I’m not a fan of pet fads for the simple reason that once the novelty wears off the pet usually ends up getting the short end of the stick (chicks and bunnies at Easter, guinea pigs after the movie G-Force, “Taco Bell dogs,” etc) and ends up in a shelter.

The recent trend in the U.K. are micro pigs — a “bred-down” version of several other small pig breeds, including potbellied pigs, Tamworth, Kune Kune and Gloucester Old Spot.
Though small pigs have been around as pets for a long time, sales for these tinier versions have kicked into high gear. …read more

Harvard University researchers have succeed in making cloned pigs that produce omega-3 fatty acids, typically found in fish. Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with lowered risk of heart disease and the American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least two times a week. Genetically engineering pigs to produce omega-3 fatty acids isn’t too far off the mark. Pigs with their own omega-3 fatty acids already exist in nature, e.g., a Spanish breed called Ibérico.
While the FDA has not approved any genetically modified animals for use as human food, researchers are confident that food with …read more