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Domestic pig farming is getting a boost day by day throughout the world. Pig farming is a lucrative business with the aim of production is pork, bacon, and gammon.
A lot of pig breeds are present throughout the world and in unique climates. Some of them are good for meat production while some for bacon and gammon.
With the advancement of taxonomy, all these breeds are classified into many classes on the basis of their color, characters, and body shapes.
Most of these breeds are natural ones while major breeds are lately formed by the cross of two different breeds for getting the unique characteristics of the mother animals in their single offspring.
Similarly, pigs are also classified on the basis of their body color. This classification consists of the breeds of pigs having the same color, no matter to which country it belongs.
That’s why I build this guide on Red Pig Breeds with their characteristics like feeding habit, body shape, weight, and origin.
Before moving to the guide, take a look at some other pig breeds’ classification on the colors.
Classification of pig breeds by colors
- Black Pig Breeds
- Blonde Pig Breeds
- Brown Pig Breeds
- Cream Pig Breeds
- Ginger Pig Breeds
- Gold Pig Breeds
- Red Pig Breeds
- Sandy Pig Breeds
- Tan Pig Breeds
- White Pig Breeds
Red Pig Breeds
Here is the complete guide on Red pig breeds that consists of all the pig breeds that have the red body color. Most of them are commonly found breeds while some are rare in the world.
All of the pig breeds listed in this guide belong to the Red pig breeds category but they do exist as a unique pig breed too.
Let’s move to the Reg Pig breeds.
1. Duroc
Duroc Pig is an old domestic pig breed originating in the United States. This breed is one of the red pig stains that were developed in New England During 1800.
It is believed to have originated in the US but its exact origin is still unknown. Some theories explain that the red color of the Duroc comes from the Berkshire breed (black breed but was rusty brown in early ages).
The other theory says that they were imported from the Guinea coast of Africa during the slave trade time.
First Breed to have genome sequenced
Duroc pig is well known as the first breed to have the genome sequenced. It was the duroc sow that got the genome sequenced. The modern breed of the Duroc is the result of crosses between New York’s older Duroc and Jersey Red.
These breeds started being used as show hogs during the 1950s.
Second most pig breed in the US
Duroc is the second most recorded breed of swine in the United States. The red pigs are well known in the US for their drooping ears and product quality, carcass yield, and lean-gain efficiency.
The prolificacy and longevity of the sows also add up more value to the Duroc pigs.
Large Litters
Duroc sows are known for their large litters and caring behavior for their piglets.
Duroc Pig Characteristics
Body Shape
Duroc pig has a moderately long, medium-sized body along with a slightly dished face. They were originally a large breed in the past but slightly less than Jersey Red pig.
They have drooping ears that are not held erect.
The most common body color of Duroc pig is orangish-brown while it can be found from light golden shade to deep mahogany red.
Bodyweight
Duroc pigs are large-framed animals having large muscular bodies. The average weight of the mature sows is almost 204-295 kg while boars have slightly more weight of around 227-340 kg.
Special Characters
Duroc is a hardy pig breed and well known for its hardiness and quick muscle growth.
The breed is famous for its calm temperament and good behavior to humans and fellows. It is also called the least aggressive pig breed.
This breed is widely used for the extensive pig farming system because they grow faster if they are provided with consistent nutrition.
| Breed Name | Duroc |
| Breed Size | Medium to large |
| Climate Tolerance | All climates |
| Special Features | Very hardy, good behavior, calm temperament, less aggressive, grow faster, good for extensive system |
| Boars Weight | 227-340 kg |
| Sows Weight | 204-295 kg |
| Color | Usually an orangish-brown |
| Country/Place of Origin | United States |
2. Danish Protest
Danish Protest is domestic pig breeds. It is one of the rare breeds of pigs. Danish Protest was first originated in Germany and lately transferred to other parts of the world.
It originated in North Frisia in Southern Schleswig during the early 20th century.
Danish protest pig was the symbol of Danish cultural identity. The white vertical belt on the body of the Danish protest resembles the white color in the flag of Denmark.
Other names
Danish protest is also known by other names like Protest pig, Red Pied Husum (Ger. Root Buntes Husumer), German Red Pied (Ger. Rotbuntes Schwein, Rotbunte Schleswig-Holsteiner.
Danish Protest Pig Characteristics
Body Shape
Danish protest has a medium to the large-sized body with red as the main body color and a broad vertical belt near the shoulder.
Height
The average height of Danish protest pigs is almost 92 cm.
Body Weight
A mature Danish protest boar has a bodyweight of around 350 kg while the mature protest sow has around 300 kg body weight.
