HILLSIDE TAMWORTHS

Breed Information

Learn About Tamworths

    

             The first Tamworths were brought to the United States in 1882 by Thomas Bennett of Rossville, Illinois. The Tamworth was slow in becoming popular with the American hog producer and is considered a rare breed today.  There are only an estimated 100 actual breeders (farmers producing more than 1 or 2 litters of pigs per year) of Tamworths in the United States.  Major interest in the Tamworth has usually been confined to those periods when packers were emphasizing greater amounts of lean meat in the carcass rather than excess lard production.

             Tamworths are very deep-sided hogs and they carry a strong, uniform arch of back.  In general appearance and type, the Tamworth is not particularly impressive to people who have been looking at other hogs, because it is comparatively long of neck, long of leg, and lacks in width of body. On the other hand, no one can fail to admire the breed's smoothness and quality as shown by the firm, trim jowl, firm underline, and firm fleshing. The head of the Tamworth is rather striking as compared with that of many other hogs in that it is long and has a snout that is moderately long and quite straight. The Tamworth has a very practical red coat. The color may vary from a golden red to a dark red. The Tamworth is a rugged, thrifty, very active breed of swine that is favored by many persons who are interested in raising a lean-type hog. The sows are excellent mothers and do a good job of raising their litters. The Tamworth is an extremely high-quality breed and is the most active breed of swine that we have in America. People who particularly want hogs that will rustle behind cattle or harvest or salvage crops sometimes prefer Tamworths. The Tamworth has the reputation of producing the best bacon when compared to any breed of hog.

 

 

Learn About Berkshires

 

According to the best available records, the first Berkshires were brought to this country in 1823. They were quickly absorbed into the general hog population because of the marked improvement they created when crossed with common stock. In 1875, a group of Berkshire breeders and importers met in Springfield, Illinois, to establish a way of keeping the Berkshire breed pure. On February 25 of the same year, the American Berkshire Association was founded, becoming the first Swine Registry to be established in the world. This society drew forth an enthusiastic response from men working with the breed both in this country and in England. The first hog ever recorded was the boar, Ace of Spades, bred by Queen Victoria.

The Berkshire Breed paved the way for better swine production and improvement in the United States and Europe, as well. Berkshires have had great influence upon the swine industry the past 100 years. During the past several years the Berkshire has made great strides of improvement towards meeting the demands of the swine industry. Selection pressure has been applied toward those traits of great economical importance - fast and efficient growth, reproductive efficiency cleanness, and meatiness.

This is the background of the modern Berkshire hog. It is important because it explains why the Berkshire is such a true breeder when crossed on other breeds or on common hogs. His characteristics have been established and purified over a very long period of time. Breeders have been working at the task of improving him as far back as any record goes. He is indeed a splendid example of an improved breed of livestock.

HILLSIDE BERKSHIRES