Hampshire hog is a domestic facts swine breed from England. The Hampshire is a cross between the West Country and the Tamworth breeds of pig. Due to its lean meat, the Hampshire was historically used for bacon, hams, and pork chops.
It is one of the three breeds that qualify for use in organic agriculture programs in North America and Europe. In the British Isles, the Hampshire hog is one of three native pig breeds, along with the Tamworth and the Hereford; all three are now extinct in their native land.
To create this new breed, local farmers crossbred their stock with Tamworth, and Berkshire pigs brought to Hampshire County by traders from east England. The resulting tricky, lean pigs earned the Hampshire its name.
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Hampshire hog facts
The Hampshire has a long head and small, well-set ears. The snout is short, and the forehead is flat. The coat is short and tight, with no hair on the hog’s body, legs, or tail. The skin color of the Hampshire hog can be any shade of red, with white or tan marks; in some Latin American countries such as Colombia and Panama, the hog’s skin color may also be green or yellowish-green.
How to identify Hampshire hog?
A full-fleshed hog is very easy to identify; the bristles on the hog’s neck and ears, its size, the color of its skin, and the length of its snout are distinctively different from any other breed. It has two types of bristles on its head:
long hair in the middle (conical) and a short bristle on each side (round). The bristles on the head and ears can be black, gray, brown, or white. The bristles on this breed of hog are white. Male hogs have more pronounced bristles than females.
The shoulder height of Hampshire hog facts is 62-80 cm (24-32 inches). Weight is 40–65 kg (88-143 pounds). The head of the average Hampshire hog fact is round, with a small snout. The throat covers the neck in a V shape, and the trunk has no humps or wrinkles.
Hampshire hog Characteristics
Smaller in size than other swine breeds. Has lean meat with a high ratio of pork and bacon to fat. Distinctive small ears set wide on the head. The ears can be white or black. The long bristles on the snouts of mature hogs are grayish, sometimes brassy, and longer than those of pigs from other breeds but shorter than those of the Tamworth breed (Tamworths have no bristles at all.
Uses of Hampshire hog
Hampshire hog facts is a meat type. Bacon, hams, and sausages are made from the leaner parts of this breed, which is used on commercial farms. Also, the smaller size of Hampshire hogs makes it a good choice for family farms.
Best 5 advantages of Hampshire hog
- Lean meat ratio.
- The size of the hogs makes them easier to handle on family farms and slaughterhouses.
- Small ears, which are not a problem for the hogs to lose water from their bodies during hot weather.
- The long bristles on the head and snout of mature hogs allow for easy identification of both genders, without much work after eight months, making it easier to raise the Hampshire hog anywhere manure and litter are abundantly provided by other livestock breeds.
- Hampshire hogs grow slowly and are not as prolific as other breeds, so they are not a burden to the environment and natural resources.
Hampshire pig disadvantages
- The Hampshire hog facts are more minor in size than other breeds.
- The hog is not as prolific as other breeds. The litter size is usually two to three piglets, but some sows can have litters of up to seven piglets.
- The meat ratio of the hog is low because it is a lean breed. Leaner meat has a higher percentage of pork and bacon over fat, which means the hog will not be as profitable as other breeds.
- The small size of the hog’s ears makes it easy for them to lose moisture from their bodies during hot weather.
- The lack of long bristles on the ears and snouts is a disadvantage for breeding. It is difficult to identify both genders because there are no differences in the appearance of immature pigs of both sexes. The bristles that appear later in life can only be used to determine gender after eight months.
Hampshire pig lifespan
Hampshire pig facts can live from 9 to 11 years.
Feeding Hampshire hog
The Hampshire hog is an omnivorous pig, so it will eat anything from the coarse fodder of grain, hay, and grass to the stems, leaves, and roots of shrubs and trees. It is suitable for the swine to have a balanced diet of roughage (grasses, hay, and other field foods) in conjunction with grains (corn and soybeans).
Conclusion
The Hampshire hog is smaller than other breeds but has excellent meat quality. It has lean meat with a high ratio of pork and bacon to fat. The hog’s tiny ears. Make it easy for pigs to lose moisture from their bodies during hot weather. It is difficult to identify both genders because there are no differences in the appearance of immature pigs of both sexes.
