Breeding pigs

Choosing the right pig breed for breeding programs is one of the most important decisions for any farmer. Each breed offers different strengths, from growth rate and litter size to feed efficiency and meat quality. Below is a simple breakdown of the best pig breeds for breeding, along with their pros, cons, and approximate starter costs to help you make the right choice for your farm.

Best Pig Breeds for Breeding

Yorkshire

Pros:

• Excellent maternal instincts
• Large litters
• Strong feed to gain ratio
• Great crossbreeding potential

Cons:

• More sensitive to heat
• Requires quality nutrition to maintain body condition

Starter Costs:

• Gilts: typically mid range
• Boars: moderate

Landrace

Pros:

• Known for long bodies and high milk production
• Produces large, healthy litters
• Strong maternal traits
• Great for maternal line breeding programs

Cons:

• Can be prone to soundness issues if not managed carefully
• Requires attentive housing and care

Starter Costs:

• Gilts: moderate
• Boars: slightly higher due to demand for breed improvement

Duroc

Pros:

• Fast growth and excellent meat quality
• Hardy in outdoor environments
• Good temperament
• Ideal terminal sire breed

Cons:

• Not as strong maternally as white breeds
• Slightly higher feed consumption

Starter Costs:

• Boars: often higher due to market demand
• Gilts: moderate

Berkshire

Pros:

• Premium meat quality with exceptional marbling
• Hardy and adaptable
• Good temperament
• Strong niche market value

Cons:

• Smaller litter sizes
• Slower growth compared to commercial lines

Starter Costs:

• Often higher, especially for registered stock

Chester White

Pros:

• Very good mothers
• Large litters with strong piglet survivability
• Adaptable and easy to manage
• Good crossbreeding potential

Cons:

• Sensitive skin in full sun
• Slightly slower growth than Yorkshire or Duroc

Starter Costs:

• Gilts: moderate
• Boars: moderate

Hampshire

Pros:

• Great carcass yield and muscling
• Efficient feeders
• Produces uniform offspring
• Popular sire line breed

Cons:

• Not known for maternal strengths
• Can be more aggressive than other breeds

Starter Costs:

• Boars: moderate to high
• Gilts: moderate

Tamworth

Pros:

• Excellent for outdoor or pasture based systems
• Strong rooting instinct
• Hardy and disease resistant
• Good bacon style carcass results

Cons:

• Leaner meat with less marbling
• Can be more active and require stronger fencing

Starter Costs:

• Generally moderate but can vary based on availability

Gloucestershire Old Spot (GOS)

Pros:

• Outstanding maternal instincts
• Calm and docile temperament
• Good on pasture
• High quality pork for specialty markets

Cons:

• Slower growers
• Harder to source in some regions

Starter Costs:

• Often on the higher end due to rarity

Which Breed Is Best for You

Your ideal breeding stock depends on your goals. For large scale production, Yorkshire, Landrace, and Hampshire are common choices. For fast growth and exceptional meat quality, Duroc and Berkshire stand out. Farms with pasture setups often prefer Tamworth or GOS. For breeders looking for balanced traits and strong mothering, Chester White and Yorkshire remain top options. Many farms benefit from crossbreeding maternal lines with strong sire lines for improved growth, hybrid vigor, and survivability.

Start Your Breeding Program With Confidence

7 Hills Farm & Livestock provides healthy, well raised breeding stock that meets the needs of both small farms and large scale operations. Whether you are building a maternal herd, improving carcass quality, or starting a pasture based breeding program, we can help you select the right pigs for long term success.

FAQ

What is the easiest pig breed for beginners to start breeding?
Yorkshire and Chester White are popular beginner friendly options because they are calm, reliable, and strong mothers that produce consistent litters.

How many pigs should I start with for a small breeding program?
Many new breeders begin with one boar and two gilts. This setup provides manageable herd growth and steady production without overwhelming space or feed resources.

How important is crossbreeding for improving litter performance?
Crossbreeding is one of the most effective ways to increase growth rates, uniformity, hybrid vigor, and overall piglet survivability, especially when combining maternal and sire line strengths.