Large White Pig
Large White Pig commonly known as Yorkshire is a popular breed of swine originated in Yorkshire, England. The breed was developed by the crossing of a large indigenous white pig of North England with a smaller fatter white Chinese pig in 1761. From England, it is exported to different countries like the United States, Canada and the Philippines. Being a hardy breed, it can adapt to many climates which makes it preferable for commercial pig farming.
Large white was brought to America, Ohio in 1830 for the first time where it is called Large Yorkshire and Improved Large Yorkshire. Later, Selective breeding made it popular and favourite from the 1940s. Large white pig is used for bacon production in the temperate and pork production in the tropics. This breed is very susceptible to sunburn especially at the base of the ears.
Yorkshire is a docile breed of swine which can be easily instructed. They are an excellent breed with many desirable characteristics. So – They are crossed with other breeds to develop productive pigs. The lifespan of this breed is (6-10) years on average. The growth rate and meat accumulation of this breed is pretty impressive. According to the research paper published on FAO, Out of two breeds, Creole Pig and Large White Pig, the latter one has better performance in tropical climates. Creole Pig shows a 34% lower daily weight gain (P<0.001) and a fatter carcass than LW. The fat percentage was highest in Creole Pig at the age of 5 months while for LW it was highest at 6 months.
Large white pig is the founder breed of the National Pig Breeders Association ( British Pig Association) and the first herd book was published in 1884. It is also called “Modern Pig”.
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Breed Characters
- The body of this breed is large, long and white colour with a pinkish tint.
- The body is covered with fine white hairs.
- The ears are erect, thin, long and slightly pointed forward.
- The legs are long, sturdy with strong joints in comparison to other breeds of pig.
- Sows are prolific breeders and can give birth to 16 piglets in one farrowing.
- The face is dish-shaped and the skin is free from wrinkles.
- Medium-sized snout with rounded muzzle suited for sniffing and digging for food.
- The snout is small to medium with a slightly upturned nose.
- The tail is short and curly.
- Slightly arched back and long loins.
- The bodyweight of a large white pig is 250kg- 350kg (Boar) and 200kg – 300kg (Sow).
- Originally, they were developed to keep outdoors but they can be reared indoors in confined conditions also.
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Yorkshire Vs Landrace
➡️Yorkshire has erect ears while Landrace has floppy ears.
➡️Yorkshire have strong legs while Landrace have weak legs.
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Food/Feeding
Large white pigs also eat common foods like other breeds. They are omnivorous. It is an excellent converter of waste food into human food. They eat vegetables, Grains, Fruits, Meat. They also eat soil(Sometimes) for the taste.
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Reproduction
The sows are excellent breeders. Yorkshire reaches sexual maturity at 6-7 months old. They have a large body size and can reproduce a litter containing up to 16 piglets. The milk production of large white sows is very high.
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Disadvantages
They are large-sized. So – Ample space is required to keep them. Large white pigs are stubborn and are vulnerable to some diseases. As they aren’t picky eaters, sometimes they become sick due to food.
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Uses/Advantages
•They contribute a lot to the Pork and Bacon Industry.
•LW is also used for manure production.
•They are used for crossbreeding.
