The Dorset Gold Tip was a breed of pig originating in the United Kingdom . It is now considered extinct .
12-521: The Dorset Gold Tip originated with a Tamworth cross, likely with the Berkshire and possibly with some additional Gloucester Old Spot ancestry. The breed had slightly folded (lop) ears, and a coat with a reddish base colour, like the Tamworth, and black spots: the hairs had gold tips, giving the breed its name. The Gold Tip was bred for quick growth, early maturing, and extreme size at a time when fat bacon
24-435: A coarse mane , a turned-up nose, and dark spots on the coat. Tamworth Two Litter (animal) A litter is the live birth of multiple offspring at one time in animals from the same mother and usually from one set of parents , particularly from three to eight offspring. The word is most often used for the offspring of mammals , but can be used for any animal that gives birth to multiple young. In comparison,
36-713: A group of eggs and the offspring that hatch from them are frequently called a clutch , while young birds are often called a brood . Animals from the same litter are referred to as littermates. A species' average litter size is generally equal to one half of the number of teats and the maximum litter size generally matches the number of teats. Not all species abide by this rule, however. The naked mole rat , for example, averages roughly eleven young per birth and has eleven teats. Animals frequently display grouping behavior in herds , swarms , flocks , or colonies , and these multiple births derive similar advantages. A litter offers some protection from predation , not particularly to
48-597: A long snout , a slightly dished or concave profile, and prick ears. The coat is long, fine and straight and of a ginger or red-gold colour, preferably without black hair; the skin is flesh-coloured and should carry no black spots. Tamworths are considered a medium-sized porcine breed; a full-grown boar ranges from 250 to 370 kg (550 to 820 lb) and a full-grown sow ranges from 200 to 300 kg (440 to 660 lb). The adult length ranges from 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in), and heights of about 50 to 65 cm (20 to 26 in) are common. The curled adult tail
60-624: A wild jungle pig ( Sus scrofa cristatus ) brought from India by Sir Francis Lawley ; that it derived from Irish pigs known as 'Irish Grazers', brought to Drayton Manor in Drayton Bassett by Sir Robert Peel ; that Peel had not used these, but a boar brought from the West Indies; or that the colour was due to a West African Guinea Hog descended from pigs from Portugal, or to a red pig imported in about 1750 from Barbados. The colour may have been fixed by selective breeding alone. The Tamworth
72-420: Is about 24 to 30 cm (9.4 to 12 in). These pigs have characteristically long necks and legs, deep sides, and narrow backs. Their ham structures are quite muscular and firm. The breed is known for having an excellent foot structure and a good skeletal system. Litter sizes are typically somewhat smaller than those of commercial breeds. Unacceptable features, according to breed aficionados, are: curly hair,
84-493: Is one of seven British pig breeds listed by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust as 'priority', the highest level of concern of the trust. The origins of the Tamworth are not known. It appears to have originated shortly before or after 1800 near the town of Tamworth in south-eastern Staffordshire , close to Warwickshire border. There are many theories of the origin of its unusual red colouration: that it derived from
96-660: The UK, the USA , and Canada. Farmers in each country much favour other pigs in quantity. From 1913 to mid-century, the breed reached peak numbers in Canada, reaching up to 10% of total swine. In Australia, the breed reached peak numbers of about 1000 in the mid-20th century. In New Zealand there were five breeding sows in 2002; in 2021 it was listed as "priority" by the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand . The Tamworth has
108-402: The individual young but to the parents' investment in breeding. With multiple young, predators could eat several and others could still survive to reach maturity, but with only one offspring, its loss could mean a wasted breeding season. The other significant advantage is the chance for the healthiest young animals to be favored from a group. Rather than it being a conscious decision on the part of
120-479: Was more desirable than it is today; some specimens were so large they were unable to move out of their pens. The Gold Tip was originally developed during the 19th century. It was always a relatively rare breed, with few licensed boars appearing on records, although it was regularly exhibited during the 1920s and 1930s. By 1955, only one boar was still registered, although the Dorset Gold Tip Pig Society
132-619: Was recognised as a breed in 1865 and entered at the Royal Show in that year. A herd-book was started in 1885, and a breed society , the Tamworth Incorporated Pig Breeders Association, was formed in 1906. Tamworths were imported into the United States by Thomas Bennett of Rossville, Illinois , in 1882. Soon they entered Canada where they have also endured. Breed associations for Tamworth swine are active in
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#1733084772447144-456: Was still in existence in 1961. The breed may have become extinct in the 1960s or 1970s. This pig-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Tamworth pig The Tamworth is a British breed of domestic pig . It is the only red-coloured British pig. Its origins are unknown, but it appears to have developed near the town of Tamworth in south-eastern Staffordshire , close to Warwickshire border. It
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