Berkshire pig facts for kids

The Berkshire is a special type of pig that comes from England. It's named after the English county of Berkshire, where it first appeared. These pigs are usually black, but they have some white spots on their nose, lower legs, and the tip of their tail.

In the United Kingdom, the Berkshire pig is quite rare. However, it has been sent to many other countries like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States. In some of these places, there are many Berkshire pigs.

History of the Berkshire Pig

The Berkshire pig is thought to have started in Reading, which is a town in Berkshire, England. It is one of the oldest types of pigs in England. It was also the first pig breed to have its family tree recorded in special books called herd books.

Today, groups like the Rare Breeds Survival Trust help keep herds of Berkshire pigs in England. You can find them at places like Aldenham Country Park in Hertfordshire and the South of England Rare Breeds Centre in Kent.

In 2008, the Berkshire pig was considered "vulnerable," meaning there were fewer than 300 breeding female pigs left. But because of its popularity, especially in Japan, the number of these pigs has grown.

Long ago, before the 1700s, Berkshire pigs looked different. They were large, brownish-yellow pigs with floppy ears and often had darker patches. But in the late 1700s and early 1800s, they were bred with smaller, black pigs from Asia. This changed their look to what we see today.

What Makes a Berkshire Pig Special?

Berkshire pigs are medium-sized. Adult male pigs, called boars, usually weigh about 280 kilograms (around 617 pounds). Adult female pigs, called sows, weigh about 220 kilograms (around 485 pounds).

They are easy to spot because they are black with six white markings:

• Four white "socks" on their feet.
• A white splash on their snout (nose).
• A white tip on their tail.

They also have ears that stand straight up.

Why is Berkshire Pork Popular?

Berkshire pork is highly valued for being juicy, flavorful, and tender. It often has a pink color and a lot of marbling, which means it has small streaks of fat throughout the meat. This fat makes the meat great for cooking for a long time or at high temperatures.

Experts say that Berkshire pork also has a slightly higher pH level. This higher pH makes the meat darker, firmer, and even more flavorful. It's actually more important for the taste than the amount of fat in the meat.

Berkshire Pigs Around the World

Berkshire Pigs in Japan

Berkshire pigs were first sent to Japan in the 1860s. Since then, they have become very common there. In 2007, there were over 330,000 Berkshire pigs in Japan!

The Japanese Kagoshima Berkshire is a special type of pig that came from two British Berkshire pigs brought to Japan in the 1930s. It's now considered its own separate breed. The meat from these pigs is often sold as "Kurobuta pork" and can be quite expensive because it's so good.

Berkshire Pigs in the United States

In the United States, there's a group called the American Berkshire Association. It was started in 1875. This group only records pigs that came directly from established English herds or can be traced back to them.

This association was the very first group to keep records for pig breeds. The first pig ever recorded in their books was a male pig named "Ace of Spades," who was bred by Queen Victoria herself!

Images for kids

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  Berkshire pigs in a field.

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  A champion Berkshire sow in 1951.

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  Berkshire pigs resting.

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  An illustration of a Berkshire pig from 1882.