Choosing the best pig breeds can seem overwhelming if you’re just starting. There are so many different factors to consider. Here is a breakdown of the most popular pig breeds, and the benefits they will bring to your farm.
The Best Pigs For The Homestead
If you’ve read my previous particle about owning pigs, you’ve read that we raise American Guinea Hog/KuneKune cross. As our farm needs have changed, our preferred breeds have evolved too.
If you want to add pigs to your homestead but are unsure about which breeds to get, I’ve added some of the most common breeds along with their pros and cons below.
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Duroc
Durocs are named for their red color and are known for their fast growth.
They are a larger breed of pig, and very common among pig farmers.
Pros
Durocs grow fast, maturing almost one month earlier than other breeds. They have a large amount of dark, moist, lean meat, with marbling. The pork quality is truly exceptional.
They have large litters, giving you more meat per pig than other breeds. Some will have twenty or more piglets in one litter. They’re also great mothers and take good care of their piglets. The means you’ll have great quality meat for years to come.
They can live in almost any environment. They don’t burn as easily as other pigs do in the sun, and grow fur in the winter to protect them from the cold.
Cons
Durocs can be aggressive. They must be socialized from an early age, otherwise, a duroc boar can be dangerous.
They require a lot of feed to reach market weight. Durocs can be expensive to raise, eating around 8 pounds of feed daily. They don’t graze well and create a mess rooting.
This breed also doesn’t do well in confined spaces. They need a large area, and will frequently break out of fencing.
Berkshire
The Berkshire is an old English breed dating back over 200 years. It’s characteristics are strong because they have been purebred for a long time.
Pros
This is a larger, and fast-growing breed reaching market weight in 9-10 months.
They have high-quality, pink meat that is known for being juicy. It’s evenly marbled with a good amount of fat.
They are good mothers and take care of their litters. They’re also friendly and can be kept with other pig breeds.
They do well in confined areas but still need access to the outside.
Cons
Berkshires tend to accumulate more fat than a Duroc leaving less lean muscle. The majority of their grain is converted to fat.
Berkshire will graze on pasture, but also root and destroy the ground.
This breed is known for biting. They will bite each other, and you if they feel threatened.
Tamworth
Tamworths are thought to be of Irish origins, but their history is unknown. They have a reddish/ brown color and hair and tend to have longer bodies than other breeds. They have a long snout that is upturned and erect ears.
Pros
Tamworth pigs produce delicious bacon. They’re known for their marbling and bacon quality. Their long bodies mean they produce more bacon than some of the other breeds.
They are great in all climates. They adapt well to the heat and cold. Their coats make them less likely to get sunburn and also keep them warm in winter.
They have a market weight of 225-300 pounds around 8 months of age. They are muscular, giving a good feed conversion per pound of usable meat.
Cons
While their long snouts make them good foragers, they are known to root the ground causing damage to their pastures. They would not make a good grazing breed of pig.
They don’t tolerate confined spaces and have a lot of energy. You’ll need plenty of outdoor space, and reliable fencing for them to roam.
American Guinea Hog
This breed of pig has roots in West Africa but has been crossbred in the USA earning the name of American Guinea Hog.
It is a smaller breed of pig once commonly found on homesteads across America. You may have also heard them called a “yard pig”. They were known to roam freely around the homestead.
Pros
This breed is excellent at foraging and grazing. They’re known for their low feed cost and ability to make considerable gains on pasture grazing ( as long as they have good pasture)
They have excellent personalities and become great pets for those who aren’t looking to raise them for meat.
American Guinea Hogs don’t root the ground as badly as some of the larger breeds, but they will still root when foraging for food or minerals. Their size also makes them great for a smaller homestead. If you don’t have a lot of land to work with, the American Guinea Hog is a great option.
They are lard pigs but have superb meat quality. Their meat is known to have a great flavor with ample marbling. They also produce a good amount of bacon.
Cons
They are a smaller breed of pig, so they take longer to get to market weight. They usually reach 175 pounds around 12 months of age. This means you’ll be caring for the pigs longer. If they don’t have any access to pasture, this can cost a lot more in feed.
KuneKune
The KuneKune is a small heritage breed pig that is thought to be native to New Zealand. It’s known for its small size, longer hair, and spotted appearance.
Pros
They do well in smaller spaces due to their size. While these pigs are great foragers, they are also ok with being kept in a less spacious pen.
KuneKunes love eating grass. They will graze very well on pasture, which means there is less feed input from you.
They have an excellent disposition. These are great pigs to have if you have kids, or this is your first time owning pigs. They also make very good pets.
Cons
They are a lard breed and produce great quality meat, but their small sizes mean they don’t produce as much as some of the larger species.
KuneKunes can grow large tusks. They aren’t known to be very aggressive pigs, but could easily hurt each other if they aren’t kept filed down.
Choosing The Best Pig Breeds
These are just a few of the most common pigs you will find on farms across America. Not mentioned above are the Idaho Pasture Pig, and the Hereford which both have great qualities that a lot of farmers prefer.
Do your research and decide what your needs are when choosing the best breed.
On our farm, I have 2 acres of fenced pasture I wanted to keep the pigs in. I knew I’d need a smaller grazing breed. I also have small children so I wanted a pig with a very good temperament.
After taking all of these things into consideration, we chose the American Guinea Hog for our farm.
FAQs
What is the best pig for the first-time owner?
This is a complicated question to answer. The pig you choose will depend on the amount of space you have and what your expectations are. If you want a large amount of lean meat a Duroc may be a great option. If you have a small farm and want a docile pig, a KuneKune or American Guinea Hog are great options.
What is the best pig breed to sell for meat?
This is also a matter of opinion. The Duroc and Tamworth have a good amount of lean meat, while the Berkshire has more fat. If you are looking for more lard and a smaller breed you may want to consider the American Guinea Hog.
What is the fastest growing pig for the homestead?
The Duroc is the fastest growing pig reaching market weight around a month or more sooner than the other breeds. Its fast growth rate, quality meat, and excellent feed conversion make it a popular choice for homesteaders.
Best Pig Products
If you are new to raising pigs, you’re in for a treat. Pigs are one of may favorite animals on the homestead. Their personalities, ease of care, and great meat quality make them a great asset on any farm!
Here are a few of my must haves for owning pigs
- Large Hog Feeder– Pigs eat a lot of grain. This is a convenient feeder to supplying them with plenty of food. The closing doors help to protect the grain from rain and rodents.
- My DIY Hog Waterer . This waterer is great for supplying the hogs with clean water. Hogs tend to make a mess with any waterer they are given. This keeps the mess to a minimum.
- Piglet Feeder– This smaller version of the hog feeder works great for piglets.
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