Large Black pig
Conservation status | RBST (2019): endangered[1] |
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Country of origin | Great Britain |
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The Large Black pig is a British
It was a successful breed in the early twentieth century and was exported to many areas of the world. Population numbers declined after the
History
The Large Black resulted from the amalgamation of black pigs from two geographically separate areas, Devon and Cornwall in the south-west of England, and Essex, Suffolk and Kent in the east.[3][4] The pigs from eastern England, mainly Essex, were influenced by importations from China in the late 18th century, while those from Devon and Cornwall were probably more closely related to the pigs in mainland Europe, particularly France.[3][5] The Devon pigs were originally selected for "the length of their bodies, ears, noses, tail and hair, the longer the better, without reference to quality or substance", but selective breeding brought improvements to the breed, and by 1850 the type was small-boned and thick-bodied, with good conformation and constitution.[6] Alternative origins proposed for the black colour of the breed are black Guinea hogs imported from Africa (similar to the Guinea Hog of the US) or from Neapolitan pigs.[7]
During the late nineteenth century, the Large Black grew in popularity.[7] A breed association, the Large Black Pig Society, was formed in 1898 or 1899,[8][9] in Ipswich, Suffolk.[10] A trademark, consisting of the letters LBP within a shield, was registered in 1902.[8]
The Herd Book of Large Black Pigs was first published in 1899.
1920s to modern times
In 1919 a Large Black sow was Supreme Champion at Smithfield (UK), and at the Royal Show that year 121 Large Blacks were entered, more than any other breed.[14] Popularity of the breed peaked in the 1920s, however, and after World War II, population numbers declined as farmers began to favour pig breeds that would do well in intensive indoor farming.[15] The breed association was merged with the National Pig Breeders Association (later the British Pig Association) in 1949.[16]
In 1955 the Howitt report on the development of pig production in the United Kingdom was published. Its main conclusions were that UK pig farms were poorly placed to compete with European producers, that the diversity of local breeds in the UK was an obstacle to progress, and that British pig farmers should focus on three breeds only: the
In other countries
By 1913, Large Black had by then spread throughout most of Britain, and had been exported to most of mainland Europe and to North and South America, Africa and Oceania.
Characteristics
The Large Black is a long, deep-bodied pig, well known for its hardiness and suitability for extensive farming.[20] Large Blacks are best suited for pasture-based farming due to their strong foraging and grazing ability, which efficiently converts poor quality feed into meat.[7][12][15] It is the only pig breed in Britain to be all black,[14] and this helps protect the pig from sunburn in sunny climates.[7][12] Temperamentally, the Large Black is a very docile breed which is easily contained by fencing. This is partly because its large, drooping ears obscure its vision,[3][7] although they also help to protect the face and eyes while the animal is foraging, especially when rooting in dirt.[15]
The breed is also known for its long periods of fertility and strong maternal instincts. Sows give birth to a large
At its peak of popularity, the Large Black was used mainly for meat production, especially
Conservation status
In 1954 there were 2195 Large Blacks recorded, 269 licensed boars and 1926 registered sows, representing approximately 3.4% of the UK pig population of about 65,000;[21] at the end of 2011 there were 421 registered (86 boars and 335 sows), a small increase over the 2010 figure of 405 (65 boars, 340 sows). The Large Black is the rarest historic pig breed in Britain,[22] although numbers are slowly on the rise due to an increase in demand for meat from traditional pig breeds.[14] In 2011 it was classified as "vulnerable" on the watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, meaning that there are believed to be between 200 and 300 breeding females.[23] The British Pig Association currently recognizes 6 boar lines and 24 sow lines within the breed.[14]
In 2004 the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia listed the status of the Large Black as "critical", meaning that sow registrations in the Australian Pure Bred Pig Herd Book of the Australian Pig Breeders Association were fewer than 30 per year.[24]
The
References
- ^ a b Pigs watchlist. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Accessed October 2019.
- ^ a b c d Large Black. Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Accessed October 2019.
- ^ ISBN 9780747805113. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- ISBN 9780711230590.
- ^ a b c Large Black. Oklahoma State University. Archived 29 July 2013.
- ^ a b Charles Sumner Plumb (1920). Types and Breeds of Farm Animals. London; Boston; Chicago; New York: Ginn, page 762.
- ^ ISBN 9780300088809.
- ^ a b c d Megg Miller (2001). The Large Black. Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. Archived 15 April 2013.
- ^ a b c Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (1913). British Breeds of Live Stock (Second ed.). London: His Majesty's Stationery Office.
- ^ Robert Wallace (1907). Farm Live Stock of Great Britain (4th ed.). Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd; London: Gurney and Jackson. p. 718.
- ^ Large Black Pig Society (1899). The Herd Book of Large Black Pigs. Bury St. Edmund's.
- ^ a b c d Pigs - Large Black. Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 31 August 2011.
- ^ Richard Lutwyche (1998). "The Large Black Pig". Country Garden and Smallholding. Saffron Walden: Broad Leys Publishing., cited by: Megg Miller (2001). The Large Black. Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. Archived 15 April 2013.
- ^ a b c d e The Large Black. The British Pig Association. Archived 7 December 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Large Black Pig". American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "Breed History". Large Black Pigbreeders Club. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- ^ [Advisory Committee on Development of Pig Production in the United Kingdom] (1955). Development of Pig Production in the United Kingdom: Report of the Advisory Committee on Development of Pig Production in the United Kingdom. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Cited at: Official Policy to Focus on a Single Type of Pig. The British Pig Association. Archived 10 December 2012.
- ^ More Breeds are Lost. The British Pig Association. Archived 10 December 2012.
- ^ The Tide Begins to Turn. The British Pig Association. Archived 10 December 2012.
- ^ ISBN 9781603420365.
- ^ Our Unique Genetic Heritage: The Decline of Traditional Breeds. The British Pig Association. Archived 27 February 2012.
- ^ "BPA Pig survey 2011 - Large Black". Large Black Pigbreeders Club. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ RBST Watchlist 2011. Kenilworth, Warwickshire: Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Archived 2 December 2011.
- ^ Fiona Chambers (2004). Status of Pig Breeds in Australia 2004. Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. Archived 14 September 2016.
- ^ "Breed Information – ALBC Conservation Priority List". American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "Parameters of Livestock Breeds on the ALBC Conservation Priority List (2007)". American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "Pig Breeds". Rare Breeds Canada. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.