larger carcasses in a shorter period of time. The parent stock was never registered. This can be downside to this is these pigs are then sold at high very frustrating for the beginner pig producer who prices to unsuspecting buyers as purebred pigs. wants to do right by their chosen breed. Always Buyer Beware! make sure you see the parent’s papers or confirm One of the most striking and common tell-tale with the breed registrar before buying. But why Alison Martin and Jeannette Beranger offer advice signs of crossbreeding is when Pietrain genetics does this really matter? are crossed into a breed. This is particularly prob- on making the right choices when buying heritage lematic with Tamworth, Berkshire and Hereford • Conserving rare breeds: All of us who raise or traditional breed hogs hog populations today. The Pietrain pig is distinct- rare breeds and work to conserve them do ive with its long body and “double muscled” legs. so because of the unique characteristics of When crossed into a heritage breed, the cross will that breed. Each has just the right adaptation, Mangalitsa produce fast growing pigs with that long lean body personality, performance or appearance that The popularity of heritage (or traditional) breed animal is breeding quality; and third, make sure supported by heavily muscled legs. As early as makes it a breed. Conserving these character- hogs has skyrocketed in recent years, largely due to your investment in breeding stock is registered. one month of age these piglets will already begin istics means mating only within the breed; too numerous chefs discovering the fabulous flavor of to show heavy muscling. Unfortunately, the show many breeds have been lost when the purebreds how pork is supposed to taste. Know what you are buying ring favors this body type over the traditional “dirt used to create value in crossing were not main- Unfortunately, when it comes to heritage breeds, hog” of days past, so they are becoming more tained and “crossbred out of existence.” One There is nothing like the flavor of old-fashioned some folks are out to make a quick buck from commonplace and are a threat to preserving of the easiest ways to make sure that you and hogs raised on pasture or range and in a natural buyers who don’t have a complete understanding the historic breed genetics. others are keeping the breed true to its own environment. Popularity, however, can be a of how the pigs should look and how they should character is to use only registered purebred challenge for a rare breed—especially when some perform. Part of the reason that the flavor of these Another increasingly common cross is with Kune breeding stock. people are tempted by quick profits and high animals is so intense is due to slower growth. For Kune and Guinea Hogs. Guineas are a small, • Breed promotion: Maintaining and selecting for returns. When advising newcomers about how to producers, this can translate into higher feed costs traditional farmstead hog and are enjoying new breed characteristics ensures the same things Gloucestershire Old Spots get involved with heritage hogs, we always stress to get them to market. As a result, some have popularity with homesteaders and hobby farmers. that attracted one breeder will attract new three key points that can make or break success. chosen to introduce commercial genetics into their Because of their rarity, some producers faced with breeders. This is important even to those who First, know what you are buying; second, not every herds to improve growth rates and produce leaner, lack of diversity in their herds turned to the cross are raising their animals for market products. to produce “Guineas” in colors not normal for the Breeders who work together through the breed breed. Many are sandy with black spots—a com- association raise the level of awareness for both mon color in Kune Kune hogs, but non-existent in products and breeding stock. One needs to look purebred Guineas. From a genetic standpoint the no further than the highly successful marketing crosses may look similar, but are not the original program for Certified Angus . By registering breed and should not be sold as such. animals, we support breed associations and their n breed promotion efforts, which benefit all who eato

a H To avoid unintentionally purchasing crossbred raise the breed. hogs, educate yourself before you buy: Get to • Raising the value of your animals: Registering r; Ann

e

rf know the breed standards and talk to reputable your animals can raise the value of your animals. o

rd breeders. When you can expect to pay up to $500 To the educated buyer, registration helps to be

n Or for breeding stock, it really is time well spent. ensure they are buying the “real deal” and it

; Do shows the commitment of the producer to m r their breed. t Fa Not every animal is breeding quality id

hm • Protection from feral hog legislation: In states

c Typically only the top 10 percent of a population ; S

m that are aggressively trying to control this major

r is good enough for breeding. You cannot be certain

s Fa that a pig will be of breeding quality until it is at problem, it may be a challenge for wildlife service ow d least 6 months old. This poses a challenge for personnel to know the difference between a ea heritage breed hog and a feral hog. That piece h M breeders who may not have the resources to keep

; Hig of paper could prove to be quite handy!

m piglets around that long. They may have no choice r but to sell only young piglets. Most reputable Guinea hogs

ook Fa There’s a bright future for heritage pigs, but r breeders will guarantee their pigs should they

owb it’s our duty to be their stewards and not change

d prove infertile or develop a genetic problem that ea disqualifies the pig from being breeding stock. The them into commercial hogs. It would be tragic to lose centuries-old breeds for the sake of short-

): 1936 M other side of the coin is you must expect to pay more for quality stock. But it is worth the extra term profits in today’s markets. cost when you are buying the guarantee, and the bottomp to

to years of selective breeding put into producing For more information on heritage hog breeds, ht ( good productive representatives of the breed.

rig and what it takes to work with them, visit | z

e www.livestockconservancy.org r a

su Choose registered breeding stock Alison Martin, PhD is Executive Director and ke i

: m : Our office gets many calls from people that Jeannette Beranger is Senior Program Manager t f

Tamworth pigs l e bought “registerable” animals, only to find the at The Conservancy

12 • sustainable farming • spring 2017 spring 2017 • sustainable farming • 13