Module 3 - Swine Breeds
There is no perfect breed:
• personal preference
• individual merits of the breed
• financial capacity
• time involved
• man power/ skill
Mix and match according to the
farmer'needs
• General purpose of raising pigs:
○ Settle with the "ideal pig"
Lesson 3.1 - MAJOR SWINE BREEDS
Maternal: mothers/ sows Terminal: fathers/ sires
• Large litter size • Fast growth
• Good mothering ability • Quality Carcass
• Chester White, Landrace, • Duroc, Spot/Spotted, Hampshire
Berkshire
MAJOR BREEDS
Yorkshire aka "Large White"
• Origin: England
• Description:
○ Body color: white
○ Ears: medium-sized and erect
○ Snout: short and straight
○ Legs: strong and sturdy
• Qualities:
○ Carcass Quality: with lean meat and low backfat
○ Good mothering ability
○ Large litter size
○ Ranks 1st in most recorded breed of
swine inNorth America
Berkshire
• Origin: England
• Description:
○ Body color: black
○ Body Markings: six (6) white points on: feet
(4),face, and the tip
○ Body Size: medium
○ Ears: erect
○ Face: dish shaped
• Qualities:
○ Fast and efficient growth
○ Cleanness and meat flavor and value
○ Oldest in terms of swine registry in the world
○ Ranks 3rd in most recorded breed of swine in
theUnited States of America
Chester White
• Origin: Chester County, Pennsylvania
• Description:
○ Body color: white
○ Ears: medium-sized and droopy
• Qualities:
○ Good mothering ability
○ Durable
○ Soundness
○ Good muscle quality
Duro
Origin: United States of
America
Description:
○ Body color: ranges from light brown to very
darkred, mostly cherry red
○ Ears: medium-sized and droopy
○ Snout: short and straight
○ Head: small in proportion to its body
• Qualities:
○ Carcass Quality: good carcass quality and yield
○ Fast growth and lean-gain efficiency
○ Most resistant to stress
○ Females: prolific and longevity
○ Ranks 2nd in most recorded breed of
swine inthe United States of America
Hampshire aka "Thin Rind"
• Origin: England
• Description:
○ Body color: black
○ Body Markings: white belt including
theforelimbs
○ Ears: erect
• Qualities:
○ Carcass Quality: lean muscle, high carcass
quality
○ Minimal backfat
○ Large loin eyes
○ Females: good mothering ability and longevity
○ Ranks 4th in most recorded breed of swine
inthe United States of America
Poland China
• Origin: Ohio (1800's)
United States of America
• Description:
○ Developed by: Russian, Byfield, Big
China,Berkshire and Irish Grazer
○ Body Color: black
○ Body Markings: six (6) white points on:
feet(4), face, and the tip
○ Body Size: large
○ Ears: forward and droopy
• Qualities:
○ Carcass Quality: lean and muscular
○ Excellent feeders
○ Gains well under good care and management
○ Quiet in their disposition
○ Preferred sire breed
Spot/ Spotted
• Origin: Berkley Vale of Gloucestershire, England
• Description:
○ Body Markings: large black and white spots
○ Body Size: large
○ Ears: forward and droopy
• Qualities:
○ Feed efficiency
○ Carcass Quality: good and good rate gain
○ Preferred sire breed
○ Females: productivity, docility, and durability
Landrace
• Origin: Denmark
• Description:
○ Body Color: white
○ Body length: long
○ Ears: large and droopy
○ Snout: long and straight
○ Legs and Pastern: weak
• Qualities:
○ Females: heavy milkers and farrow large pigs
○ Carcass Weight: high percentage in ham,
loinand has the ideal amount of finish
○ Ranks 6th in most recorded breed of
swine inthe United States of America
PREFERRED MIX IN THE PHILIPPINES
F1
Landrace (Sire) Yorkshire (Sow)
Landrace x Yorkshire (Sow) Duroc (Sire)
F2
Landrace x Yorkshire x Duroc
