Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Breed of the Week!

This weeks Breed of the Week is the American Hampshire!


The Hampshire pig is a domestic swine breed characterised by erect ears and a black body with a whitish band around the middle, covering the front legs.
The American National Swine Registry notes that this is the third "most recorded breed" of pigs in the United States, and probably the oldest American breed of hogs.[Full citation needed] It is thought that importations of this hog breed were made from Hampshire in England between 1827 and 1839.[1] Pigs remaining in this part of England developed later into theWessex Saddleback, a similarly colored pig, but with flop ears.
Hampshire hogs are noted for being well-muscled and rapid growers and for exhibiting good carcass quality in their capacity as meat animals.[2] 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.[3]

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