The Large White is a British breed of domestic pig. It derives from the old Large Yorkshire breed from the county of Yorkshire, in northern England.
 Boar | |
| Other names |
|
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Standard | British Pig Association |
| Traits | |
| Hair | white |
| |
History
editThe Large White derives from the old Large Yorkshire breed, a long-legged and heavy-boned pig from the county of Yorkshire, in northern England. In the nineteenth century this was crossed with pigs imported from China, giving rise to three distinct types or breeds: the Small White showed the greatest Asian influence, small and fat with a markedly foreshortened snout; the Middle White also showed some foreshortening of the face; the Large White was the least obviously influenced by the Chinese admixture.[1]: 649 It may also have been influenced by the Cumberland and Leicestershire breeds.[2]
A pair of pigs of Large White type were shown at the Royal Agricultural Show in Windsor in 1851.[3] The breed was recognised in 1868, and a herd-book was started in 1884.
The Large White has been exported to many countries of the world.[2] The American Yorkshire of North America derives from it.[4]
Characteristics
edit
The Large White is a big, white pig, with erect ears and a slightly dished face.[5] Sows farrow large litters and produce abundant milk.[3]
Use
edit
The Large White is one of the most numerous of all pig breeds, widely used in crossbreeding for intensive pig farming around the world.[6] It was originally developed as an outdoor breed, but today it is one of those favoured by commercial pig breeders.[2]
References
edit- ^ Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.
- ^ a b c The Large White. British Pig Association. Archived 14 December 2017.
- ^ a b Graeme Taylor, Greg Roese (November 2005). Breeds of pigs—Large White. Primefact 62. Orange NSW: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries. Accessed January 2024.
- ^ McDonald-Brown, Linda (2009). Choosing and Keeping Pigs. Firefly Books. ISBN 978-1-55407-469-3.
- ^ Breed Standard and Standards of Excellence: Large White. British Pig Association. Accessed January 2018.
- ^ "Large White". Oklahoma State University Dept. of Animal Science. 11 February 2021.