Pig Breeds in Focus - Berkshire Pig

Characteristics

Considered a medium sized pig, the Berkshire has a black body with short white legs. Their snout is small and they carry white patches on their face and tail.  It has prick ears.  The Berkshire pig is known to have good mothering skills producing an average litter of 10 piglets.  It's docile nature makes it an easy pig to work with.

Average Size:

Male = 280kg

Female = 220kg

History

The Berkshire pig holds the honour of being the oldest recorded pig breed in Britain.  Originally from the county of Berkshire, it originally had a tawny colour and lop ears with darker patches.  In the late 18th and early 19th centuries it was modified by breeding with black imported Asian pigs.  It was originally a larger breed but this cross breeding with smaller pigs reduced its average size.

In 2008 the Rare Breeds Survival rust rated it as vulnerable.

Uses

Berkshire Pigs are typically reared for their pork meat.  two pigs were imported to Japan and have created a separate breed that produces "Wagyu Pork".  This would hint at its excellent taste and possibilities.