A Heritage Pig
Large Black, They go by several names but here in Canada they are most commonly called the Large Black. This breed of swine is definitely one of my favourite breeds to raise and I am so excited to share with you about the Large Black Pig.
Large Black History
The Large Blacks are a British breed and were commonly found in Devon and Cornwall in the 1800s, thus the additional names. It is thought that the breed may have been developed in the 1800s using a mix of Chinese breeds that were imported to England. It isn’t known exactly when in the 1800s the breed began. However the breed gained popularity during the latter half of the 1800s and by the early 1900s had become quite numerous. With an Association formed in 1898. In the 1920s their popularity grew and the breed was exported to several countries one of which was the U.S. Selected for their large size and efficiency of production on pasture and forage.
Unfortunately after World War II the food industry had a huge change, as producers focused on increasing production and cutting costs. Indoor hog operations began to pop up by the 1920s. Breeds that had been hybrid to survive the rigors of the intense indoor operations were favored. This caused a decline in all heritage breed populations including the Large Black. By the 1960s they were almost extinct. Luckily the breed was kept alive and is slowly making a come back as the slow food movement and raising meat on pasture grow momentum. The Large Black is still one of the most rare British pig breeds to this day and is still threatened by extinction. They are currently listed as Endangered on the Livestock Conservancy of America.
Characteristics of the Large Black
In appearance as one might expect the Large Black breed is elegant with a large frame. They sport both solid black skin and hair. Large lop ears fall forward over their face, which impedes their sight but also protects their eyes during rooting and foraging. Having dark skin protects them from the sun allowing them to do well in open pastures. They have a long back and belly, deep and wide chest and strong straight legs. Covering their bodies are is straight black silky hair. Large Blacks should have a straight underline with at least 12 evenly spaced teats, starting well forward.
So, just how large is large you ask? From our experience they can easily tip the scales at 700+ lbs. for both females and males alike. This is a breed that is prone to obesity, which can cause a decrease in fertility and issues with cystic ovaries in the females. Size of jowls is a good indicator of how obesity in this breed. It is important to consistently monitor body condition and feed accordingly.
Temperament?
Of course it isn’t all about their looks! This unique breed has so much to offer in personality. Known to be one of the most docile and friendly breeds of hogs alive today. Both the boars and sows should be inherently friendly. Always use caution around boars and mothering sows but over all they are extremely docile.
Known as the dog of the pig world, these amazing creatures can learn their name and will follow their owners around. They enjoy a good scratch and some hangout time. They move slowly, which research suggests is because of their large lop ears obstructing their vision. Relying on scent and hearing to navigate their surroundings, you’ll find they “freeze” when they hear you approach as they determine if you’re friend or foe. For this reason it is always a good idea to speak to them as you arrive in their pen.
Can They Handle Our Canadian Climate?
Of course in Canada, raising heritage swine we have a couple things we need to take into consideration. How are they in the hot summer and how are they in the brutal cold? What kind of food do they do best on? What set up do they need? The Large Black is extremely hardy and handles the Canadian prairie winters quite well. Always offer shelter from the elements and provide them with deep bedding. They will cuddle together to stay warm throughout the cold winter nights. In the summer they require LOTS of water to both wallow and drink. They can overheat quite quickly during the hottest times of summer and need a large wallow to cool off and shade to rest in.
Large Blacks are a true heritage breed with strong foraging and grazing qualities. It is said that a full grown sow can live almost entirely off of foraging and grazing. Suppling a good pasture of legumes and young growing vegetation helps achieve this. We are extremely excited to learn more about raising with mostly pasture. A young grower is said to be able to be raised on 50% quality pasture. Their remaining feed is supplemented with grains. This ability to forage is fantastic for the self sufficient homesteader a a better end product pork. They are relatively easy on pastures for their size and are easily trained to electric fences. They have fantastic maternal qualities and are able to raise and wean large litters in a pasture setup.
Conservation of the Large Black
This amazing breed was nearly lost in the 1960s. In the name of mass production in commercial barns this foraging and grazing pig simply could not handle a life in these operations. They fell out of favour for this reason and their numbers are still rapidly declining. In more recent years there have been several efforts to bring this unique heritage breed back from near extinction. Their numbers are still quite low worldwide and they are classified as endangered with the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. You can learn more about the numbers of tracked breeders through both the Large Black Association and the Livestock Conservancy.
The slow food movement and the increasing interest for raising pigs naturally has helped to bring this pig back into favour and we hope to see this momentum continue. Hogs & Horns Homestead conservation efforts of this breed go beyond ethical breeding. We believe through education and increased awareness we may see more small holders choose to breed the Large Blacks and are hopeful their numbers will continue to increase to a stable level. Check out our sounder HERE!
Large Blacks a Food Source
Of course, we raise pasture pigs for all they produce! So, what sets them apart? Why choose the Large Black pig? The meat is exceptional, filled with an old world flavour, truly succulent pork on the grill. The Large Black is a “bacon” breed – a breed bred for it’s long back and belly with a higher meat to fat ratio than your “lard” breeds. The Large Black boasts a darker colour in meat, though this will vary with the diet you provide. The pork is lean with micro marbling throughout. This breed offers fantastic bacon and is a great choice if you are looking for more of your traditional cuts with the enhanced flavour of the past.
They can reach butcher weight of 200-250 lbs. in 8-12 months depending on the feed you provide. This is a relatively fast grower for a heritage breed and is a great beginner meat pig.
In Conclusion
The Large Black pigs are my favourite, go to breed for a homestead meat pig. Their docility and friendliness is remarkable. Paired with their foraging and grazing ability that lend to the goal of self-sustainability so many of us have. Offering a larger carcass weight in a reasonable amount of time. Being a “bacon” breed they have reasonable meat to fat ratio, while still providing that delicious old world flavour we are all after! A truly remarkable breed, one worth saving!
