American Landrace pig facts for kids
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Denmark |
| Traits | |
| Notes | |
| Derives from Danish Landrace | |
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The American Landrace is a type of domestic pig. These pigs are usually medium to large in size. They have white skin, long bodies, and soft hair. You can easily spot them by their long snouts and big, floppy ears. Farmers mostly raise American Landrace pigs to produce pork.
Where Did the American Landrace Pig Come From?
The American Landrace pig originally came from Denmark. It developed from the Danish Landrace breed around 1895.
In the early 1930s, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) bought 24 Danish Landrace pigs. They wanted to use these pigs for research studies. There was a rule that the pigs could not be raised for sale as a pure breed.
Later, these pigs were compared with other American pig breeds. In 1949, Denmark allowed the United States to breed them freely. The American Landrace Association was then created in 1950.
The American Landrace breed was officially started using pigs from Norway and Sweden. These included the Swedish Landrace and the Norwegian Landrace. A small amount of Poland China pig blood was also added. The Poland China pig breed first came from Ohio.
What Do American Landrace Pigs Look Like?
The American Landrace is a long, lean, white pig. They usually have 16 or 17 ribs. Their heads are long and narrow. Their ears are large and heavy, hanging forward close to their snout.
Their back is often almost flat or only slightly curved. Their sides are smooth and well-muscled. The ham, which is the upper part of the leg, is full but not too fatty.
Good Mothers
American Landrace sows, which are female pigs, are known for being good mothers. They produce a lot of milk for their piglets. Their milk production is highest around five weeks after birth. This is a bit later than many other pig breeds. They also have many piglets in each litter.
