The Suffolk Pig

Two of the original 7 pigs I was gifted were small in stature and black in colour, there was no reference to a breed of this type in all the usual reference places, i.e. The British Pig Association or The Rare Breed Survival Trust.  I googled Small Black Pig and was immediately directed to a Wikipedia page.  There I found a brief description of what was also referred to as The Suffolk Pig.  Whilst I was cautious to believe everything I read on Wikipedia, and further research needed to be carried out. I contacted the Museum of East Anglian Life but they had no record of the breed. 

In essence the Wikipedia page describes, A small black type with prick ears and a short nose, similar in looks to a Middle White, but smaller and black in colour.  It is thought that the herd book was merged with that of the Large Black in 1915 as it was not thought to be as commercially viable as its’ larger counterpart. 

On further reading about the Large Black, I discovered it had been created by crossing the Black pig of the West Country with the Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk breeds of black pig. I was discussing this with a friend of mine who was able to source a book of pigs, written in the early part of the 1900’s. There we found a description of the Suffolk Pig and its’ picture.

The breed was lost and forgotten like many of the UK heritage breeds of live stock.  Being a great believer in traditional farming, and with the knowledge that Suffolk had a very strong connection with pigs, (the people of the past having used pig blood to colour their houses, hence “Suffolk Pink”)  I took it upon myself to work towards recreating or reintroducing the breed. 

By using regressive genetics, that is, finding the closest current relation to the original breed mix, i.e., Large Black, Middle White and Berkshire pigs, and by using my own stock from the original 7, I am continuing to work towards perfecting a consistent type that will, I hope, eventually, be recognized by The British Pig Association as a breed again in its’ own right.

Below are some of the pigs we’ve bred.