Tamworth Pigs are a minor breed of Domestic pig that originated in Ireland, where they were called "Irish Grazers". Around 1812, an Englishman imported them to his estate in Tamworth, England, where they acquired their present name. The Tamworths have been improved by selection to be able to compete with other breeds in the agricultural world, but are believed to have been kept without inputs from other pig breeds so as to be one of the oldest and purest of the pig breeds. Tamworths were imported into the United States by Thomas Bennett of Rossville, Illinois, in 1882. Soon after they made their way to Canada, where a sizable population currently exists. Breed Associations for Tamworth Swine are active in Great Britain, the United States, and Canada. They are considered a "minor" breed today, but their numbers continue to grow.

Tamworth Pigs are known for their length, and are sometimes referred to as "the bacon pig". They have long straight snouts and erect ears, unlike those of other pig breeds which lop over. Tamworths started out as red and black colored pigs, but have been selected to eliminate the black, which still occasionally appears as small spots on some animals. The "red" color is expressed in a wide range, from light blond animals to those that are dark mahogany red. Their early reputation for being good foragers and aggressive rustlers of food is still true today, and Tamworths currently are often used in forage based farming systems. They are also know for being lean, and can be raised to a larger size than other pig breeds without becoming too fat.

External links

• Pig Breeds, Tamworth, Oklahoma State University

Domesticated animals