Berkshire: Breed Guide

Two Berkshire Hogs

Growing up in the local 4-H club when I was a middle schooler in Northern California, my initial experience in raising and showing hogs happened to be a Berkshire. One of the first things I was taught was how in the whole world, they are arguably the most influential breed in history.

History of the Berkshire Hog

The Berkshire has had an ever changing history (and apparently one with a bit of legend behind it) since initially being discovered over 300 years ago. The story goes that in the county of Berkshire in England, Oliver Cromwell’s army happened to stumble across the Berkshire during war when they captured the city of Reading. They quickly discovered that the Berkshire produced some of the highest quality meat, let alone pork, in the entire country and spread the news of their findings once the war ended.

Berk County in England
Coordinates: 51°25′N 1°00′W

With a new product of high quality now available, upper class farmers and the Royal Family began raising farms of them. One particularly famous Berkshire was named Windsor Castle, who at 1,000 pounds once he matured, apparently became the talk of the press and pride of the Royal Family. A memorable statement I read was that his offspring were known for their above average size compared to other Berkshires, as well as their ability to “finish” at any age.

Lord Barrington was a huge benefactor for the breed’s genetic improvements at this time during the decade of 1820 – 1830. Throughout the 1800’s the breed became a symbol of aristocracy, earning patronage from Queen Victoria herself.

The Smithfield Livestock & Agricultural Shows had to create entirely separate show categories for the breed starting in 1877 due to its popularity. In fact, from 1883 – 1900 the breed produced 12 champions.

The First Berkshires in America

At this point, you may be wondering how the Berkshire made its way to the United States. Well this occurred back in 1823 and immediately made an everlasting change on the American hog industry. This impact occurred in two stages:

• Stage 1: Cross breeding with common pig stock
• Stage 2: Establishing a purebred genetic registration

For around the first 50 years after Berkshire’s were imported to the US, stage 1 was in affect and farmers were typically cross breeding Berkshires with common hogs due to the immediate improvement of the offspring that previous generations. Then in 1875, a group of breeders came to the conclusion that the Berkshire breed was essentially being wasted by diluting its genes cross breeding with common hogs. These farmers and breeders came together in Springfield, Illinois of that same year to establish the American Berkshire Association. With its goal to produce a purebred Berkshire breed for the overall improvement of the swine industry as a whole.

Logo of the American Berkshire Association

Imported stock was still majority of the pig population in the US at the time, and it was agreed upon by the major consensus that only Berkshires imported from England or hogs that could directly trace their lineage to England would be allow to be consider purebred. This requirement led to the creation of the first Swine Registry in the world.

The success of the Berkshire breed was a source of inspiration for many to continue researching the importance of purebred breeding over the past 150 years and applying that to the other top breeds you see today.

Characteristics of the Berkshire

Before the breed became more commonly recognized as it is today, it originally was discovered to be reddish or to have a sandy color. Every now and then they would discover spotted ones as well. The Berkshire at this time was larger and more coarse as well compared to the Berkshires seen today.

In more modern times, the characteristics of the breed have changed. Most of their body is covered in a black color while their legs, face, and tip of the tail can be white in color. Their ears are slight erect and point forward, while the face is short dished.

Other Facts

• In the 19th century, the Berkshire breed was also exported to Australia and New Zealand
• Japan has bred their own separate breed of Berkshire called the Kagoshima Berkshire (which means Black Pig in Japanese), descending from two British Berkshire’s back in the 1930’s
• The Berkshire was in danger of extinction in the 1900’s, which led to the need for importing new blood from Australia, New Zealand, and the USA to repopulate numbers
• The Empress of Blandings, protagonist in several of the Blandings Castle novels and stories by P. G. Wodehouse is a Berkshire sow