Large White Swine

Swine are domesticated animals, of the genus Sus and of the family Suidae, that are raised for food all over the world. These animals belong to the Order Artiodactyla because they are even-toed hoofed animals. Hogs are in the suborder Bunodontia which have 44 teeth. Two of their teeth are enlarged canines that can grow into large tusks in some breeds.

The Large White breed of swine originated in Yorkshire County, England, and has been a registered breed since 1884. With a history that is difficult to trace it is at least known that pigs native to this region were crossbred with other species of pig. Many years of selectively breeding swine eventually resulted in the Large White pigs that we now know today. Large Whites are most commonly found in England and Northern Ireland though they can be found everywhere around the globe.

Large White swine can be distinguished by their long, bony legs, erect ears, long length, overall large frame size, white colour and pink skin. Large Whites are a tough, rugged breed that can tolerate fluctuations in their climate and environment, making them an ideal breed for commercial markets around the world.

The Large White performs very well under intensive farming conditions, though they were originally bred to be an outdoor type. They often have large litters of offspring, and have exceptional maternal instincts to compliment their litter size. Large Whites are lean and have a high muscle mass. This breed produces a high quality meat, especially bacon. Large Whites are the ancestor of the Yorkshire pig, a very popular breed in Canada and the United States.