The Essex Pig is a direct descendant of the Anglo-Saxon and Norman pigs that foraged the great forests of East Anglia, of which only Epping and Thetford remain. The Essex pig was then highly regarded throughout the country as the meat was well marbled, sweet and delicious. As farming became industrialised after the Second World War, there was a greater emphasis on quantity rather than quality. This resulted in a decline in traditional breeds in favour of faster-growing, commercial pigs. As a result, the Essex pig declined dramatically to a desperately low level.
In 1967 the breed was finally amalgamated with the Wessex Saddleback forming the pig we now know as the British Saddleback. At this point the Essex Pig was officially extinct. However one farmer, John Crowshaw, refused to amalgamate his herd, thus keeping his bloodlines pure pedigree Essex. Working with these pure bloodlines, Jimmy's Farm aided by the Essex Pig Society are now building up the numbers of this rare and wonderful breed. The Essex Pig is still offically classified as extinct and therefore if we achieve one of our primary objectives, the Essex Pig will become one of the first breeds of animal EVER to be reintroduced into the world having been classed as extinct.
The Saddleback Pig
The Saddleback Pig has the striking color marking of a white belt on a black body. However, the coloring of the modern day Saddleback still varies widely as it apparently has through the entire existence of the breed. Unfortunately, the belt is a marking of low heritability. Littermate markings may range from a very wide white belt that covers almost the entire body to the opposite extreme where there is little white. The ears of the breed are drooped. The Saddleback originated from the amalgamation of the Essex and Wessex breeds in England. The Wessex Saddleback came from Dorsetshire, England, while the Essex came from the county that gave the breed its name. Prior to 1820, both had contributed to the swine of Hampshire which were apparently the ancestors of the American Hampshire breed. How much of the crossing took place or how well the breed was established before foundation stock of the Hampshire was exported to the United States, between 1825 and 1829, is not known. Youatt and Martin' reported swine very similar to the American Hampshire in England during 1855.
A strong point of the Saddleback breed in England is its reputation as a mother sow. The sows have large litters and are said to be excellent milkers. The breed is reputed to be hardy with good grazing characteristics suited to outdoor production systems. It has been used as a cross with white breeds to produce breeding sows for commercial swine production. The breed has seen some commercial use where hybrid vigor is sought. Their popularity seems to be in excess of the numbers that are registered. So, as with many other breeds, unregistered grade stock is often used in cross breeding. The increasing usage of the breed in crossing parallels the reputation of the Hampshire in America for crossbreeding and for rotational breeding programs. The similarity of the Saddleback and Hampshire in so many ways does indicate the former must have given more to the latter than a striking color pattern.
The Gloucestershire Old Spot Pig
The Gloucestershire Old Spot Pig is a black and white breed that is predominantly white in color. In recent years, selection has been towards less black and now only a spot or two are usually found. The breed also has a heavy drooped ear. Gloucestershire Old Spots originated in the Berkeley Valley region of England and have now spread throughtout the UK. The origin of the breed is unknown but is probably from the native stock of the area along with introductions of various breeds. In 1855, Youatt and Martin mentioned there was a native stock in Gloucestershire that was of an unattractive dirty white color.
The Old Spots are among the large size pigs in England. At one time, they were called the Orchard Pig because they were partially raised on windfall apples and whey, waste agricultural products of the area. Gloucestershire Old Spots are said to be good foragers or grazers. This is not surprising considering the type of feeding practiced in the original home of the breed during its early development. The sows of the breed are known for large litters and high milk production. Prolificacy and milk production have been characteristics sought by practical producers everywhere. |
