Terminal breeds are breeds that are raised for their meat. They are the most common and well-known types of swine.
Here are some of the most popular terminal breeds of swine:
Yorkshire – The Yorkshire is one of the best known breeds of pig in the UK. It has a long history, with records going back to at least 1730. It is also one of the oldest European pig breeds still in existence today. The Yorkshire was bred to be a versatile breed; it could be raised for either pork or bacon production and was also known as a good milk producer. Today, this breed is primarily used for meat production due to its high feed conversion ratio.
Berkshire – The Berkshire pig was developed in England during the 19th century and bred specifically for pork production rather than just being an all-around farm animal like many other breeds at that time. Because they were bred specifically for pork production, Berkshires tend to have larger livers, hearts, kidneys and loins than other breeds which makes them ideal for making bacon and hams but not so much for roasting or grilling because these cuts tend to dry out when cooked quickly over high heat like on a grill or barbeque pit.
The terminal breeds of swine are the purebred or foundation breeds. These breeds have been developed for specific traits that are not found in other breeds. In addition, they are the only ones that will produce offspring with the same genetic makeup as the parent. The terminal breeds of swine are Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire.
Terminal Breeds Of Swine
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) is dedicated to conserving livestock and poultry breeds by identifying genetic traits that may become important in breeding programs for future generations. The ALBC has identified five distinct groups of swine based on their genetic characteristics:
Terminal Breeds of Swine
Terminal Breeds of Swine include the Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire breeds. These breeds were developed for specific traits such as size and weight gain ability that cannot be found in other breeds.
Terminal breeds of swine are those that are usually raised on large operations and sent to slaughter at a younger age than other breeds. They are generally larger, more aggressive and faster growing than other breeds.
Here is a list of the most commonly raised terminal breeds:
Duroc: The Duroc breed originated in the United States, where it was developed from the English Duroc. It is known for its fast growth rate and uniformity. It was first recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1907 as one of three hybridized populations of pigs (the other two were Chester White and Poland China). Today it is one of the most popular breeds in North America, used primarily as a terminal grower for meat production but also as a source of breeding stock for many other swine breeds.
Terminal breeds of swine are those that are bred for slaughter and have no further use. They are usually very large, with a high percentage of fat, and have short lifespans compared to other breeds of swine.
Terminal breeds include the Tamworth, Large Black, Ossabaw Island Hog and Gloucestershire Old Spot.
The Tamworth is an English breed that was developed in the 1940s from crosses between Large Whites and Large Blacks. It is a large pig with short hair and red skin. The Tamworth has a high capacity for growth and a lean carcass with good quality meat. The breed was originally developed for bacon production but today it is primarily used as a terminal breed by commercial producers due to its fast growth rate, lean meat production and ease of management on pasture systems.
The following is a listing of the major terminal breeds of swine in North America.
The breed name is followed by the breed code and its origin. The breed code consists of two letters and a number, which represents the breed’s place in the hierarchy of swine breeds recognized by the American National Swine Registry (ANS) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Duroc: DUR, American/English.
Yorkshire: YOR, British/European.
Berkshire: BER, British/European.
Piedmontese: PIED, Italian/Germanic.