The Large Black pig is now the UK’s rarest pig breed with only 335 registered sows – these are kept by 145 dedicated breeders and caterogised as ‘vulnerable’ by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
When you consider that there are approximately breeding 450,000 sows in the UK, it makes you realise exactly how special these pigs are and how important it is that they survive.
Within The Large Black Breed there are 23 female and 6 male lines. In East Anglia the predominant sow lines are ‘Queen’, ‘Black Lady & ‘Jewel’ .Most of the sows in our herd at Oxborough are from the ‘Queen’ lineage. They produce good sized litters and have good conformation (or shape) however we find that have slight issue with lameness. In order to try and cure this by diversifying the genetics within our herd we have recently acquired 2 ‘Jewel’ sows and look forward to seeing how they perform. Looking ahead we would like to bring in some fresh blood from the North West.
Our new boar Colonyfreiston Majestic 12 is settling in well having been released from HMP North Sea Camp near Boston in December! Our original two sows, a Queen and a Black Lady, came from this prison farm in 2004, . Initially both Queenie & Lady lived in our neighbour’s Richard & Jenny Scott’s Field (hence the name of our business) until they were moved to Fen Farm next to Oxborough Hall. They stayed here living to a ripe old age and Queenie in particular was much loved and spoilt rotten.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about Large Black Pigs please contact me via facebook, twitter or our website http://www.scottsfieldpork.co.uk/ or visit the breeders website at http://www.largeblackpigs.co.uk/
Next month we will be profiling one of our butchers, Mark Allen of Fleetwoods Butchers in Gorleston. Mark is passionate about meat, where it is sourced through to how it is cooked and I am sure you will be interested in what he has to say.
