Roto with her 1st Litter
(Click photo to enlarge)
Little boy petting Kayla Clair at event
(Click photo to enlarge)
Nancy with Kayla Clair at event
(Click photo to enlarge)
Kayla Clair was SOME PIG! She was the most prolific, mellow, congenial, breeding pig I had in my 24 years of
raising and loving my beloved potbellied pigs!
Seven litters delivered between Sept. 2003 and March 2008 is— INCREDIBLE!
Total Pigs Farrowed by Kayla Clair … 65 Beautiful Pets or Breeding Stock, for an average of 9 pigs per litter
MY JOURNEY INTO PIG-DOME…
… started with my partner, Brian, in Climax Springs, MO. in the Missouri Ozark in 1977.
While getting to know our new neighbors, I visited a fellow who raised commercial hogs. He had a newborn
litter, and one little girl piglet was not doing well — either not enough teats to feed them all, or he considered
the “failing to thrive” piglet a lost cause. This pig’s life depended on me. I saved this piglet from….yes…being
knocked in the head! (This was a common practice among commercial hog farmers back then and still may be.)
I named her Roto Rooter and was successful in nurturing and tending to her needs to survive. The idea was to
have her butchered for meat; but that was not her destiny. I decided to get her in shape for breeding with many
walks to the river and a less generous amount of feed.
To make a L O N G story shorter, a neighbor brought a handsome Hampshire boar over for a romantic interlude
with Roto. Well, 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days later, she presented us with 11 perfectly healthy, gorgeous,
rambunctious piglets. They were evenly sized with white collars and slick, shiny black bodies.
Fast forward to 1981………We moved to a beautiful piece of property in Rocheport, MO, a small river town near
Columbia, MO. It was gorgeous and very big, and beyond what we could afford. But somehow, we made it work.
The story of moving in itself is quite an essay. I prefer to leap forward to my Potbellied Pig Life.
---------------------------------
In 1989 PIG O’MY HEART POTBELLIES was established!
I had many new adventures and experiences with this up-and-coming breeder pig, Kayla Clair. She was such a
great little ambassador. We made visits to many establishments with the mission of bringing delight and a change
from the normal routine folks in nursing and retirement homes experience.
Other opportunities to share my wonderful pigs were by attending grade schools and bible schools where Kayla
let each child pet her. When showing off her tricks and a treat reward was offered, utter joy spilled out of the kids!
Their delight and appreciation were very apparent. Other venues my pigs visited were fund raisers for nonprofit
organizations; a special attraction that a business owner gave to employees, and even a local TV interview.
Kayla and I were featured at our local pet exposition. She was quite the hit; not only with the people in
attendance, but also with the many cats, dogs, turtles, and various other pets being shared. We even won a prize,
second only to first-place winner, Charlie the Lizard. Beat out by a lizard — I just don’t get it!
In the house - KC’s litter of Piglets napping, pre-weaning in the “Piggy Parlor”. Here is
where they are socialized and prepared for adoption.
(Click photo to enlarge)
Piglets on a pig pillow, napping by Nancy’s desk in Piggy Parlor while she works on
computer. So Sweet! Such content, gorgeous piglets!
(Click photo to enlarge)Breeder pigs were all Registered, Microchipped, from a Brucellosis-Free herd and a Qualified
Pseudorabies-Negative herd, socialized and trained.
Pet piglets were provided with all vaccinations required, neutered, microchipped, socialized and not placed
before 8 weeks of age; with the guarantee to assist new owners with any help they need as stated in
Adoption Contract:
“This pig(s) is up-to-date on all vaccinations and deworming and comes from a Missouri Validated Brucellosis-
Free herd and a Qualified Pseudorabies-Negative herd. Seller guarantees the genetic health of the pig(s) for
one year. If within 12 months of purchase the pig(s) dies from, or is diagnosed with, a genetic disease by a
licensed veterinarian; the Seller will replace the pig(s) at no charge other than shipping, handling and other
services originally not purchased with the pig(s).
---------------------------------
To readers: Thank you for allowing me this wonderful walk down memory lane! I was so immersed in all the
potbellied pig opportunities afforded me between 1989 and 2013. At the founding meeting of NAPPA, Secretary
of NAPPA & author/administrator of Breeder Code of Ethics, Presenter and panelist at seminars all over the
country; Publisher of NAPPA News; Pigs to potbellied pig shows (USA); Sharing pigs at local events and
publishing my guidebook, Potbellied Pig Parenting.
And the end result of all these years is making lasting friendships with other like-minded, energetic movers and
shakers; those who continue to educate ALL about proper care, needs, and the humane rights of this beloved
creature.
