British Lop facts for kids
A British Lop sow at a pig show
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| Conservation status | Rare breed |
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| Other names | Devon Lop, Cornish White, National Long White Lop-eared Pig (former) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
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| Skin color | white |
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The British Lop is a special type of pig breed from the United Kingdom. It's a big, white pig. You can easily spot it because of its large ears. These ears hang down over its face! This breed was created by mixing several local pig types in England. It got its current name, the British Lop, in the 1960s.
Contents
History of the British Lop Pig
The first records of the British Lop pig come from the areas of Cornwall and Devon. These are counties in England. The town of Tavistock was especially important.
Early Connections to Other Breeds
The British Lop might be related to other pig breeds. These include the Welsh pig and Landrace pigs from Scandinavia. It could also be connected to Normande pigs from France. For a while in the 1920s, the British Lop and Welsh pig even shared a single record book.
How the Breed Grew and Declined
The first official book for the breed was published in 1921. This happened after the breed became popular at the Devon County Show. By the late 1930s, many purebred Lops were recorded. Most of them were in the southwest of England.
After World War II, the British government suggested focusing on only three pig breeds. These were the Large White, Welsh, and Landrace. This decision caused the numbers of other pig breeds, like the British Lop, to drop. During the 1960s and 1970s, only about 11 farmers kept the British Lop going.
What Makes British Lops Special?
The British Lop is a large pig with white skin. It has those famous lop ears that hang down. This pig is very sturdy and deep in its body. It looks different from the similar Welsh or Landrace pigs.
Living Outdoors and Unique Traits
This breed was developed to live mostly by grazing. This means they can eat grass and plants outdoors. Many British Lops are still raised outside today. Unlike most British pig breeds, the British Lop did not get much influence from Asian pigs. Many other breeds used Asian pigs in their breeding during the 1800s.
Temperament and Weight Gain
British Lops are known for their gentle nature. They are also good at gaining lean weight. This means they develop more muscle than fat.
Current Status of the British Lop
Today, there are more British Lop pigs than there were in the 1960s and 70s. However, the breed is still considered endangered. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust lists it as a rare breed. A famous chef, Clarissa Dickson Wright, once said that "The British Lop is rarer than the Giant Panda." This shows how few of them there are!
