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| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Standard | British Pig Association |
| Use | dual-purpose, pork and bacon |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
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TheBritish Saddleback is a modern Britishbreed ofdomestic pig. It was created in 1967 by merging the surviving populations of two traditional saddleback breeds, theEssex andWessex Saddleback.[2]: 224 It is anendangered breed, listed on the watchlist of theRare Breeds Survival Trust as at risk, the second-highest level of concern.[3]
The British Saddleback was created in 1967 by merging the remaining populations of two quite different traditional saddleback breeds, theEssex and theWessex Saddleback, into a singleherd-book. Both breeds had declined following the publication of the Howitt report in 1955, which found breed diversity to be a handicap to the pig industry in Britain, and established a policy of concentrating production on three breeds only: theWelsh, theBritish Landrace and theLarge White.[4][5]
During theSecond World War some 47% of pedigree sow registrations were from the Essex and Wessex breeds. In 1949 there were 2435 licensed Essex and Wessex boars, almost 25% of the total number. By 1954 the two breeds accounted for no more than 22% of sow registrations and fewer than 10% of registered boars.[6] The recommendation of the time was tocross-breed saddleback sows with a white boar to produce a dual-purpose pig, for both pork and bacon production.[6]
The British Saddleback was listed as "endangered-maintained" by theFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2007.[7]: 121 In 2016 theRare Breeds Survival Trust listed it as a "minority breed" rather than a rare breed.[1] In 2012 the population was reported to be 882;[8] by 2019 that figure had fallen to 378. In 2022 the breed was listed inDAD-IS as at risk/endangered,[9] and in the 2022–2023 watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust itsconservation status was given as at risk, the second-highest level of concern.[3]
Saddlebacks have been exported toBhutan, Brazil, Indonesia, theLeeward Islands, Nepal, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, theSeychelles and theSolomon Islands.[10]: 566
The British Saddleback is large and deep in the body. It is black with a white saddle, sheet or band round thewithers, shoulders and front legs; some white is allowed on the nose, tail and hind feet. It is lop-eared.[1] The coat is fine, straight and silky.[10]: 566
The British Saddleback is hardy and forages well, and is suitable forextensive management. It is a dual-purpose breed, used for the production of both pork and bacon.[1] It is among the mostprolific of British pig breeds, with an average litter size of approximately 10;[10]: 566 [1][9] sows have good maternal qualities.[6]