Special Characters
Danish protest is an active pig breed and also known for its hardiness. It is a rare breed of pig and the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein now supports the preservation of this breed.
| Breed Name | Danish Protest |
| Other Name | Protest pig, Red Pied Husum (Ger. Root Buntes Husumer), German Red Pied (Ger. Rotbuntes Schwein, Rotbunte Schleswig-Holsteiner |
| Special Features | Very hardy, active, currently a rare breed |
| Climate Tolerance | Native climates |
| Boars Weight | Around 350 kg |
| Sows Weight | Around 300 kg |
| Breed Size | Medium to large |
| Color | Usually red with a broad white vertical belt |
| Country/Place of Origin | Germany |
3. Red Wattle
Red Wattle pig is a domestic breed and well known for its red color. It is also known as the Red Wattle Hog and it is named for its red color and distinctive wattles and tassels.
It originated in the United States and is currently considered a rare breed of pig. It is listed as the “Threatened species” by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
The complete history of the Wattle is not yet clear but they are considered as descended in the late 1960’ from the pigs found in East Texas.
The Modern Red Wattle pig breed is developed by the H.C. Wengler who crossed the two red breed lines with a Duroc bear.
Red Wattle Pig Characteristics
Body shape
Red Wattle pigs are medium to large-sized animals and have a red body color along with distinctive wattles.
Body colors
The body color of Red Wattle hogs is mostly red but can be black sometimes.
Height
The average height of Red Wattle hogs is almost 120 cm.
Body Weight
A mature Red Wattle boar weighs around 340 kg while the Red wattle sows have a low weight of around 250 kg.
Special Characters
It is a hardy animal and famous as an excellent forager. Red Wattle grows relatively faster than other breeds and that character makes it a suitable breed for the pig farming system.
Another character to make it well for farming is the disease resistance and mild temperament.
Red Wattle shows good behavior to its offspring and produces around 10-15 piglets per litter.
| Breed Name | Red Wattle |
| Other Name | Red Wattle Hog |
| Special Features | very hardy and usually active, grow relatively faster, good foragers, mild-tempered, resistant to diseases |
| Breed Size | Medium to large |
| Boars Weight | Around 340 kg |
| Sows Weight | Around 249 kg |
| Color | Red or various shades of red, and sometimes almost black |
| Rarity | Threatened |
| Country/Place of Origin | United States |
4. Tamworth
Tamworth is a domestic pig breed and has its origin in the United Kingdom. It is one of the threatened pig breeds.
Tamworth pig was first originated in Sir Robert Peel’s Drayton Manor Estate at Tamworth, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
Tamworth is listed as Threatened in the United States and Vulnerable in the United Kingdom. That report was given by Rare Breeds Survival Trust as there are just 300 registered breeding females of Tamworth now left.
Tamworth breed is considered to be descended from the wild boars.
The major population of Tamworth pigs is present in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Other names
Tamworth pig is also known as the Sandy Back and Tam.
One of the oldest pig breeds
Tamworth is one of the oldest known pig breeds. But this breed is not well suited to the modern production methods like other older breeds of livestock.
Tamworth Pig Characteristics
Body shape
Tamworth pig is a medium to a large-sized animal having versatility in terms of body color from pale gingery to dark mahogany red.
They have an elongated head shape with a rectilinear face and snout. The body of an animal is long and narrow.
The Tamworth has erect pointed ears and a long neck and legs.
The body is muscular and firm and well known for the good skeletal system with excellent foot structure.
Body-color
Tamworth pigs have versatility in body color. It had orange and purple body color in history but orange coloration was removed by breeding.
Height and Weight
The average height of a mature Tamworth pig is almost 20-26 inches.
A mature Tamworth boar has a weight of around 250-370 kg while the average body weight of mature sows is around 200-300 kg.
Special Features
Tamworth is a very active animal and well known for its docile temperament. It has great hardiness and adaptation to adverse climates.
Tamworth pigs are well known as a bacon breed and thrive well on low energy foods. They are excellent forages and compatible for grazing with cattle and animals.
They have a body coat of ginger red color that is well adaptable in a variety of climates.
The female Tamworth pigs are highly prolific and capable of producing a large number of piglets and care for large litters.
It is a famous pig breed that is well-suited for forest grazing.
| Breed Name | Tamworth |
| Other Name | Sandy Back and Tam |
| Breed Size | Medium to large |
| Climate Tolerance | All climates |
| Color | Vary from a pale gingery to dark mahogany red |
| Boars Weight | 250 to 370 kg |
| Sows Weight | 200 to 300 kg |
| Special Features | Well adapted to native climates, good mothers, sows are fertile, very hardy, good for extensive systems |
| Country/Place of Origin | United Kingdom |
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