What we do
Rare Breed Pigs
Here at Porky Wrights Smallholding we are keeping a small selection of rare breed pigs to help keep our traditional old English pork alive for future generations.
Why not try the succulent taste of traditionally reared outdoor pork ? Call us or drop us an e-mail for availability or to order your half or whole pig. Why not buy to share with friends or family?
Fancy a hog roast for an event? Visit our Hog Roast page
Saddleback
Saddleback Information
The British Saddleback, formed in 1967, is the result of the amalgamation of the Essex and Wessex Saddleback. These two pigs shared similar colouration but had different characteristics. The Wessex Saddleback originated in the New Forest. It was entirely black except for a band of white hair stretching over its shoulders and down its forelegs. The Essex pig was developed in East Anglia and like the Wessex Saddleback was mainly black. However in addition to the wide band of white across the shoulders and down the forelegs it had white back legs and a white tip to the tail. The Essex Pig was considered to be the fancier pig ‘the gent’s pig’ whilst the Wessex Saddleback was ‘the farmer’s choice’.
Both Breeds were very popular during the second World War when nearly half the total pedigree sow registrations were from the Essex or the Wessex. Sadly though, when the industry started to favour intensive production other breeds replaced these pigs. Thanks to dedicated breeders across the country and to the British Saddleback Association (http://www.saddlebacks.org.uk/) this breed is becoming less rare. It makes fantastic pork bacon and sausages !
Middle White
Middle White Information
In 1852 at the Keighley Agricultural Show in West Yorkshire where Joseph Tuley exhibited several of his famous Large White sows. However when it came to the judging some of the animals were considered too small for the class but “as the merits of these pigs were so extraordinary”, a committee was summoned who decided the pigs were also not be eligible for the Small White class. So as a result a third class was created called the “Middle Breed” and so the Middle White was born.
The Small White had been developed for showing and derived from crossing local pigs with imported Chinese and Siamese pigs, from which it inherited the dished face, so much the characteristic of the Middle White. To create Middle White as we know it today, Tuley took a second cross with a Small White boar and females from his Large White herd. Unfortunatley the Small White breed became extinct in 1912.
Pork Products
Download our price list now and place your order for Rare Breed Pork and Sausages by Phone, Email or Facebook Message
In 2015 we moved from South London to Lincolnshire to start our family smallholding dream.
Together with our four children we have made this our home – it has been hard work but we think it’s worth it.
Here at the Porky Wrights smallholding the sunrises and the sunsets can be spectacular, the lack of light pollution also means on a clear night, well you can check it out for yourselves ! The stars are beautiful!
Over the last few years we have been clearing a lot of overgrown trees, opening up areas in our wooded garden, putting up fencing and renovating the horses menage. We have also been adding to the livestock.
As well as our friendly sheep, chickens, guinea fowl and horses, we have also built a small herd of Rare Breed Pigs. We started with British Saddlebacks and have moved onto the Middle White breed.
So what do we do? Well we breed from our pedigree Middle White boar “Boris” and our breeding pedigree Saddleback & Middle White gilts. The intention is to do our bit & keep these rare breed & at risk pigs going.
How can we do that? By breeding and at the same time, building a small pork and sausage business we can hopefully increase our herd size and keep the conservation breeding going.
Our pigs are extremely well looked after, they have outdoor pens and paddocks. They can run about and laze around in the sunshine.
Our sows stay with their young much longer than commercial pig farming but it gets to a point where they really want the break! 12 ever growing piglets fighting over your teats, came become a bit tiresome and painful! They then get a rest period before going back to “Boris” for some more piggy love.
Our pork and sausages are delicious! Sausages are hand made locally and we do a selection of flavours, including the traditional Lincolnshire Sausage. We can also cater for Gluten free options.
We do a range of pork joint cuts, mince, chops, diced, ribs and sausage meat.
We occasionally stock locally sourced lamb & mutton. We have a very popular run of mutton & garlic and mutton, chilli & garlic sausages. Please visit our pork sales page for more details.
By building a good local and loyal customer base that buy our produce we can continue to look after and breed these fantastic pigs. The more we can promote the outdoor, locally produced pork – the more we can continue to sustain the Middle White Pedigree pig.
Middle White Pig
Like most traditional breeds of pig the Middle White is a hardy pig but does require more shelter than some breeds and can struggle in extreme heat or extreme cold. The average litter size is around 8.99 piglets (2009 data) and the breed is known for having good maternal instincts. The Middle White has a very gentle nature. The breed roots less than other breeds of pig and is thus more suitable for certain outdoor systems and less likely to damage fencing.
The Middle White is one of the most distinctive white pigs because of its short nose that some say makes it look like it has run into a wall.
The Middle White is a cheeky, friendly pig that became known as the ‘London Porker’ because of its popularity in London restaurants.
History
- The Middle White originated by crossing Large White and Small White pigs in the 1850s in Keighley in Yorkshire.
- The Middle White became known as a specialist pork producer and in the first half of the 20th century was very popular and widely exported.
- The breed was known as “The London Porker” because of high demand for Middle White pork in the capital.
- However the increasing demand for lean pigs for bacon production led to a decline in the Middle White’s numbers in the UK.
- However with customers increasingly interested in quality meat the Middle White has enjoyed something of a resurgence and Middle White pork again commands an enviable reputation
British Saddleback Pig
The Saddleback is known to be a very hardy breed well suited to an extensive system. Average litter size in 2009 was around 9.98 piglets and the breed has excellent maternal instincts. The breed is very docile and suited to outdoor systems.
- A large, lop eared, deep bodied pig.
- Sows weigh around 270kg and boars, 320kg.
- Black body with white band around the saddle and the front legs.
- The hind feet, nose and tail can also be white.
- There can be considerable variation in type as you would expect in a breed that is an amalgamation of two separate strains.
History
- The British Saddleback is the amalgamation of two breeds: the Wessex Saddleback and the Essex.
- There were black and white belted pigs in the west country as far back as the early 19th century and they were much renowned for their bacon.
- The Wessex Saddleback breed developed and remained popular and the first herd book was published in 1918.
- The Essex was a breed of similar age and renown and the first herd book was also published in 1918.
- The Wessex was always more numerous than the Essex and by the 1960s with the pig industry heavily focusing on white breeds the Wessex and Essex were amalgamated to form the British Saddleback in 1967.
- The breed is spread throughout the UK.