are Breeds of Pig
Did you know that some breeds of pig, native to the British Isles are now quite rare and in danger of becoming extinct? We're currently breeding two types of rare pig, the British Lop and the Large Black. There are seven rare breeds of pig and you can read more about them at the Rare Breeds Survival Trust website.
If pigs were Pandas there would be plenty of publicity about their dwindling numbers. As it is there are just a few people like us, breeding the rare pigs to increase their numbers.
Our breeding program is going very well, our pigs are happy and very healthy and we know we are doing something worthwhile. Visit the About Us page to read about how we got into pig farming.
Our Rare Breeds
The Large Black
Classed as vulnerable by the RSTB
UK population: 259 Registered Sows, BPA Pig Survey 2005
Breed Society: Large Black Pig Breeders Club.
The Large Black Breed society was founded in 1899. The breed originated in Devon and Cornwall and soon incorporated the last remaining examples of the Small Black breed from East Anglia. Known for its prolific nature, The Guinness Book of Records lists a large Black belonging to A M Harris of Lapworth, Warwickshire for having produced the largest number of litters - 26 - between 1940 and 1952. An all black pig with lop ears, the Large Black is a docile, hardy breed with exceptional mothering ability. Its skin colouring helps it to resist sunburn making it ideal for outdoor pig production systems.
This led to the breed being quite popular in the early 20th Century in warmer climates in Europe, Africa, Australasia, the Caribbean and North and South America.
The British Lop
Classed top of the critical list by the RSTB
UK population: 136 Registered Sows, British Lop Survey 2005
Breed society: British Lop Society
The British Lop is one of the white; lop eared pig breeds once associated with the Celtic regions of the British Isles. It was first recognised in the Tavistock area, where it was called the Devon Lop, or sometimes the Cornish White pig. It spread throughout the south west of the country, as far as Somerset and Dorset, but was rarely seen beyond that vicinity. Up to the 1960s it was called the National Long White Lop-eared pig, but its name was then changed to the British Lop.
It is one of the larger breeds, being long, lean and deep sided. The hams are well filled to the hocks. The large, lop ears make for an extremely docile, grazing pig, most suited to outdoor systems, despite its pure white colour. They are good milky mothers producing commercial pigs whether pure or crossed. The boars themselves have been used to great effect on other breeds as a terminal sire. As a pure breed pig, they are ideal for meat at porker, cutter or bacon weight.
Why These Breeds Are Rare
Pigs are bred for food and the rare breeds of pig take a long time to mature, they need a natural diet and aren't suited to modern, intensive or battery farming methods. Other breeds such as the Landrace breed from Scandinavia were imported as they produce a high yield of meat and can be intensively farmed. The traditional British breeds have declined severely in popularity over the years; now they are almost extinct.
Eat Them or Lose Them!
To help us with our breeding of rare pigs we don't want you to sponser a pig, we need you to eat one! Crazy as it sounds, the only way for us to support our farm is for us to sell some of our pigs as pork. This way we can afford to breed many more pigs! Read more here...
Wear Sunscreen!
Did you know that just like us, pigs need to wear sunscreen when outdoors in the Summer? Pig skin is pink and quite similar to human skin, we need to protect our pigs or they may get sunburn. Despite numerous requests, we will not be providing our pigs with Gucci sunglasses!