there. As pointed out above, roan and dalmation pigs, with one normal gene copy and one lethal gene, are perfectly healthy, as the normal gene compensates. The only problem comes up when a pig inherits two copies of the lethal gene, which can occur when two roans or two dalmations have babies together. Other animals have a lethal gene linked to coat color as well- I know it's present in some dog breeds, linked to the merle coate color, and I believe it is present in horses as well.

 

[Freela]

Cavy Genetics 101
Just for fun, this link talks about cavy coat genetics. It does discuss roan and dalmation coats down at the bottom. I don't advocate breeding at all, but find genetic inheritance fascinating and have enjoyed trying to figure out what my pigs genetic code must say based on what they look like!

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Cavy Genetics 101
Just for fun, this link talks about cavy coat genetics. It does discuss roan and dalmation coats down at the bottom. I don't advocate breeding at all, but find genetic inheritance fascinating and have enjoyed trying to figure out what my pigs genetic code must say based on what they look like

I too don't advocate breeding but am totally fascinated by the genetics behind all the colours and combinations

 

[Kallasia]

It is fascinating. I suppose like we have with dogs, we've caused all these different varieties and all these potential problems by breeding what we want to see.
(using we in the collective sense meaning humans, not we on this thread)