Exploring the World of Pigs: A Comprehensive Guide to the Largest Breeds

Domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus) are believed to have branched off from wild boars (Sus scrofa) through domestication events that occurred independently in East Asia and the Near East, beginning 8,000 to 9,000 years ago. While the process of domestication likely started around this time, it’s important to note that the evolution of the domestic pig as we know it today took many generations and involved selective breeding and interbreeding with wild boars. 

Pigs are omnivores, meaning they’ll eat just about anything. In the wild, pigs live in forests where they forage for plants, bugs, acorns, beech nuts, and chestnuts. Domesticated pigs are fed slop made of soybeans and corn. Pigs also thoroughly appreciate leftover fruits, peels, veggies, and other table scraps. While wild boars typically weigh between 100 to 200 pounds, domestic pigs can easily exceed 600 pounds, with some breeds growing even bigger. Continue reading to learn about 10 of the largest domestic pig breeds.

10. Tamworth Pig

The Tamworth pig is a lean, athletic, ginger-red pig and is among the oldest breeds of the genus. The smallest breed on our list comes from Tamworth, Staffordshire, U.K. The Tamworth pig was recognized as a breed in 1885 and began to increase in popularity throughout the U.K., Australia, Canada, the U.S., and New Zealand. They are known as a bacon breed due to their ability to thrive on low-energy food and slow growth.

Tamworth pigs are well suited for the outdoors, for their red coats help protect them from sunburn. Like most pigs, the Tamworth is intelligent and highly social, with an agreeable disposition. These ginger pigs are currently listed as threatened in the U.S., with fewer than 300 registered breeding females. These little piggies can reach up to 600 pounds. 

9. Hampshire Pig

The Hampshire pig is a breed known for its lean meat, hardiness, and distinctive black and white markings. Originating in England, it was imported to the US in the early 1800s and is now widely used in crossbreeding programs for pork production. Hampshires are valued for their ability to produce high-quality, lean pork with minimal backfat. This breed can live 12 years, and mature adults can weigh between 500 and 700 pounds.

8. Landrace Pig

The Landrace pig is a breed known for its prolificacy, substantial litters, and excellent mothering abilities, particularly its milk production. They are typically white with long bodies, long heads, and drooping ears that cover most of the face. Primarily used for bacon and ham production, their meat is of high quality, and they are a primary source of pork in countries like Denmark, where they originated. They are now exported to many countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, and various European, Asian, and African nations. Mature Landrace sows typically weigh 450 to 600 pounds, while boars can weigh 500 to 700 pounds.

7. British Saddleback 

The British saddleback is a hardy, dual-purpose pig breed known for its distinctive black and white coloring, excellent foraging abilities, and prolific litters. It’s a hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding of the Wessex and Essex saddleback breeds, famed for their outdoor adaptability and maternal qualities.

Their ability to thrive outdoors, combined with their good temperament and foraging skills, makes them a popular choice for farmers seeking sustainable and natural farming methods. As mature adults, saddleback boars can weigh 700 to 770 pounds, while sows weigh 600 to 660 pounds.

6. Yorkshire

Developed in the county of York in England, this breed was initially known as the English large white, but is commonly referred to as the Yorkshire pig. This breed is known for its huge size, prolificacy, and high-quality meat. Yorkshire pigs are characterized by their white color, erect ears, and long, muscular bodies, making them a popular choice for both commercial meat production and crossbreeding programs. 

Yorkshires were introduced to the United States around 1830, and quickly gained popularity for their meat production capabilities. Mature Yorkshire boars typically weigh 770 to 840 pounds, and sows 570 to 660 pounds.

5. Red Wattle Hog

A heritage breed of domestic pig, the red wattle hog is recognized by the distinctive wattles, a fleshy mass on each side of its neck, its red coat, and its flavorful, well-marbled meat. They are also known for their hardiness, foraging ability, and rapid growth rate. While once thought to be extinct, they are now experiencing a resurgence in popularity among chefs and farmers. They are a large breed, typically weighing between 600 and 800 pounds, but they can reach up to 1,200 pounds. They can grow up to 4 feet high and 8 feet long. Red wattle hogs have been present in North America since at least the mid-1800s. They were initially popular due to their hardiness and adaptability.

4. Large Black Pig

The Large Black pig is a heritage breed known for its foraging ability, docile nature, and high-quality meat. It’s a large, all-black pig with large, drooping ears that cover much of its face. They thrive in the pasture and are known for their hardiness and ability to convert low-quality feed into delicious pork. 

Large Black pigs can live for 12 to 20 years. Mature boars can weigh 700 to 800 pounds, while sows average 600 to 700 pounds. This breed is considered critically endangered by The Livestock Conservancy.  Their numbers have declined due to the industrialization of pig farming, but there’s a growing interest in heritage breeds. 

3. The Poland China 

The Poland China pig, the oldest American breed of swine, was developed in the early 1800s in Ohio’s Miami Valley region. It originated from crossbreeding various types of pigs, including Big China, White Byfield, Irish Grazier, and Berkshire breeds. The breed is known for its large size, black coat with white markings, and drooping ears.

Poland China pigs are popular in South America and the United States, especially in the Midwest Corn Belt. Mature Poland China boars typically weigh around 640 pounds, and sows about 530 pounds, though some individuals can be larger. Big Bill was a Poland China Hog from Tennessee that grew to be 2,552 pounds and still holds the world record for the largest pig in the world.

2. Duroc Jersey

The Duroc pig is a lean, muscular breed that originated around 1850. The Duroc is a hybrid of the Jersey Red and the New York Duroc that became popular in the country in the 1930s.

Duroc Jersey pigs can live in both cold and warm climates. These long-bodied pigs have a slight dish to their face and a droop to their ears. The Duroc’s color ranges from light golden to deep red, but their coat is often an orangish-red.

These hogs grow relatively quickly, and an adult boar can weigh up to 800 pounds.

1. The Hungarian Mangalitsa

The Mangalitsa or Mangalica of Hungary is the only pig breed left with a thick woolly sheep-like coat. Mangalitsa pigs are typically blonde in color, though they can sometimes be black or red. Their unique, thick coat and high-fat content make them an ideal homestead animal for colder climates, although they do require a lot of space due to their large size.

These beauties were almost lost in the late 20th century when fewer than 200 pigs were left in existence. Mangalitsa, meaning hog with a lot of lard, lost its popularity during the 20th century when lard was declared unhealthy. However, they are rebounding, gaining favor with a niche market at a premium price.

The Mangalitsa grows more slowly than leaner breeds, and they produce fewer piglets. They are one of the fattest pigs in the world, and a mature boar can weigh up to 800 pounds!