Re: pigs - traditional breeds

Greg & Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Tue, 23 Mar 1999 23:50:42 -0500

I don't think the minor breeds have played a large role in US sustainable
hog production. They should have a huge role to play. It should be
alarming the lack of diversity in all livestock genetics. The biggest
drawback is some do not fit easily in the traditional marketing channels.
I've raised Tamworth pigs. They are the toughest outdoor hog I have ever
seen. But they do have a lower percent lean because of a smaller loin size
than the traditional, intensely selected breeds. I know of one natural
meat distributor that will not allow them because of tougher meat(they
don't have the internal muscling of say a Duroc) and they also have small,
kidney shaped loins. I'd like to say it isn't true, but I have cut too
many of them up on the kitchen table. And they are much harder to keep in
on an electric fence. HOWEVER, they will survive in conditions and on feed
that should give them the title of the low input hog machine. They are as
suited today as they were for their role in the orchards of England last
century as scavenger animals. I have crossbreds available that would make
an excellent addition to an organic orchard to clean up the dropped fruit
so diseases aren't carried over to the following season. So far, I have
never sold a single one for this reason. I think that is a shame. I don't
think we can afford to lose them and therefore I will also raise a few in
my breed rotation. In the long term they are going to need to have a
commercial use to justify their existence. Its obvious that with the
current hog market that this farm cannot justify them long term for
philosophical reasons!
Best wishes,
Greg
Gunthorp's Pasture-ized Pork
LaGrange, Indiana
visit our farm at www.grassfarmer.com

----------
> From: holocene@juno.com
> To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu
> Subject: pigs - traditional breeds
> Date: Tuesday, March 23, 1999 2:46 PM
>
> I am intrigued to know if there is much debate in American sustainable
> agricultural circles re the advantages of maintaining traditional (and
> all too frequently, rare) breeds of livestock? The question about pigs
> brought this to mind, as I remembered how lucky we felt when we had a
> small farm in the UK and found that in a neighboring village there was a
> Gloucester Old Spot boar ready and eager to service our Old Spot sow.
> These fabulous pigs are tough, hardy, good out door pigs, nearly lost in
> the enthusiasm about the new wonder pigs, but now slowly making a
> comeback, thanks largely to backyard farmer enthusiasm. WHo knows when we
> will need these traits again, especially when/if we shift to more
> integrated farming with animals filling ecological niches in land
> management..
>
> Similar to the reminder that GMO's don't just affect plants, neither does
> loss of biodiversity on the farm.
>
> Cheers, Jo Tippett
>
> Holocene Design -helps you and your organization understand and apply
> sustainable development and learn skills to design innovative solutions.
>
> http://www.holocene.net
>
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