Most Sincerely,
Nancy Shepherd
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT KAYLA CLAIR’S LAST DAY
Roto with her 1st Litter
(Click photo to enlarge)
Little boy petting Kayla Clair at event
(Click photo to enlarge)
Nancy with Kayla Clair at event
(Click photo to enlarge)
Kayla Clair was SOME PIG! She was the most prolific,
mellow, congenial, breeding pig I had in my 24 years of
raising and loving my beloved potbellied pigs!
Seven litters delivered between Sept. 2003 and March
2008 is— INCREDIBLE!
Total Pigs Farrowed by Kayla Clair … 65 Beautiful Pets or
Breeding Stock, for an average of 9 pigs per litter
MY JOURNEY INTO PIG-DOME…
… started with my partner, Brian, in Climax Springs, MO.
in the Missouri Ozark in 1977.
While getting to know our new neighbors, I visited a
fellow who raised commercial hogs. He had a newborn
litter, and one little girl piglet was not doing well —
either not enough teats to feed them all, or he
considered the “failing to thrive” piglet a lost cause. This
pig’s life depended on me. I saved this piglet
from….yes…being knocked in the head! (This was a
common practice among commercial hog farmers back
then and still may be.)
I named her Roto Rooter and was successful in nurturing
and tending to her needs to survive. The idea was to have
her butchered for meat; but that was not her destiny. I
decided to get her in shape for breeding with many walks
to the river and a less generous amount of feed.
To make a L O N G story shorter, a neighbor brought a
handsome Hampshire boar over for a romantic interlude
with Roto. Well, 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days later, she
presented us with 11 perfectly healthy, gorgeous,
rambunctious piglets. They were evenly sized with white
collars and slick, shiny black bodies.
Fast forward to 1981………We moved to a beautiful piece
of property in Rocheport, MO, a small river town near
Columbia, MO. It was gorgeous and very big, and beyond
what we could afford. But somehow, we made it work. The
story of moving in itself is quite an essay. I prefer to leap
forward to my Potbellied Pig Life.
---------------------------------
In 1989 PIG O’MY HEART POTBELLIES was
established!
I had many new adventures and experiences with this up-
and-coming breeder pig, Kayla Clair. She was such a great
little ambassador. We made visits to many establishments
with the mission of bringing delight and a change from the
normal routine folks in nursing and retirement homes
experience.
Other opportunities to share my wonderful pigs were by
attending grade schools and bible schools where Kayla let
each child pet her. When showing off her tricks and a treat
reward was offered, utter joy spilled out of the kids! Their
delight and appreciation were very apparent. Other venues
my pigs visited were fund raisers for nonprofit
organizations; a special attraction that a business owner
gave to employees, and even a local TV interview.
Kayla and I were featured at our local pet exposition. She
was quite the hit; not only with the people in attendance,
but also with the many cats, dogs, turtles, and various
other pets being shared. We even won a prize, second only
to first-place winner, Charlie the Lizard. Beat out by a lizard
— I just don’t get it!
In the house - KC’s litter of Piglets napping, pre-weaning in the “Piggy
Parlor”. Here is where they are socialized and prepared for adoption.
(Click photo to enlarge)
Piglets on a pig pillow, napping by Nancy’s desk in Piggy Parlor while she
works on computer. So Sweet! Such content, gorgeous piglets!
(Click photo to enlarge)Breeder pigs were all Registered, Microchipped, from a
Brucellosis-Free herd and a Qualified Pseudorabies-
Negative herd, socialized and trained.
Pet piglets were provided with all vaccinations required,
neutered, microchipped, socialized and not placed before 8
weeks of age; with the guarantee to assist new owners
with any help they need as stated in Adoption Contract:
“This pig(s) is up-to-date on all vaccinations and deworming
and comes from a Missouri Validated Brucellosis-Free herd
and a Qualified Pseudorabies-Negative herd. Seller
guarantees the genetic health of the pig(s) for one year. If
within 12 months of purchase the pig(s) dies from, or is
diagnosed with, a genetic disease by a licensed veterinarian;
the Seller will replace the pig(s) at no charge other than
shipping, handling and other services originally not purchased
with the pig(s).
---------------------------------
To readers: Thank you for allowing me this wonderful walk
down memory lane! I was so immersed in all the potbellied
pig opportunities afforded me between 1989 and 2013. At the
founding meeting of NAPPA, Secretary of NAPPA &
author/administrator of Breeder Code of Ethics, Presenter and
panelist at seminars all over the country; Publisher of NAPPA
News; Pigs to potbellied pig shows (USA); Sharing pigs at
local events and publishing my guidebook, Potbellied Pig
Parenting.
