What breed? Breeds/Varieties

[MizzyMiz]

So I've seen a few threads lately about breeds of piggies and saw that some people don't know a whole lot about them. Every year over the summer I get together with this study group and be study rabbit and cavy facts, then near the end of summer we go to a competition at a local college and compete against other teams in a trivia like game. A lot of the questions are based around breeds and varieties... so over the years I've picked up A LOT and have had to memorize all the breeds and varieties.

So I thought I'd share a bit in case anyone was interested or wanted to learn more. Or if you have picture of your pigs I'd be happy to tell you what they are

Anyway, this is only whats generally accepted in America... so sorry.. but I don't know anything about UK breeds :?:

The 13 breeds are pretty well know: American, American Satin, Abyssinian, Abyssinian Satin, Teddy, Teddy Satin, Peruvian, Peruvian Satin, Silkie, Silkie Satin, Coronet, White Crested, and Texel. (breeds are determined by fun texture and qualities, variety is the color.)

SELF (The self varieties are piggies that are one solid color throughout.): Black, White, Chocolate, Lilac, Cream, Beige, Red, REO (red eyed orange,) and Golden.
SOLID (solid is piggies with a solid pattern over their whole body): Roan, Brindle, Silver Solid, Golden Solid, and Dilute Solid.
AGOUTI: Golden Agouti, Silver Agouti, and Dilute Agouti.
MARKED: Broken Color, TSW (tortoiseshell and white,) Tortoiseshell, Dutch, Himalayan, and Dalmatian.
TAN PATTERNS (tan pattern is a variety, but it comes in a few colors.): Black, Blue, Chocolate, Lilac, and Beige(i think.)

So I just though it would be fun to tell some people about all the interesting types of guineas there are if anyones got any questions I'd be more then happy to answer.

And also... I don't want anyone to think I care more about the colors than the pigs O.O All your piggies are adorable and lovely, but it is nice to just know a bit more about them. Thanks for reading

 

[asnnbrg]

Well, I know more or less what mine are (two Americans -- one a Himalayan -- and an abby or abby mix), but I'm curious about Smore, so I'll let you "diagnose" my piggies.



Sorry I can't get better pix of Flower. She's a hyper-active baby, and her head's a little lopsided.

 

[Varcoda]

someone said the piggy on the left is a 'roan'. i'm not sure exactly what that is, except they should avoid breeding with another roan. ( i will not breed a piggy XD)
i'd like to know abit more about my piggies please right now all i know is their approximate age (7 months) and one is probably a Silkie and the other a probably Texel. they might be mixed in some way, their previous owners didn't know much.

 

[samantha_smith]

Ooo ooo please can you do mind? Esp wombat the black one?

I think pickle on the left is an Abby cross but wombat is 'fuzzy' but she has 2 rosettes on her bum but nowhere else.

 

[MizzyMiz]

@asnnbrg: Your right, the first one is a Himalayan American, the second is a Bindle American, and the last picture looks like Abby/American mix, but the variety would be a black and white broken. All very cute piggies

 

[MizzyMiz]

View attachment 44351

The one on the left does look like a silkie to me, but I don't think it's roan. I'm pretty sure it's a black and white broken but since it has long hair it kind of gives the illusion of being a roan. The one of the right is definitely a texel, a very pretty one at that, and the variety would be a TSW. Hope it helps, and very cute pigs
someone said the piggy on the left is a 'roan'. i'm not sure exactly what that is, except they should avoid breeding with another roan. ( i will not breed a piggy XD)
i'd like to know abit more about my piggies please right now all i know is their approximate age (7 months) and one is probably a Silkie and the other a probably Texel. they might be mixed in some way, their previous owners didn't know much.

 

[MizzyMiz]

Ooo ooo please can you do mind? Esp wombat the black one?

I think pickle on the left is an Abby cross but wombat is 'fuzzy' but she has 2 rosettes on her bum but nowhere else.

