Swine breeds

Swine Breeds Overview

Duroc

  • Originated in the United States

  • Characteristics:

    • Varying shades of red

    • Droopy ears

  • Advantages:

    • Good mothering ability

    • Efficient feed converters

    • Fast growth rate

  • Type:

    • Meat-type hog

Hampshire

  • Originated in England

  • Characteristics:

    • Mainly black with a white belt marking the forepart of the body

    • Erect ears

  • Advantages:

    • Good foraging ability

    • Leanness of carcass

    • Muscling

  • Uses:

    • Show animals

    • Crossbreeding programs

Yorkshire

  • Originated in Yorkshire, England

  • Characteristics:

    • Mainly solid white; can have black freckles

    • Long bodies

    • Erect ears

  • Advantages:

    • Large litters

    • Good mothering ability

    • Good feed efficiency

    • Rapid growth

  • Type:

    • Bacon-type hogs

    • Used in crossbreeding programs

Hereford

  • Origin:

    • Crossbreed from Poland China, Duroc, and other breeds

  • Characteristics:

    • Red with a white face

    • Droopy ears

  • Advantages:

    • Prolific

    • Good mothering ability

    • Foraging ability

Berkshire

  • Originated in Berkshire & Wiltshire counties in England

  • Characteristics:

    • Black with 6 white points

    • Erect ears

  • Type:

    • Medium-sized hog

  • Advantages:

    • Lean carcass

Poland China

  • Originated in Ohio

  • Characteristics:

    • Black with six white points (can be multi-colored)

    • Drooping ears

  • Advantages:

    • Large breed

    • Produces carcasses with large loin eyes

    • Very little back fat

  • Uses:

    • Commonly used for crossbreeding programs

Chester White

  • Originated in Pennsylvania

  • Characteristics:

    • White

    • Droopy ears

  • Behavior:

    • Very aggressive

  • Uses:

    • Used in crossbreeding programs

Landrace

  • Originated in Denmark

  • Characteristics:

    • White

    • Very large droopy ears

  • Type:

    • Considered a bacon-type hog in Europe

Other Breeds

  • Pietrain:

    • Shorter legged, stocky body, high percentage of lean fat in the hams

  • Spotted Breed:

    • Distinctive white coat with black spots

  • Tamworth:

    • Long, lean, and have long heads

  • Blue Butt Cross (Hamp/York):

    • Cross between Hampshire and Yorkshire; white with a bluish rump, popular in livestock shows

Activity Instructions

  1. Cut out the pig face and butt.

  2. Cut out the accordion rectangles; only cut the outline, make sure all rectangles stay connected.

  3. Write the pig breeds on the rectangle pieces:

  • Write the pig breed and then list the characteristics of that breed.

  • Can draw and color the actual pig on the rectangle as well.

  1. Color and decorate.

  2. Fold the rectangle pieces to make an accordion.

  3. Glue the pig's head to the back side of the top rectangle.

  4. Glue the pig's butt to the back side of the bottom rectangle.

  5. You should be able to fold it up in one piece.

  6. Keep this to study!