Imported Breeds of Pig Used in India

List of top nine imported breeds of pig used in India:- 1. Large White Yorkshire 2. Landrace 3. Middle White Yorkshire 4. Berkshire 5. Hampshire 6. Tamworth 7. Duroc 8. Chesterwhite 9. Hereford.

Imported Breed # 1. Large White Yorkshire:

It is the most extensively used exotic breed in India (Fig. 11.1). The Large White Yorkshire is a popular English Bacon breed which had its origin nearly a century ago in Yorkshire and neighbouring countries in northern England. Yorkshire sows are noted as good mothers. They not only farrow and raise large litters, but they are great milkers.

These are entirely white in colour. Black pigment spots, called “freckles”, do not constitute a defect, though they are frowned upon by breeders.

Head is moderately long, face slightly dished, snout broad, wide between the ears. Neck is long, fine and proportionately full to shoulders with wide and deep chest. Back is long, level and wide from neck to rump. Legs are straight and well set, level with the outside of the body, with flat bone. Mature boars weight varies from about 300 to 450 kilograms, while average sows weight from 250 to 350 kg.

Carcass quality possess necessary length, gives first grade bacon, good ham and comparatively light forequarters.

This variety gets popularity because it is excel­lently used for the purpose of cross-breeding. It is also a prolific breeder. It provides a good amount of meat for consumption. Mature boar weigh about 300-400 kg and mature sow is 230-320 kg in weight.

Imported Breed # 2. Landrace:

The origin of this breed is in Denmark, where it has been bred and fed to produce the highest quality bacon in the world. The animal is with long body, large drooping ears and long snout (Fig. 11.2). The breed is white in colour, although black skin spots ‘freckles’ are rather common.

The breed is characterised by its long, deep side; square ham; relatively short legs; trim jowl; heavy lop ears. The carcass is more lean than that of the meat. There is less back fat and lard. The breed is noted for prolificacy and for efficiency of feed utilisation.

This is an excellent breed for cross-breeding experiments. In U.S.A. the breed has been extensively used for developing cross-breed foundation. In India the Landrace stock has been imported with the same objective. Ham quality is equal to white Yorkshire breed. Mature boars weigh 270-360 kg and mature sow weighs 200-320 kg.

Imported Breed # 3. Middle White Yorkshire:

This is extensively used in some areas of India (Fig. 11.3). This variety grows rapidly and gives good dressing percentage. It is moderately prolific breeder as compared with Large White Yorkshire. This breed can provide good quantity of ham. This breed was evolved in Yorkshire of Northern England by crossing the Large White with smaller breed of Yorkshire extraction.

The breed is accepted as an excellent pork pig, reaching slaughter weight early and with a high percentage of lean meat to bone. The breed is hardy, grows rapidly, but is not as prolific as the Large White. In India the breed has been extensively used for improving the indigenous stock in rural areas.

Their skin is white in colour, free from coar­seness, wrinkles or any spots. Head is moderately short, straight jaw, short snout. Neck is fairly light, medium length, proportionately and on standing shoulders evenly set.

Back is long and level to root of the tail with well sprung ribs. Legs are straight and fairly short, well set apart, fine and flat bone upon toes and a good walker. The adult males weigh about 250-340 kg and females about 180-270 kg.

Imported Breed # 4. Berkshire:

The breed originated in and takes its name from Berkshire, a country in south-central England, which was the centre of its development. The old English hog, a descendant of the boar, served as foundation stock and these early animals were further improved by introducing Chinese, Siamese and Neopolitan blood.

The breed is now highly valued as producer of good quality pork (Fig. 11.4). In India especially in the South the breed is popular for upgrading pro­grammes.

Colour is black with “six white points”, that is white on feet, nose and tail, but more than 10 per cent white of an animal disqualifies it. Head has a Short head with dished face and its ears are erect. Long, level arched narrow back. Legs are straight and well set long legs.

Full grown boars weigh between 275 – 375 kg, Sows weigh from 200-290 kg. Its reputation throughout the world has been for meat, well-balan­ced carcass with a high cut-out value.

Imported Breed # 5. Hampshire:

The Hampshire pig is a domestic swine breed characterised by erect ears and a black body with a whitish band around the middle, covering the front legs. The American National Swine Registry notes this as the fourth “most recorded breed” of pigs in the United States, and probably the oldest American breed of hogs.

Importations of this hog breed were thought to have been made from Hampshire in England between 1827 and 1839.

Residents of Hampshire are often colloquially referred to as ‘Hampshire Hogs’ (Fig. 11.5), a name which goes back at least to the 1790s. Hampshire hogs are noted for being well-muscled and rapid growers, and for exhibiting good carcass quality when used as meat animals.

When used as breeding stock, the sows of this breed have been praised for their capacity as mothers, having “extra longevity in the sow” (Fig. 11.6). Hampshire are good tempered; they do not grow as fast as many cross-breeds, but they do grow faster than Yorkshires.

Imported Breed # 6. Tamworth:

The breed originates from central England. The breed derives its name from the town of Tamworth, which is located on the river Thames. Golden red colour varies from light to dark. This is an extremely good bacon type pig.

The individuals are long-legged with long, smooth sides and strong backs. The head is strikingly long and narrow with a long snout and fairly large ears that are carried somewhat erect. The carcass produces bacon on the finest quality.

The sows are prolific and careful mothers, and the pigs are excellent foragers. Mature boars weigh up to 350 kg and the mature sows from 250 to 300 kg. The breed has been widely used for cross-breeding purposes in the tropics, particularly in South-east Asia. They thrive under close confinement feeding, but they must be well managed and fed. Landrace is susceptible to sunburn.

Imported Breed # 7. Duroc:

North-eastern United States gave rise to one of the most popular U.S. breeds—the Duroc (Fig. 11.7), which is the outcome of blending of two breeds, Jersey Red and Duroc of New York. The breed is moderately red coloured with shades varying from a golden to cherry red colour.

The Duroc is noted for excellent rate of gain and feed efficiency. Maturing early, the Duroc sow has large litter and is a good mother. The carcass is considered as a good meat type. The weight of mature boar is about 400 kg and of sow it is normally 350 kg. The breed is now popular both in South East Asia and in the American tropics mostly due to its colour, hardiness and fast growth.

Imported Breed # 8. Chester White:

The breed had its origin in the south-eastern Pennsylvania, principally in Chester and Delia counties of U.S.A. The foundation stock included important pigs of English Yorkshire, Lincolnshire arid Cheshire breeds. As the name indicates, the breed is white in colour with some bluish spots sometimes found on the skin. Chester White sows are very prolific. The pigs are good feeders; they mature early and make good gains.

Imported Breed # 9. Hereford:

It is one of the newer breeds of swine. The breed was originated in Missouri in the U.S.A. The most distinctive characteristic of the Hereford breed is their colour marking, which is similar to that of Hereford cattle. Two-third of it is red in colour, either light or dark with white face.

The white colour must appear on at least two feet and extend up to an inch or more above the hoof. In size, the Hereford is smaller than the other breeds of swine and in general it is of compact type.