The Large White is a British

breed A breed is a specific group of breedable domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist seve ...

domestic pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), also called swine (: swine) or hog, is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is named the domestic pig when distinguishing it from other members of the genus '' Sus''. Some authorities cons ...

. It derives from the old Large Yorkshire breed from the county of

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...

, in northern England.

History

The Large White derives from the old Large Yorkshire breed, a long-legged and heavy-boned pig from the county of

, in northern England. In the nineteenth century this was crossed with pigs imported from China, giving rise to three distinct types or breeds: the Small White showed the greatest Asian influence, small and fat with a markedly foreshortened snout; the

Middle White The Middle White is a British breed of domestic pig. It originated in Yorkshire, and derived from the Large White and the now-extinct Small White. It was recognised in 1852, and the first herd-book was published in 1884. It is a porker, rea ...

also showed some foreshortening of the face; the Large White was the least obviously influenced by the Chinese admixture. It may also have been influenced by the

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is an area of North West England which was historically a county. The county was bordered by Northumberland to the north-east, County Durham to the east, Westmorland to the south-east, Lancashire to the south, and the Scottish ...

and

Leicestershire Leicestershire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire to the north, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warw ...

breeds. A pair of pigs of Large White type were shown at the Royal Agricultural Show in Windsor in 1851. The breed was recognised in 1868, and a

herd-book A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry, the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders wh ...

was started in 1884. The Large White has been exported to many countries of the world. The American Yorkshire of North America derives from it.

Characteristics

The Large White is a big, white pig, with erect ears and a slightly dished face. Sows farrow large litters and produce abundant milk.

Use

The Large White is one of the most numerous of all pig breeds, widely used in crossbreeding for

intensive pig farming Intensive pig farming, also known as pig factory farming, is the primary method of pig production, in which grower pigs are housed indoors in group-housing or straw-lined sheds in establishments also known as piggeries, whilst pregnant sows a ...

around the world. It was originally developed as an outdoor breed, but today it is one of those favoured by commercial pig breeders.

References

Pig breeds originating in England {{bots, deny=Citation bot