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| The '''Large Black''', occasionally called the Devon or Cornwall Black, is a breed of ] native to ], particularly ], ] and ]. The Large Black is accurately named, as it is a large swine breed and is the only British pig that is entirely black. It is a hardy and docile pig, with Large Black ] also known for having large ]s. | The '''Large Black''', occasionally called the Devon or Cornwall Black, is a breed of ] native to ], particularly ], ] and ]. The Large Black is accurately named, as it is a large swine breed and is the only British pig that is entirely black. It is a hardy and docile pig, with Large Black ] also known for having large ]s. | ||
| Influenced by Chinese and French stock, two types of the breed, one from Essex and one from Devon and Cornwall, were originally found. With the founding of a ] in 1898, variations between the two types decreased. |
Influenced by Chinese and French stock, two types of the breed, one from Essex and one from Devon and Cornwall, were originally found. With the founding of a ] in 1898, variations between the two types decreased. The Large Black was popular in the early 1900s and was exported to many areas of the world. Population numbers declined after the ] as breeders looked for breeds more suitable to ], and by the 1960s the breed was almost extinct. Numbers have slowly risen, but it is still considered vulnerable by the ], the ], and ]. | ||
| == History == | == History == | ||
Revision as of 10:48, 6 February 2012
 Large Black sow and piglets (foreground) | |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable; in USA, critical |
|---|---|
| Other names | Devon pig, Cornwall Black |
| Nicknames | Large Black Hog |
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Traits | |
| Weight |
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The Large Black, occasionally called the Devon or Cornwall Black, is a breed of domestic pig native to Great Britain, particularly Devon, Cornwall and Essex. The Large Black is accurately named, as it is a large swine breed and is the only British pig that is entirely black. It is a hardy and docile pig, with Large Black sows also known for having large litters.
Influenced by Chinese and French stock, two types of the breed, one from Essex and one from Devon and Cornwall, were originally found. With the founding of a breed association in 1898, variations between the two types decreased. The Large Black was popular in the early 1900s and was exported to many areas of the world. Population numbers declined after the Second World War as breeders looked for breeds more suitable to intensive pig farming, and by the 1960s the breed was almost extinct. Numbers have slowly risen, but it is still considered vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, and Rare Breeds Canada.
History
The Large Black resulted from the amalgamation of black pigs from south-west England and those of East Anglia. In 1810, they were described in the following manner: "...distinguished by their gigantic size, they are the largest of the kind I have ever seen, and as perfect a make as possible in pigs; their heads are large, with very long ears hanging down on each side of the face, so they can scarcely see their way." The pigs from East Anglia, mainly Essex, were strongly influenced by importations from China in the late 18th century, while those from Devon and Cornwall were probably much more closely related to the pigs on mainland Europe, particularly France. Alternative origins proposed for the black color of the breed are black Guinea hogs imported from Africa (similar to the Guinea Hog of the U.S.) or from Neapolitan pigs.
The Devon pigs were originally selected for "the length of their bodies, ears, noses, tail and hair, the longer the better, without reference to quality or substance," but selective breeding brought improvements to the breed, and by 1850 the type was small-boned and thick-bodied, with good conformation and constitution. The two types were very distinct by the late 1880s, but after the founding of the breed association, breeding stock was increasingly exchanged between the two regions, and variations decreased.
During the late 19th century, the Large Black grew enormously in popularity. In 1899, a breed association, the Large Black Pig Society, was formed. By 1900, Large Blacks were one of the most popular and numerous English pig breeds. In the early 1900s, the Large Black was exported to mainland Europe, North and South America, Africa and Oceania. The first American imports were in the 1920s, but the population dwindled to the point where imports were again necessary in 1985.
Popularity of the breed peaked in the 1920s, however, and after World War II, population numbers declined as farmers began to favor breeds that would do well in intensive indoor farming of pigs. The breed association was merged with the National Pig Breeders Association (later the British Pig Association) in 1949. During the 1960s the breed almost became extinct, and in 1973 it was placed on the British Rare Breeds Survival Trust endangered livestock list.
The Large Black population is listed as "critical" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, which means that less than 200 animals are registered each year in the United States, and there are estimated to be less than 2,000 in existence worldwide. Rare Breeds Canada identified the single remaining Canadian herd in 1997, and has since included the breed on its conservation watchlist as "endangered" with less than 500 of the animals in that country. It remains on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust conservation list; this organization considers the population "vulnerable", meaning there are believed to be between 200 and 300 breeding females in existence. It remains one of the least populous pig breeds from Britain, although numbers are slowly on the rise due to an increase in demand for meat from traditional pig breeds. The British Pig Association currently recognizes 6 boar lines and 24 sow lines within the breed.
Description
The Large Black is a long, deep-bodied pig, well known for its hardiness and suitability for extensive farming. It is the only pig breed in Britain to be all black, and this trait helps protect the pig from sunburn in sunny climates. Temperamentally, the Large Black is a very docile breed which is easily contained by fencing, partly because its large, drooping ears obscure its vision.
The breed is also known for the length of its fertility and strong maternal instincts. Sows give birth to a large litter of 8–10 piglets, but some sows have been known to have litters of up to 13 piglets. Also of note is the Large Black sow listed in the Guinness Book of Records for having produced 26 litters between 1940 and 1952 – the largest number of litters ever recorded in a pig. Boars weigh 700 to 800 pounds (320 to 360 kg) and sows around 600 to 700 pounds (270 to 320 kg), although obesity in sows sometimes results in cystic ovaries and a loss of fertility. The breed has become larger over the years, as in the early 1900s, weights averaged 500 pounds (230 kg) for sows and larger for boars.
At its peak of popularity, the Large Black was used mainly for meat production, especially bacon. The meat from the Large Black is known for its quality and flavor, but for pork production it was often crossed with the Yorkshire and Middle White pigs, producing a commercially well-regarded and vigorous hybrid.
References
- ^ Alderson, R (1994). Rare Breeds. Laurence King Publishing. pp. 27–28. ISBN 1856690520.
- ^ "The Large Black". British Pig Association. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- ^ Janet Vorwald Dohner (2001). The encyclopedia of historic and endangered livestock and poultry breeds. Yale University Press. pp. 189–190. ISBN 9780300088809.
- ^ Plumb, Charles Sumner (1920). Types and Breeds of Farm Animals. Country life education. Ginn. p. 762.
- ^ "Large Black Pig". American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- "Breed History". Large Black Pigbreeders Club. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
- "Breed Information – ALBC Conservation Priority List". American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- "Parameters of Livestock Breeds on the ALBC Conservation Priority List (2007)". American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- "Pig Breeds". Rare Breeds Canada. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- "RBST Watchlist 2011" (PDF). Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
- ^ Carol Ekarius (2008). Storey's illustrated breed guide to sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs: 163 breeds from common to rare. Storey Publishing. p. 197. ISBN 9781603420365.
- "Pigs - Large Black". Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Retrieved 2011-08-22.