Here are some of the best pig breeds for pasture.
Berkshire – These pigs are known for their excellent mothering skills and their ability to thrive in all climates. They grow fast, but they are not as lean as other breeds.
Duroc – This is a large breed that produces lean meat with little fat. They are also known for their good mothering instincts and their ability to produce more offspring than most breeds.
Landrace – These pigs have a wide range of colors and sizes due to their mixed ancestry. They are known for being hardy, friendly, easygoing and adaptable to different climates and environments.
Large White – These pigs are known for their rapid growth rate, high fertility levels and good mothering instincts. The Large White is one of the oldest pig breeds still in existence today!
Best Pig Breeds for Pasture
The following are some of the best pig breeds for pasture:
Yorkshire Pigs
Yorkshire pigs are a medium-sized breed that originated in Yorkshire, England. They were originally used for bacon production and as a meat source for people. Yorkshire pigs have a black or white head and grayish-brown body with a straight tail. They are the most popular pig breed in the United States, accounting for over 30% of all pigs raised in that country.
Duroc Pigs
Duroc pigs are a large to very large breed that originated in the U.S. state of Iowa around 1875 by crossbreeding Large White and China stocks. The breed was developed primarily as a meat hog breed and is known for its excellent growth rate and lean carcass characteristics. Duroc hogs have black or red heads, backs and legs with white undersides; however their overall color can range from solid black and white to solid red with white undersides due to cross breeding with other breeds such as Berkshires or Poland Chinas
The best pig breeds for pasture include Tamworth and Gloucester Old Spot, which are known for their ability to thrive outdoors.
Tamworth
Tamworth pigs are a hardy breed that originated in the Tamworth district of Staffordshire, England. They are known for their very thick skin and superb marbling. These traits make them particularly well suited for outdoor pasturing.
Gloucester Old Spot
The Gloucester Old Spots were developed in the 1800s from a mixture of native English breeds, including the Large Black and Suffolk. They have long been famous for their hardiness and deep red coloration. The Gloucester Old Spot is also an excellent choice for pasturing outdoors because it does not need shelter from cold weather or hot sun like some other breeds do
Yorkshire, Tamworth, Large Black and Gloucester are the most common breeds of pig bred for meat and raised on pasture.
There are many breeds of pig that can be raised on pasture, but most of them require more expensive fencing than these four. The pigs listed below are good choices for the homesteader who wants to raise livestock but doesn’t have the money or space for an elaborate pasture setup.
Yorkshire
The Yorkshire pig is a medium-sized breed with an average weight of 350 to 450 pounds at maturity. It has a white body with black spots on its head and back and a black stripe down its spine. The Yorkshire is one of the most popular breeds in England because it produces lean meat in large quantities, which is why it’s often called a “meat” pig rather than an “exotic” breed.
Tamworth
The Tamworth is a large breed known for its distinctive markings: white with colored patches on its face and body along with dark brown patches on its legs and tail. Its average weight at maturity is about 600 pounds — about twice as heavy as a Yorkshire — so you’ll need more space to keep them if you want them for meat rather than breeding stock
There are over 40 different pig breeds in the United States, and many of them are excellent for pasture or small-scale farming. Here are five of my favorites:
- Berkshire
The Berkshire is a large breed that originated in Britain and was developed for slaughtering. They have a black nose and ears, with a white body and red spots on their skin. Their meat is marbled with fat, making it tender and flavorful.
- Duroc
The Duroc is one of the most popular breeds in North America. It has been around since 1811, when it was created by combining two other breeds (the Yorkshire and the Norfolk). These large pigs are known for their hardiness and good temperaments, which make them easy to manage even on pasture. They also have thick skin that protects them from sunburns while they’re grazing in warm weather (which can happen when you raise pigs outside). Their meat is leaner than that of other breeds, but still flavorful because it has more marbling than the meat from a typical commercial piglet (though not as much as you’d find with a Berkshire).
- Hampshire
The Hampshire was developed by crossing an old English breed called