Hampshire (pig)
Encyclopedia
The Hampshire pig is a domestic swine
breed characterized 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 is the third "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. Pigs remaining in this part of England developed later into the Wessex Saddleback
, a similarly colored pig, but with flop ears. Residents of Hampshire are often colloquially referred to as 'Hampshire Hogs', 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". Hampshires are good tempered; they do not grow as fast as many cross-breds, but they do grow faster than Yorkshires
.
Domestic pig
The domestic pig is a domesticated animal that traces its ancestry to the wild boar, and is considered a subspecies of the wild boar or a distinct species in its own right. It is likely the wild boar was domesticated as early as 13,000 BC in the Tigris River basin...
breed characterized 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 is the third "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
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
between 1827 and 1839. Pigs remaining in this part of England developed later into the Wessex Saddleback
Wessex Saddleback
The Wessex Saddleback or Wessex Pig is a breed of domestic pig originating in the West Country of England, , especially in Wiltshire and the New Forest area of Hampshire. It is black, with white forequarters. In Britain it was amalgamated with the Essex pig to form the British Saddleback, and it...
, a similarly colored pig, but with flop ears. Residents of Hampshire are often colloquially referred to as 'Hampshire Hogs', 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". Hampshires are good tempered; they do not grow as fast as many cross-breds, but they do grow faster than Yorkshires
American Yorkshire pig
The American Yorkshire, a breed of domestic pig, is the American version of the Yorkshire pig , white in color, with erect ears, and the most recorded swine breed in the United States....
.