It's kind of hard to tell in the picture, but they look like they definitely have some Abby in them, maybe an abby/teddy mix since you said they're fuzzy, and look a little rough. If the one on the left is black all over he would be a self black, but I think I see a little white on his foot, in that case he would be black and white broken The one on the right looks like Tortoiseshell (unless it has white as well, then it would a TSW.)

Hope it helps, and very sweet piggies

 

[Varcoda]

thanks mizzymiz, its nice to get to know abit more about my piggies

 

[guinnymom23]

My turn! I think Cookie (brown and white) is an american, but Caramel (tri-coloured) has longer coat...

 

[MizzyMiz]

View attachment 44355


My turn! I think Cookie (brown and white) is an american, but Caramel (tri-coloured) has longer coat...

Your right, Cookie is an American, and the 'brown' color is actually red, so it would be a either a red and white broken or a red dutch (it's hard to see all the markings to tell if it's really a dutch or not.)

Caramel might be a mix between an American and a longer haired breed. Variety wise.. it's one of my favorite colors A Lemon Agouti/Cream/and White broken. The lemon agouti is the grayish areas, the base of the hair is actually black with a cream tipping, then the cream is the yellowish color, and the white is white. Hope it's helpful and lovely piggies

 

[samantha_smith]

Thank you mizzymizzz, both of them have very small white spots. They are only very young so I'm sure I'll see more when they're a little older, I have another too. A ginger and white, I'm in the UK so I thought she was a rex but her fur is quite long so I'll have to see how long it gets. I'll have to try and get better photos!!

It's kind of hard to tell in the picture, but they look like they definitely have some Abby in them, maybe an abby/teddy mix since you said they're fuzzy, and look a little rough. If the one on the left is black all over he would be a self black, but I think I see a little white on his foot, in that case he would be black and white broken The one on the right looks like Tortoiseshell (unless it has white as well, then it would a TSW.)

Hope it helps, and very sweet piggies

 

[NJPKL]

So I thought I'd share a bit in case anyone was interested or wanted to learn more. Or if you have picture of your pigs I'd be happy to tell you what they are

Thank you for this! I was too lazy to look it up, but would have gotten there eventually. lol People like you make this forum awesome!

 

[MizzyMiz]

Thank you for this! I was too lazy to look it up, but would have gotten there eventually. lol People like you make this forum awesome!

Aw thanks Glad it was helpful

 

[scruffytufty]

ohhh what are mineeee ^^ i know i have two abbies and 2 smooth ones
but what is Einey??

 

[NJPKL]

Can you do mine?? Oreo and Reeses are 6 months old and *possibly* brothers, and if not, then cousins. (the school they were from did not sex them right and did not separate the babies in time due to lack of knowledge and so they had momma piggy preggers 3x. )



Reeses


Oreo

 

[MizzyMiz]

ohhh what are mineeee ^^ i know i have two abbies and 2 smooth ones
View attachment 44368 but what is Einey??

That's an Abby alright Variety wise it's a Golden Agouti and White Broken. The Golden Agouti is the darker patch, it means the hairs have a black base with red tipped hairs. Very cute

 

[scruffytufty]

but i have two abbies with cow licks? her hair sticks on end??

 

[MizzyMiz]

Can you do mine?? Oreo and Reeses are 6 months old and *possibly* brothers, and if not, then cousins. (the school they were from did not sex them right and did not separate the babies in time due to lack of knowledge and so they had momma piggy preggers 3x. )

View attachment 44365

Reeses
View attachment 44366

Oreo
View attachment 44367

Both of them are Americans. Oreo's variety would be a black and white broken, and Reese's is a Red/Chocolate/White broken, he's very pretty (or handsome should I say.) I think I've heard a few people refer to Reese's variety before as a "rainbow" but don't quote me on it xD

 

[MizzyMiz]

but i have two abbies with cow licks? her hair sticks on end??View attachment 44369

The cowlicks are normal, some Abbys just have crazier hair then normal The ride of hair, or "cowlick" is referred to as the rump ridge.

Now that I see this picture I'm thinking the one on the left may be an abby/teddy mix, is the hair coarse?

The right is a TSW Abby

 

[NJPKL]

@MizzyMiz thank you!! I thought they were American!