Transcript Breeds of Swine - Purdue University

Breeds of Swine
An Excellent Resource is
www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/swine/
exhibiting 71 breeds of swine
Hampshire
• Hamps are known for good muscling.
Therefore, they were widely used on the
sire side in breeding programs.
However, preference for white breeds in
confinement has decreased their
popularity. They are not strong in litter
size and mothering ability.
Duroc
• Durocs are rugged, meaty and fast
growing. They are red, so all-white
confinement operations may not use
them. They are good mothers, but were
used more for the sire-side in crosses
due to good muscling. The breed had
problems with too much fatness, and
has concentrated on improving that.
Duroc
Yorkshire
Yorkshire
• Yorks are very popular on the maternal
side in crossbreeding programs. They
have large litters and are good mothers.
They are similar to Large White in
appearance. Their muscling
characteristics are not their strong point.
York Boar
York Sow
Large White
• Until recently, Large White probably
referred to Yorkshire in the US, but this
British breed provides similar
characteristics from a different genetic
base.
Chester White
Chester White
• Chesters had, at times past, similar
characteristics with Duroc, though
growing slower and having more fat
problems. They are a durable breed,
and with white skin preferences, have
resurfaced.
Landrace
• American Landrace, derived from
Danish Landrace, is a mothering breed.
It is long and prolific. It can easily be
identified by the large, floppy ears and
somewhat different body conformation.
Landrace Sow
Poland China
• Polands are similar in body
conformation to Chester White. Color is
black with white points. Adherence to
color became a controversy that led to
the Spotted breed (originally called
Spotted Poland China).
Spot
• Originally derived from Polands that
failed to adhere to the color rules, the
Spots were able to make more rapid
progress in improvement.
Berkshire
Berkshire
• Berks were popular before 1950, then
popularity declined. Distinguished by
the snub, turned up nose and black with
white spots color pattern, they were
somewhat like Durocs. A resurgence
occurred due to fine grain of meat and
fatness, making them desired in the
Japanese pork trade, creating a ‘niche’
market.
Pietrain
• A heavily muscled European breed, the
Pietrain carried/carrys the STRESS
gene, associated with high muscling,
but susceptibility to PSE (pork quality)
problems and stress susceptibility
(leading to increased mortality).
Large Blace
• British
• Analogous to Large White (?)
Hereford
• With color markings similar to the
Hereford breed of cattle.
• Not popular enough that I have ever
seen one.
Tamworth
Tamworth
• Once known jokingly as an acorn eater,
this breed was thin, but thinly muscled
as well.
• It has maintained a breed following,
partly for show purposes.
• It is a “bacon type” hog, meaning
without fat, but also without muscle in
ham and loin.
Other Pigs
• Other porcine animals from around the
world follow.
• Note especially the Meishan, from
China, noted for very large litters.
• Remember also that FAT has not
always been a bad thing. Fat was a
source of material to build explosives.