| Large Black | |
|---|---|
Large Blacks (juveniles in foreground) |
|
| Conservation status | Critical (in USA) |
| Other names | Devon pig |
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Nicknames | Large Black Hog |
| Traits | |
| Weight | Male: 700 to 800 pounds (320 to 360 kg) |
| Weight | Female: 600 to 700 pounds (270 to 320 kg) |
| Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus.) | |
The Large Black or Devon pig is a breed of domestic pig native to Great Britain, particularly Devon, Cornwall and Essex. It is a large breed, and is the only British pig which is wholly black. Influenced by Chinese and French stock, two types of the breed, one from Essex and one from Devon and Cornwall, were originally found. After the founding of a breed association in 1898, variations between the two types decreased. After becoming popular in the early 1900s and being exported to many areas of the world, population numbers declined post-World War II as breeders looked for breeds that were more suitable to intensive indoor farming. After almost going extinct in the 1960s, population numbers have slowly risen, although it is still considered to be vulnerable to extinction by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. The Large Black is a hardy, docile breed, and sows are known for having large litters.
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The Large Black resulted from the amalgamation of black pigs from south-west England with those of East Anglia.[1] In 1810, they were described as, "...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."[2] 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.[1] 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.[3] 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.[2]
During the late 19th century, the Large Black gained in popularity. In 1898 a breed association (the Large Black Pig Society) was formed and by 1900 it was one of the most populous English pig breeds. In the early 1900s, the Large Black was exported to mainland Europe, North and South America, Africa and Oceania. Popularity 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 settings.[4] The breed association was merged with the National Pig Breeders Association (later the British Pig Association) in 1949.[5] During the 1960s the breed almost became extinct, and in 1973 it was placed on the British Rare Breeds Survival Trust endangered livestock list.[4]
The Large Black population is listed as "critical" by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy,[6] 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.[7] It remains on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust conservation list; this organization considers the population "vulnerable", meaning there are between 200 and 300 breeding females believed to exist.[8] It remains one of the least populous pig breeds from Britain,[4] 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.[2]
The Large Black is a long, deep-bodied pig, known for its hardiness and suitability for raising outdoors. It is the only pig breed in Britain to be all black.[2] The Large Black is a very docile breed, possibly because its large, drooping ears obscure its vision.[1] 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.[1] The breed is also known for the length of its fertility, with the Guinness Book of Records listing a Large Black sow as having produced 26 litters between 1940 and 1952 - the largest number of litters ever recorded in a pig.[9] 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.[4] The breed has become larger over the years, as in the early 1900s, weights averaged 500 pounds (230 kg) for sows and slightly larger for boars.[3]
At its peak of popularity, the Large Black was used mainly for meat production and crossing with the Yorkshire breed (also known as the Large White) - this cross provided a commercially well-regarded and vigorous hybrid.[4] The meat from the Large Black is known for its eating quality and flavor.[2]
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