And the end result of all these years is making lasting
friendships with other like-minded, energetic movers and
shakers; those who continue to educate ALL about proper
care, needs, and the humane rights of this beloved creature.
Most Sincerely,
Nancy Shepherd
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT KAYLA CLAIR’S LAST DAY
In the house - KC’s litter of Piglets napping, pre-
weaning in the “Piggy Parlor”. Here is where they
are socialized and prepared for adoption.
(Click photo to enlarge)
Piglets on a pig pillow, napping by Nancy’s desk
in Piggy Parlor while she works on computer. So
Sweet! Such content, gorgeous piglets!
(Click photo to enlarge)Breeder pigs were all Registered,
Microchipped, from a Brucellosis-Free
herd and a Qualified Pseudorabies-
Negative herd, socialized and trained.
Pet piglets were provided with all
vaccinations required, neutered,
microchipped, socialized and not placed
before 8 weeks of age; with the
guarantee to assist new owners with any
help they need as stated in Adoption
Contract:
“This pig(s) is up-to-date on all
vaccinations and deworming and comes
from a Missouri Validated Brucellosis-Free
herd and a Qualified Pseudorabies-
Negative herd. Seller guarantees the
genetic health of the pig(s) for one year. If
within 12 months of purchase the pig(s)
dies from, or is diagnosed with, a genetic
disease by a licensed veterinarian; the
Seller will replace the pig(s) at no charge
other than shipping, handling and other
services originally not purchased with the
pig(s).
---------------------------------
To readers: Thank you for allowing me this
wonderful walk down memory lane! I was
so immersed in all the potbellied pig
opportunities afforded me between 1989
and 2013. At the founding meeting of
NAPPA, Secretary of NAPPA &
author/administrator of Breeder Code of
Ethics, Presenter and panelist at seminars
all over the country; Publisher of NAPPA
News; Pigs to potbellied pig shows (USA);
Sharing pigs at local events and publishing
my guidebook, Potbellied Pig Parenting.
And the end result of all these years is
making lasting friendships with other like-
minded, energetic movers and shakers;
those who continue to educate ALL about
proper care, needs, and the humane rights
of this beloved creature.
Most Sincerely,
Nancy Shepherd
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT KAYLA
CLAIR’S LAST DAY
MY JOURNEY INTO PIG-DOME…
… started with my partner, Brian, in
Climax Springs, MO. in the Missouri Ozark
in 1977.
While getting to know our new neighbors,
I visited a fellow who raised commercial
hogs. He had a newborn litter, and one
little girl piglet was not doing well —
either not enough teats to feed them all,
or he considered the “failing to thrive”
piglet a lost cause. This pig’s life
depended on me. I saved this piglet
from….yes…being knocked in the head!
(This was a common practice among
commercial hog farmers back then and
still may be.)
I named her Roto Rooter and was
successful in nurturing and tending to her
needs to survive. The idea was to have
her butchered for meat; but that was not
her destiny. I decided to get her in shape
for breeding with many walks to the river
and a less generous amount of feed.
To make a L O N G story shorter, a
neighbor brought a handsome Hampshire
boar over for a romantic interlude with
Roto. Well, 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days
later, she presented us with 11 perfectly
healthy, gorgeous, rambunctious piglets.
They were evenly sized with white collars
and slick, shiny black bodies.
Roto with her 1st Litter
(Click photo to enlarge)
Fast forward to 1981………We moved to a
beautiful piece of property in Rocheport,
MO, a small river town near Columbia,
MO. It was gorgeous and very big, and
beyond what we could afford. But
somehow, we made it work. The story of
moving in itself is quite an essay. I prefer
to leap forward to my Potbellied Pig Life.
---------------------------------
In 1989 PIG O’MY HEART
POTBELLIES was established!
I had many new adventures and
experiences with this up-and-coming
breeder pig, Kayla Clair. She was such a
great little ambassador. We made visits to
many establishments with the mission of
bringing delight and a change from the
normal routine folks in nursing and
retirement homes experience.
Other opportunities to share my
wonderful pigs were by attending grade
schools and bible schools where Kayla let
each child pet her. When showing off her
tricks and a treat reward was offered,
utter joy spilled out of the kids! Their
delight and appreciation were very
apparent. Other venues my pigs visited
were fund raisers for nonprofit
organizations; a special attraction that a
business owner gave to employees, and
even a local TV interview.
Kayla and I were featured at our local pet
exposition. She was quite the hit; not
only with the people in attendance, but
also with the many cats, dogs, turtles, and
various other pets being shared. We even
won a prize, second only to first-place
winner, Charlie the Lizard. Beat out by a
lizard — I just don’t get it!
