British Saddleback facts for kids
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| Conservation status | FAO (2007): endangered-maintained |
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Use | dual-purpose, pork and bacon |
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The British Saddleback is a modern British breed of domestic pig. It was created in 1967 by merging the surviving populations of two traditional saddleback breeds, the Essex and Wessex Saddleback.
History
The British Saddleback was created in 1967 by merging the remaining populations of two quite different traditional saddleback breeds, the Essex and the Wessex Saddleback, into a single herd-book. Both breeds had declined following the publication of the Howitt report in 1955, which found breed diversity to be a handicap to the pig industry in Britain, and established a policy of concentrating production on three breeds only: the Welsh, the British Landrace and the Large White.
During the Second World War some 47% of the total pedigree sow registrations were from the Essex and Wessex breeds. In 1949 there were 2435 licensed Essex and Wessex boars, almost 25% of the total number. By 1954, sow registrations for the two breeds had fallen to 22% of the total, and fewer than 10% of registered boars were from the Essex and Wessex breeds. The recommendation of the time was to cross-breed saddleback sows with a white boar to produce a dual-purpose pig, for both pork and bacon production.
The British Saddleback was listed as "endangered-maintained" by the FAO in 2007. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust lists it as a "minority breed" rather than a rare breed. In 2012 the population was reported to be 882.
Characteristics
The British Saddleback is large and deep in the body. It is black with a white saddle, sheet or band round the withers, shoulders and front legs; some white is allowed on the nose, tail and hind feet. It is lop-eared.
Use
The British Saddleback is hardy, forages well, and has good maternal qualities. It is a dual-purpose breed, used for the production of both pork and bacon. It has secured a niche in outdoor and organic production.
Saddlebacks have been exported to Nigeria and the Seychelles where the pigs have performed on coarse grazing in hot climatic conditions.
