Middle White Pigs - Finnington Traditional Breeds

Middle White Pigs

The Middle White is one of our rarest breeds of pig. The RBST have categorised it as ‘Endangered’ in their 2008 Watchlist. It is a small, white breed, with prick ears and short ‘stubbed’ nose.

Fabulous smallholder breed

Maturing at 60kg, this breed is ideal for the smallholder. It is primarily a pork pig, the meat from either pure or cross bred pigs is superb, and young animals make excellent suckling pigs. The sows are excellent mothers, care for their young well, yet are placid and easy to handle.

History of the Middle White Pig

It has been said that the Middle White originated in 1852 when Mr Joseph Tuley exhibited some of his white pigs at Keighley Agricultural Show. The judges could not agree which class to put them in as they were neither Large White nor Small White, but because of their quality should not be excluded, so they decided to create a third class and call it the ‘Middle Breed’, in this way the “Middle White” breed was established.

Mr Tuley had created his pigs by crossing the Large White with the Small White, and further established the breed by a second cross with a Small White boar.

In 1886 when the National Pig Breeders Association was founded, the Middle White was one of the five founder breeds. It was not until this time that there was uniformity in the breed.

The Middle White remained popular until WWII, especially in London, and gained the name ‘The London Porker’. At the end of the Second World War, meat rationing led to a concentration of the bacon pig and pork pigs were sidelined, this led to a great reduction in the numbers of Middle Whites.

The Middle White has seen resurgence in popularity over the last few years, the eating quality of the pork is now appreciated by many of the countries top restaurants, and the breed has been exported worldwide.

Steve & Martyn showing Tyldesley Captain 82 at Cheshire Show 2006

Steve showing Gillhouse Fair Lady 67, Pig of the Year qualifier 2008, Breed Champion at Devon Show 2008

innington Traditional Breeds

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