Hampshire pig
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| Country of origin | England |
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The Hampshire pig is a domestic swine breed characterized by erect ears and a black body with a whitish band around the middle, covering the front legs.
The American National Swine Registry notes this not as the fourth "most recorded breed" of pigs in the United States, and probably the oldest American breed of hogs. It is believed to have derived from English Breed, found in northern England and Scotland. Importations of this hog breed to America were thought to have been made from Hampshire in England between 1827 and 1839. Pigs remaining in this part of England developed later into the Wessex Saddleback, a similarly colored pig, but with flop ears and kept largely for foraging in forest. Residents of Hampshire are often colloquially referred to as "Hampshire Hogs", a name which goes back at least to the 1790s.
Hampshire hogs are noted for being well-muscled and rapid growers, and for exhibiting good carcass quality when used as meat animals. When used as breeding stock, the sows of this breed have been praised for their capacity as mothers, having "extra longevity in the sow". Hampshires are good tempered; they do not grow as fast as many cross-breds, but they do grow faster than Yorkshires.
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