The Tamworth Pig is a breed of domestic pig from the United Kingdom. He was bred at Sir Robert Peel’s Drayton Manor in Tamworth, Staffordshire, UK with Irish pigs and named after his place of origin.
It is also known by other names such as Sandy Beck and Tam. The breed belongs to the oldest breeds of pigs. But it is not suited to modern production methods, as is the case with many other ancient breeds of cattle.
Race listed as ‘Threatens‘ In the USA. And it is listed as ‘Vulnerablein the UK by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, as there are less than 300 registered females left.
The Tamworth pig breed is thought to be descended from wild boar through the native pig population of Europe. Much of the breed improvement has taken place in Staffordshire, as well as the counties of Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, England.
The Tamworth pig breed is one of the closest to the original European forest pigs and one of the least crossed with non-European breeds.
The breed was standardized in the early to mid-1800s, and in 1885 it was recognized as a breed by the Royal Agricultural Society and came under the jurisdiction of the National Pig Breeders’ Association of Great Britain.
Currently, the breed’s main population is available in the United Kingdom, Australia, United States, New Zealand, and Canada. Learn more about the breed below.
Characteristics of Tamworth Pigs
Tamworth pigs are medium to large sized animals. Their body coloration ranges from pale red to dark mahogany.
They have an elongated head shape and a long, narrow body. Their face and muzzle have straight lines and their ears are straight and pointed.
Early in the breed’s history, their color was mostly orange and purple, but breeding was done to remove the orange coloring. They have long necks and legs, deep sides, but narrow backs.
The ham structure of the Tamworth pig is quite muscular and strong. The breed is also known for its good bone structure and excellent foot structure.
Average adult height ranges from 20 to 26 inches. The average live weight of an adult sow ranges from 200 to 300 kg. And the average live weight of adult boars is 250-370 kg. Photos and information from Wikipedia.
Special Notes
Tamworth pigs are very active animals with docile natures. But the most striking feature of this breed is its high endurance in relation to an adverse climate.
Traditionally, they were considered a breed of bacon. They can thrive on a low calorie diet, but grow relatively slowly. They are particularly well adapted to life in the open air, are excellent foragers and are very good at finding their own food.
They are compatible with grazing livestock and other animals. Their reddish-brown coat allows them to adapt to different climates and protect them from sunburn.
The Tamworth breed of pig has an active mind and a pleasant disposition. Sows are very prolific, they are able to produce and maintain large litters.
The breed is not only durable and strong, but also very well suited for grazing in the forest. However, check out the full breed profile of the Tamworth pig in the following table.
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| Breed name | Tamworth | |
| another name | Sandy Beck and Tam | |
| Special Notes | Well adapted to the natural climate, good mothers, fertile sows, very hardy, good for extensive systems, very active, docile temperament, very hardy, well adapted to unfavorable climates, relatively slow growth, excellent foragers, very intelligent, suitable for grazing in forest | |
| Breed size | medium to large | |
| Boars | From 200 to 300 kg | |
| sows | From 250 to 370 kg | |
| climatic tolerance | All climatic conditions | |
| Color | Pale ginger to dark red mahogany. | |
| scarcity | Vulnerable | |
| Country/place of origin | UK |
