List of Rare Hog Breeds

The market for pork has changed drastically in the recent past, and as a result, many previously popular hog breeds have disappeared or been reduced to tiny herds. Hogs were kept to efficiently convert feed unsuitable for other livestock to fatty meat, and were generally efficient, slow-growing foraging animals that were intended to roam and generally fend for themselves. With the newer trend towards factory-farmed animals in enclosed spaces, newer breeds have come to the forefront and heirloom breeds are now a specialty product due to superior taste and texture.

  1. Mangalica/Mangalitsa

    • The Mangalitsa is a Hungarian breed originally created in the early 1830's as an extreme lard-type hog - that is, it produced fattier, highly-marbled meat as well as a thicker layer of subcutaneous fat. The breed was reduced to less than 200 purebred individuals alive worldwide at one point due to its extremely slow maturation and need for a large space, as well as general preference for leaner meat-type hogs. It has enjoyed a revival and intensive breeding after its rediscovery and commands extremely high prices.

    Poland China

    • This breed was established by Shakers in Ohio and is a meat-type hog bred for exceptional size and fecundity. Currently, while litter sizes have declined from their historical highs, the breed consistently leads American pork production for pounds of hog produced per sow. This breed is generally black with white patches and legs, and is exceptionally large and lean in addition. It is believed that this breed is responsible for the rapid expansion of the pork industry in Ohio in the early 1800's.

    Berkshire

    • This meat-type hog breed hails from England and is known for excellent carcass quality and large size, as well as being able to be finished at any age. It was first introduced to American swine herds in 1823 and quickly became popular due to its ability to improve local hog herds when bred. The Berkshire has remained popular throughout its history but is unsuitable for mass farming - however, it retains many of its original traits such as relatively quick and efficient growth, large litter size, cleanliness and meatiness. It must be noted that the original, unimproved Berkshire breed itself is now extinct, but enough of the original traits have remained that the current herds known as Berkshire can still be considered as such.

    Gloucestershire Old Spots

    • This breed is a result of crossing unimproved Berkshire hogs and original Gloucestershire hogs during the 1800s, and is a meat-type hog intended for production of lean bacon. The hog is a hardy outdoors-type breed capable of subsisting on forage and agricultural by-products. But it became rare after the advent of mass indoor farming after World War II's conclusion. This breed is known for its docility and intelligence, as well as large litter sizes, and the sows are good enough mothers to raise piglets on pasture.

    Large Black

    • This breed is another English line; while it was one of the most English hog breeds around 1900, its characteristics were more suited to outdoor rearing on pasture and did not survive the market transition like other heirloom hog breeds. The breed was valued as an out-breeder as well as for its large size and fecundity, and used for small scale pork and bacon production. Obesity can cause a drop-off in fertility in sows in this breed.