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Pigs
British Lop
2008 Watchlist; Category 2, Endangered.
The British Lop is one of the white, lop-eared pig breeds once associated with the Celtic regions of the British Isles, and is closely related to breeds such as the Welsh and Landrace. It was first recognised in the Tavistock area, where it was called the Devon Lop, or sometimes the Cornish White pig. It spread throughout the south west of the country, as far as Somerset and Dorset, but was rarely seen beyond that vicinity. Up to the 1960s it was called the National Long White Lop-eared pig, but its name was then changed to the British Lop.
It is one of the larger breeds, being long, lean and deep sided. The hams are well filled to the hocks. The large, lop ears ensure an extremely docile grazing pig, suited to outdoor systems despite its pure white colour. They are good milky mothers producing commercial pigs whether pure or crossed. The boars themselves have been used to great effect on other breeds as a terminal sire. As a pure breed pig, they are ideal for meat at porker, cutter or bacon weight.
Website: www.britishloppig.org.uk