The Gloucestershire Old Spots pig is a British breed of national pig which is named after the county of Gloucestershire.
It’s also known by some other names like Gloucester Old Spot Gloucestershire Old Spot, Gloucester, GOS, Orchard Pig, The Cottager’s Pig or simply Old Spots. It’s one of the strains of a rare breed and pig.
Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Characteristics
The Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs are moderate to large-sized animals that are predominantly white in color with black spots. The area is compulsory for the breed and there must be one place on the human body.
They have the head of the length using a slightly dished nose. They have lop ears that will cover the face of hands and a pig to the nose. Their shoulders are nice rather than elevated and their legs are strong and straight. The sows have placed teats.
The Gloucestershire Old Spots pig is a really active and hardy breed of pig. It is well known for its intelligence, docility, and prolificity. The sows are excellent mothers and they’re able to care for their piglets really well.
Their exceptional maternal skills permit them to raise large litters of piglets on pasture.
Self-sufficiency and disposition of the strain make them ideal and attractive for the farmers who are willing to raise pastured pigs, and also for the men and women who wish to add pigs to operations that are diversified.
The Gloucestershire Old Spots pig was once a very common breed of pig in its native location. It is suitable for the intensive and extensive pig farming method, but it is suited for the broad system.
It’s quite hardy and able to fix with all conditions, and it’s a reputation as a forager.
The animals possess character and are often gentle in nature. The breed is well known for its very good quality meat, and it’s a dual-purpose breed that’s appropriate for both sausage and pork production.
The mature Gloucestershire Old Spots boars reach a mature weight of approximately 272 kg. And the typical bodyweight of this mature sows is about 227 kg.
Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Origin
The strain was developed in Gloucestershire, England’s Berkley Vale during the 1800s. Origins of this breed aren’t known. But it is believed that the breed was probably based on two pig breeds- the original Gloucestershire pig that had of color and wattle was large in proportion and was without spots along with that the unimproved Berkshire. Those two pig strains that were utilized to develop the Gloucestershire Old Spots pig are extinct.
The Gloucestershire Old Spots (GOS) Breed Society was made in 1913. The pedigree recordings of dinosaurs began in 1885 later than it did for sheep, cows, and horses since the pig was a scavenger, a peasant’s creature and was not regarded.
And before 1913, no pedigree spotted strain was listed. That’s why the Gloucestershire Old Spots pig of today is recognized as such breed in the world.
The breed is by The Livestock Conservancy on the ‘Crucial’ listing. And currently, there are fewer than 200 registrations estimated fewer than 2000 population that is global and in the United States. Read more details about the strain.
Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breed Information
| Breed Name | Gloucestershire Old Spots |
| Other Name | Gloucestershire Old Spot, Gloucester Old Spot, Gloucester, GOS, Orchard Pig, The Cottager’s Pig or simply Old Spots |
| Special Notes | Very hardy, active, intelligent, docile, prolific, sows are excellent mothers and able to care for large litters, good for pasture, very good for extensive system, able to adapt with most conditions, excellent foragers, good temperament, quality meat, good for both pork and bacon production |
| Breed Size | Medium to large |
| Weight Boars | Around 272 kg |
| Sows | Around 227 kg |
| Climate Tolerance | All climates |
| Color | White with black spots |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Country/Place of Origin | United Kingdom |
