The Mulefoot pig is a rare breed of pig that’s used for its meat. It’s out of Spain and called for it is intact, uncloven hooves reminiscent of a mule. Such characteristics will sometimes happen as a single gene mutation, making occasional “mulefooted” pigs within a variety of other breeds.
Origins of this Mulefoot pig are still unknown. But it probably originated with the pigs brought to the Gulf Coast by the Spanish. Pigs with hooves are found in writings as far back as Aristotle. But the Mulefoot pig is the only pig population to be regarded as a breed having extensive agricultural usages and an established type.
The strain can share an identical ancestry to the Choctaw pig and can be possibly related to it. The total population of the strain began to decline from the century.
Mulefoot Pig Characteristics
Pig typically black in color, with rarely having markings over their entire body. Some actors have wattles on each side of the neck, but it’s not common. Their ears are picked.
Typical bodyweight of the older Mulefoot boars is approximately 250 kg. Along with the mature sows on weight around 200 kg.
The Mulefoot pig is quite hardy and really well known for the hardiness of it. It can thrive well when raised on pasture or stored in a free-range pig farming system.
It has kept the ability to forage for food and is a forager. The sows are mothers, having litters that average 5-6 piglets.
Although many breeders originally maintained the breed isn’t immune to hog cholera. The animals are usually active and possess a temperament that is docile. The Livestock Conservancy considers the strain to be seriously endangered, as of 2013.
One breeder R.M Holiday of Louisiana, Missouri established what could become the final herd of purebred Mulefoot pig by 1964. He utilized selective breeding for keeping the breed standard and obtained stock from all known breeders. 1976 was closed by registries for the breed and the herdbooks, pedigrees, and registration information was lost.
For re-establishing the strain registry and enlarging programs that were breeding to farms, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and Mark Fields started working in 1993. Read more information about the strain below.
Mulefoot Pig Breed Information
| Breed Name | Mulefoot Pig |
| Other Name | None |
| Special Notes | Very hardy, active, docile temperament, good for extensive farming, excellent foragers, sows are good mothers, litters averaging 5 to 6 piglets |
| Breed Size | Medium |
| Weight Boars | Around 250 kg |
| Sows | Around 200 kg |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates |
| Color | Mainly black, sometimes with white markings |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Country/Place of Origin | Spain |
