British Saddleback
{{Short description|British breed of pig}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{use list-defined references|date=November 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox pig breed
| name = British Saddleback
| image = Saddleback Sow, Best of Breed Stoneleigh 2009 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Sow, judged Best of Breed at the Royal Show at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire in 2009
| status = {{ubl|{{nobreak|FAO (2007): endangered-maintained}}|DAD-IS (2022): at risk/endangered|RBST (2022–2023): at risk}}
| altname =
| country = United Kingdom
| distribution =
| standard = [https://www.britishpigs.org.uk/documents/bpa-standards-of-excellence-british-saddleback.pdf British Pig Association]
| use = dual-purpose, pork and bacon
| maleweight = 320 kg{{r|rbst}}
| femaleweight = 270 kg{{r|rbst}}
| maleheight =
| femaleheight =
| skincolour =
| hair =
| note =
}}
The British Saddleback is a modern British breed of domestic pig. It was created in 1967 by merging the surviving populations of two traditional saddleback breeds, the Essex and Wessex Saddleback.{{r|mason|page=224}} It is an endangered breed, listed on the watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as at risk, the second-highest level of concern.{{r|rbst2}}
History
The British Saddleback was created in 1967 by merging the remaining populations of two quite different traditional saddleback breeds, the Essex and the Wessex Saddleback, into a single herd-book. Both breeds had declined following the publication of the Howitt report in 1955, which found breed diversity to be a handicap to the pig industry in Britain, and established a policy of concentrating production on three breeds only: the Welsh, the British Landrace and the Large White.{{r|bpa|howitt}}
During the Second World War some 47% of pedigree sow registrations were from the Essex and Wessex breeds. In 1949 there were 2435 licensed Essex and Wessex boars, almost 25% of the total number. By 1954 the two breeds accounted for no more than 22% of sow registrations and fewer than 10% of registered boars.{{r|bpa2}} The recommendation of the time was to cross-breed saddleback sows with a white boar to produce a dual-purpose pig, for both pork and bacon production.{{r|bpa2}}
The British Saddleback was listed as "endangered-maintained" by the FAO in 2007.{{r|barb|page=121}} In 2016 the Rare Breeds Survival Trust listed it as a "minority breed" rather than a rare breed.{{r|rbst}} In 2012 the population was reported to be 882;{{r|dad}} by 2019 that figure had fallen to 378. In 2022 the breed was listed in DAD-IS as at risk/endangered,{{r|dad2}} and in the 2022–2023 watchlist of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust its conservation status was given as at risk, the second-highest level of concern.{{r|rbst2}}
Saddlebacks have been exported to Bhutan, Brazil, Indonesia, the Leeward Islands, Nepal, Nigeria, the Russian Federation, the Seychelles and the Solomon Islands.{{r|cabi|p=566}}
Characteristics
The British Saddleback is large and deep in the body. It is black with a white saddle, sheet or band round the withers, shoulders and front legs; some white is allowed on the nose, tail and hind feet. It is lop-eared.{{r|rbst}} The coat is fine, straight and silky.{{r|cabi|p=566}}
Use
The British Saddleback is hardy and forages well, and is suitable for extensive management. It is a dual-purpose breed, used for the production of both pork and bacon.{{r|rbst}} It is among the most prolific of British pig breeds, with an average litter size of approximately 10;{{r|cabi|p=566|rbst|dad2}} sows have good maternal qualities.{{r|bpa2}}
References
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist|refs=
Harold Gibson Howitt (1955). Development of pig production in the United Kingdom: report of the Advisory Committee on Development of Pig Production in the United Kingdom. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
}}
{{British livestock|R.2}}