Cumberland Pig
Encyclopedia
The Cumberland Pig was a breed of domestic pig
originating in the North of England
; it was used to produce local delicacies the Cumberland sausage
and Cumberland ham
. The breed became extinct in 1960, after changes in farming methods and a demand for less fatty meat led to it falling out of favour.
and Westmorland
, and was closely related to the Old Yorkshire white pig. It was a heavy-set white animal with pendulous ears, and had a tough constitution enabling it to withstand the poor weather of Northern England. During the nineteenth century, there were many efforts to 'improve' pig breeds, and the Cumberland was often crossed with the Yorkshire white breeds, which eventually developed into the Large White
, Small White
and Middle White
. The Cumberland Pig Breeders' Association was created in 1916, and the breed reached a height of popularity during the 1920s.
The Cumberland began to fall out of favour in the mid 20th century due to a demand for leaner meat. In 1955, the Advisory Committee on the Development of Pig Production in the United Kingdom, chaired by Sir Harold Howitt, issued a report that pig farmers in the UK, to ensure standardisation, should concentrate on three breeds: the Large White, Welsh
, and Landrace. By this time, the Cumberland stock was already dwindling; only 3 boars were licensed by 1954.
The Cumberland pig is considered to have become extinct in 1960 after the last individual, a sow belonging to a Mr. Thirwall, died on Bothel Craggs farm in Bothel, Cumbria
.
animal conservation centre 'recreated' the Cumberland Pig based on DNA analysis and selective breeding; farmers who had worked with the last surviving originals agreed that the new pig was a good match in appearance. It is hoped that the new pigs resulting from the program will in future be a source of authentic Cumberland hams and sausages: however, whilst the Rare Breeds Survival Trust
commented that they appreciated the project, they stated they would not recognise the breed as a true Cumberland Pig.
The original Cumberland Pig's genetic heritage is also present in the Middle White
and possibly in the Chester White
breed of the United States.
Domestic pig
The domestic pig is a domesticated animal that traces its ancestry to the wild boar, and is considered a subspecies of the wild boar or a distinct species in its own right. It is likely the wild boar was domesticated as early as 13,000 BC in the Tigris River basin...
originating in the North of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
; it was used to produce local delicacies the Cumberland sausage
Cumberland sausage
Cumberland sausage is a form of sausage that originated in the ancient county of Cumberland, England, now part of Cumbria. They are traditionally very long , and sold rolled in a flat, circular coil but within western Cumbria they are more often served in long curved lengths...
and Cumberland ham
Ham
Ham is a cut of meat from the thigh of the hind leg of certain animals, especiallypigs. Nearly all hams sold today are fully cooked or cured.-Etymology:...
. The breed became extinct in 1960, after changes in farming methods and a demand for less fatty meat led to it falling out of favour.
History and characteristics
The Cumberland was a very old breed that likely developed over several hundred years in CumberlandCumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
and Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
, and was closely related to the Old Yorkshire white pig. It was a heavy-set white animal with pendulous ears, and had a tough constitution enabling it to withstand the poor weather of Northern England. During the nineteenth century, there were many efforts to 'improve' pig breeds, and the Cumberland was often crossed with the Yorkshire white breeds, which eventually developed into the Large White
Large White (pig)
The Large White, also known as the English Large White, is a breed of domestic pig originating in Yorkshire, hence also known as the Yorkshire pig. First recognized in 1868, the breed is the progenitor of the American Yorkshire in North America...
, Small White
Small White (pig)
The Small White or Small Yorkshire was a breed of domestic pig originating in the United Kingdom and which was common during the nineteenth century...
and Middle White
Middle White
The Middle White is a breed of domestic pig native to the United Kingdom. It originated in Yorkshire roughly around the same time as the Large White. Its name comes from the fact that it was between the size of the Large White and the now-extinct Small White. It was fully recognized as a breed in...
. The Cumberland Pig Breeders' Association was created in 1916, and the breed reached a height of popularity during the 1920s.
The Cumberland began to fall out of favour in the mid 20th century due to a demand for leaner meat. In 1955, the Advisory Committee on the Development of Pig Production in the United Kingdom, chaired by Sir Harold Howitt, issued a report that pig farmers in the UK, to ensure standardisation, should concentrate on three breeds: the Large White, Welsh
Welsh (pig)
The Welsh is a breed of domestic pig native to Wales. It is a large white breed known for its hardiness in outdoor farming and its long, pear-shaped body. First mentioned in the 1870s, the breed is currently the third most common sire in the U.K. after the Large White and British Landrace...
, and Landrace. By this time, the Cumberland stock was already dwindling; only 3 boars were licensed by 1954.
The Cumberland pig is considered to have become extinct in 1960 after the last individual, a sow belonging to a Mr. Thirwall, died on Bothel Craggs farm in Bothel, Cumbria
Bothel, Cumbria
Bothel is a small village in Cumbria, North-western England. It is situated just off the main A595 road, eighteen miles from Carlisle and seven miles from Cockermouth. The village is in the civil parish of Bothel and Threapland just outside the boundary of the Lake District National Park...
.
Re-creation
In 2008, a PenrithPenrith, Cumbria
Penrith was an urban district between 1894 and 1974, when it was merged into Eden District.The authority's area was coterminous with the civil parish of Penrith although when the council was abolished Penrith became an unparished area....
animal conservation centre 'recreated' the Cumberland Pig based on DNA analysis and selective breeding; farmers who had worked with the last surviving originals agreed that the new pig was a good match in appearance. It is hoped that the new pigs resulting from the program will in future be a source of authentic Cumberland hams and sausages: however, whilst the Rare Breeds Survival Trust
Rare Breeds Survival Trust
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is a conservation charity, whose purpose is to secure the continued existence and viability of the United Kingdom’s native farm animal genetic resources...
commented that they appreciated the project, they stated they would not recognise the breed as a true Cumberland Pig.
The original Cumberland Pig's genetic heritage is also present in the Middle White
Middle White
The Middle White is a breed of domestic pig native to the United Kingdom. It originated in Yorkshire roughly around the same time as the Large White. Its name comes from the fact that it was between the size of the Large White and the now-extinct Small White. It was fully recognized as a breed in...
and possibly in the Chester White
Chester White
The Chester White is a breed of domestic pig which originated in Chester County, Pennsylvania.The Chester White was first developed around 1815-1818, using strains of large, white pigs common to the Northeast U.S. and a white boar imported from Bedfordshire...
breed of the United States.