Gloucestershire Old Spot Pigs

History of the breed:

The breed originated around the Berkeley Vale on the southern shores of the river Severn in south west England (click the map to the right for more detail). It was usually kept in the cider and perry pear orchards of the area and on the dairy farms. Windfall fruit and waste from the dairies supplemented its grazing habit. Local folklore says that the spots on its back are bruises from the falling fruit. Besides its correct title and variations such as Gloster Spot or just Old Spot, the breed is also known as The Orchard Pig and The Cottager's Pig.

Little is recorded of the breed's development but Victorian writers such as William Youatt in 'The Pig' and HD Richardson in 'The Pig - Its Origins and Varieties' seem to conclude that it was derived from crossing the original Gloucestershire pig - a large, off-white variety with wattles hanging from its neck, with the unimproved Berkshire, a sandy-coloured prick-eared pig with spots. This is reinforced in William Marshall's 'The Rural Economy of Gloucestershire' ca.1780 and 'The Complete Grazier' by a Lincolnshire Grazier of 1816, among others.

The Breed Standard

The GOS is a large breed, white in colour with a minimum of one distinct black spot. It has lop ears which will almost cover the face of a mature pig.

Gloucestershire Old Spots Pork and Bacon

The biggest single factor in the regeneration of the GOS breed has been the increasing awareness of the eating qualities of its produce and the growing niche market as a result.

 It is a mistake to assume that pork is pork and that the breed it is derived from does not matter. Almost everyone could immediately tell the difference between the flavour of a Cox’s apple and a Golden Delicious. This difference comes from the genes that go into making these different varieties. Similarly, there are differences between pig breeds but most especially between traditional breeds such as the GOS and modern hybrids used to supply the mass market.

A big part of the difference lies in the fat. Modern pigs have hardly any fat whether as visible backfat or as marbling within the muscle. The GOS does have a distinct layer of backfat and marbling within the meat. That layer of backfat means that it is hardy enough for outdoor production but it also means that when the meat is cooking, it is being basted in its own fat making the meat succulent and full of flavour.

From many years experience, we know that the levels of backfat do not need to be excessive and that a well-finished porker of around 75kg liveweight should have a backfat measurement of around 12-15mm at P2. The same experience also tells us that excessively fat pigs are usually caused by poor diet or management. To carry this level of fat, the eye muscle (as seen in the round of lean meat on a loin chop) must be full and large and the GOS breed is well able to meet this demand.

For everything written here about pork, the same principles apply to quality bacon. To really make the bacon distinctive, ensure that it is dry-cured.

Protecting GOS Pork & Bacon

The committee of the Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders’ Club were far-sighted enough to set in motion the processes back in 1999 to register meat from pure bred GOS pigs as a special product in the EU. It was just as well because today we face challenges from the supermarkets wanting to sell the produce of cross-bred pigs labelled as Gloucestershire Old Spots Pork & Bacon.

Despite the early start, the registration is not complete yet although we are hopeful of having registration as a TSG (Traditional Speciality Guaranteed) throughout Europe in 2008. This will mean that for meat to be so labelled it must come from pure-bred pedigree GOS pigs raised in a non-intensive fashion. There is no geographical restriction on a TSG and it will apply to pigs raised anywhere in the EU.

 (source GOSPBC)

Kune Kune Pigs

Their name is pronounced Cooney Cooney, and means fat and round in Maori. These pigs were found in New Zealand, although they didn't originate from there as the island had no indigenous land animals. Nobody knows how they got there, the Maoris may have taken them as spoils from there travels, in general the pig was very important to the Polynesians, and there are still pigs with tassels in the South Pacific Islands. Early whalers and sea going travelers may have taken them, to be released to breed, then culled for food on their next voyage, or they could well have been taken by early settlers who planned to farm in the country. All farm stock was imported. They may be a mixture of pigs from many sources, but whatever their origins, they have evolved into a charming little pig. 

In 1970 Kune Kunes came very close to extinction. They were not used much for meat anymore by the Maoris, and the rest of the population were unaware of their plight. Two wildlife park owners, Michael Willis and John Simster heard about the pig, and set out across New Zealand to buy every Kune Kune they could find for sale, which amounted to eighteen pigs, and from this original stock, with later additions of more animals, the studbook was formed. There recovery has provided a super little pig which is in demand by small holders.

Kune Kunes arrived in Britain in 1992. These little pigs were imported in a small group to breed in Britain. As the Kune Kunes only existed in New Zealand it was important to have a population in another country, in case of disease in their home. With in that initial stock there was a wide variation of genitic stock so there was a true representation of the breed.

Kune Kunes are between 60 and 75 cm high, and 54 to 109 kilos in weight. They are completely covered in hair which can be anything between short and straight, and long and curly. They come in a range of cream, ginger, brown, black and spotted. They have a medium to short snout which is slightly turned up, and either prick or flopped ears. They have short legs and a short round body. The most unusual feature of most Kune Kune pigs is a pair of tassels, called piri piri, under their chin like a goat. This is not unique to the Kune Kunes but it is unusual. Temperament wise, they are delightful, being placid and very friendly.They thrive on human company.

                                                                "Sarah" our 5 month old Tri Colour Kune Kune.