Small White pig facts for kids
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A Small White, late 19th century
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| Conservation status | extinct |
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| Other names | Small Yorkshire |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
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The Small White or Small Yorkshire was a type of pig that lived in Britain a long time ago. It was very popular in the 1800s. Sadly, this pig breed is now extinct, meaning there are no more Small White pigs alive today. Even though they are gone, their special features helped create other pig breeds, like the Middle White pig.
The Small White Pig: History and Features
The Small White pig was first developed in the early 1800s. Breeders created it by mixing two different types of pigs. They crossed the large, traditional Old Yorkshire pig with smaller pigs brought in from China.
This mix created a pig that was quite small. It had a pure white coat and ears that stood straight up, called "pricked ears." Its head was wide and short, and it had a cute, short snout that turned up a bit, just like the Chinese pigs. These pigs also grew up very quickly and gained weight fast. People like Henry Reynolds-Moreton, 2nd Earl of Ducie helped make the Small White pig even better over time.
The Small White pig was mostly bred to be a show pig. This means it was raised to look good in competitions, not usually for meat. Rich people and those who raised pigs as a hobby loved them. Regular farmers did not use them as much.
How the Middle White Pig Was Created
The Small White pig was great for breeding with other types of pigs. It was often crossed with the Cumberland pig (which is also extinct now) and the Large White pig. Both of these were also from Yorkshire.
This mixing led to a new pig breed! It happened after a pig show in 1852 in a town called Keighley. A weaver named Joseph Tuley had some pigs that were not allowed in the Large White pig class. This was because they were too small. He had bred them by crossing Large White mother pigs with Small White father pigs.
Even though they were too small for that class, Tuley's pigs were so good that people decided to create a brand new breed just for them. This new breed was called the Middle White. The Middle White pig became very popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It still has the unique pricked ears and short snout that came from the Small White pig.
Why the Small White Pig Disappeared
As the Middle White pig became more and more popular, the Small White pig breed started to decline. By the early 1900s, there were hardly any Small White pigs left. The last Small White pig died in 1912, and the breed became extinct.
