Swine Breeds

Swine Breeds

• Piglet - baby pig

• Boar - Intact male

• Barrow - Castrated male

• Gilt - female that HAS NOT had piglets

• Sow - female that HAS had piglets

• Farrowing - Process of giving birth

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The Basics

​American Landrace

• ​Originally from Denmark

  • ​Imported to the U.S. in 1934

• ​Characteristics:

  • ​Long body

  • ​Drooping ears

  • ​White in color

• ​Use:

  • ​High-quality carcass

  • ​Valued by commercial producers for maternal traits

​Berkshire

• ​Originated in England

  • ​Imported to the U.S. in 1823

• ​Characteristics:

  • ​Black coat

  • ​White feet & legs

  • ​White stripe on the face

  • ​Medium upright ears

• ​Use:

  • ​Good quality carcass

  • ​Sows are prolific (they can have many piglets)

​Chester White

• ​Originated in Chester County, Pennsylvania

• ​Characteristics:

  • ​All white

  • ​Medium-sized head

  • ​drooping ears

  • ​dished face

• ​Use:

  • ​Inherits most maternal traits

    • ​Prolific

    • ​High Milkers

    • ​Great mothering ability

​Duroc

• ​Originated in Northeastern U.S.

  • ​Developed through crossbreeding of Jersey Red and Red Duroc

• ​Characteristics:

  • ​Color range from light gold to very dark red

  • ​Drooping ears

  • ​Highly adaptable to weather conditions

• ​Use:

  • ​Good quality carcass

  • ​Great mothering ability

​Hampshire

• ​Originated in England

  • ​imported to U.S. in early 1800s

• ​Characteristics:

  • ​Black with white band encircling around shoulders and feet (in order to be registered)

  • ​Upright ears

  • ​Medium-sized

• ​Use:

  • ​Very high-quality carcass with little waste

  • ​Sows are considered good mothers

​Hereford

• ​Originated in La Plata, Missouri

  • Developed by crossing Duroc & Chester

• ​Characteristics:

  • ​Red body

  • ​2 white feet

  • ​white face

  • ​white, droopy ears

• ​Use:

  • ​High-quality carcass with little waste

  • ​Good mothering ability

​Poland China

• ​Originated in Kentucky

  • ​developed by crossing Russian Berkshire & Grazer

• ​Characteristics:

  • ​Black in color

  • ​White points on all 4 feet, nose, and tip of the tail

  • ​Drooping ears

• ​Use:

  • ​Have sound feet and legs, therefore producing high-quality carcass

  • ​Excellent feeders & gain readily

​Spot

• ​Originated in Indiana

  • ​developed from Glauces Spot and Poland China

• ​Characteristics:

  • ​body, head, and ears are similar to Poland China

  • ​Spotted black and white, 50% each

• ​Use:

  • ​Highly prolific

  • ​High growth rate and structural soundness

​Yorkshire

• ​Originated in England

  • ​Imported to U.S. in 1830s

• ​Characteristics:

  • ​Upright medium to large ears

  • ​All white in color

  • ​Broad face

• ​Use:

  • ​One of the most popular breeds

  • ​Called the "Mother Breed" due to high prolificacy, milking, and mothering ability

  • ​Good quality carcass

  • ​Classified as the bacon-type breed

Multiple Choice

Which breed came from crossing a Russian Berkshire and Grazer?

• Duroc

• Spot

• Poland China

• American Landrace