The modern British saddleback is a combination of two old saddleback breeds, the Wessex and the Essex, and was created in 1967. Readily identified by its black body with distinctive white legs and white band around the saddle, it is a large deep-bodied pig with distinctive lop ears. Today, both the Wessex and the Essex are extinct, while the British saddleback has made something of a comeback. The Rare Breeds Survival Trust now considers it as a minority breed rather than rare, and herds can be found throughout Britain.
Sows weigh around 270kg, boars up to 320kg, and both sexes are renowned for their docility. It is a dual-purpose breed, producing tasty pork or, if the animal is taken to a heavier weight, bacon. British saddleback sows make good mothers,…
