Linderöd pig

Linderödssvin

The Linderöd Pig is one of four Swedish native pig breeds, and the only Swedish native breed to be granted the environmental support of endangered domesticated breeds by the Swedish Board of Agriculture. The other breeds are The Swedish Native Breed, The Swedish Yorkshire and The Old Swedish Speckled Pig, also called The Forest Pig. The latter one is extinct. The Swedish Native Breed and The Swedish Yorkshire are used for production and occur in vital populations. The breed is mostly based on a Nordic lineage, so the genuine Swedish stocks might be in danger in the long run. Linderöd pig dates back to the Stone Age. Historycally, pigs have been the dominating element in the diet of the Scania region. Every farmer used to have some pigs, which were a staple food of the local population. At that time, there were two different native breeds in Scania: on the one hand the forest pig or wild pig, and on the other one the domestic pig. Linderöd is more akin to domestic pig, even if its coat resembles more that of wild pig’s in color variation. Safeguard of the Linderöd pig was started in 1952 with the creation of Höör Zoo in Scania, where the few remaining heads of Linderöd were brought. Yet, it was only in 1992 that the first inventory of the breed was made; in the same year the Association of Swedish Rare Breeds (Föreningen Lantsvinet, an association made up of breeders involved in Linderöd pigs’s protection) was founded. The Linderöd Pig is a little round and has sturdy strong legs. The snout is straight and well developed. The colour is gaudily black on a white/grey or brown bottom. Sometimes the black spots can be so big that the animal almost looks black. There is a great variety, and individual animals can be predominantly black or brown. The brown animals are more orange when they are small, but they gradually develop into brown/grey when they get old. Not a single white animal has yet been born, which indicates that the breed is native. The Linderöd Pig has a winter fur and likes being outdoors all the year around. The pigs grow slowly and they are calm, patient and sociable. At the farrowing an average of 7 piglets are born. One boar and two hogs from each litter go directly to a live stock while the rest make the meat production, consisting of 200 animals a year. There are strong indications that the breed is a relatively unaffected rest population of an older Swedish native breed. The Linderöd Pig originates from Scania but is suitable for production in other parts of the country too. Today, there are approximately 70 stocks in the country. There are 10% in the far north of Sweden (Norrland), 20% in the middle of the country and 70% in the south of the provinces of Småland and Halland and in Scania. Linderöd pigs feed mainly on cereals, oats, green grass, roots, clovers, eggs, grubs and earth worms. During winter months when the ground is frozen, pigs are given organically grown food (it can be potatoes, apples, blackoats). Today’s stocks of the 70 or so producers are small, in many cases consisting of one or two hogs and one boar per producer. From these animals there is a meat production of approximately 200 animals. In 2002, there were only a few heads left of Linderöd pigs, and the breed was declered at risk of extinction. The aim of the farmers consists in preserving the breed, which has remained unchanged for centuries. Historically, pig breeding has always been widespread in southern Sweden, where the activity was an important aspect of the local economy. Nevertheless, there do not exists dishes especially connected with the breed. There are strong indications that the breed is a relatively unaffected rest population of an older Swedish native breed. The Linderöd Pig originates from Scania but is suitable for production in other parts of the country too. Today, there are approximately 70 stocks in the country. There are 10% in the far north of Sweden (Norrland), 20% in the middle of the country and 70% in the south of the provinces of Småland and Halland and in Scania. The Linderöd Pig has been kept at Skånes djurpark (The Zoolical Gardens of Scania) in Höör since 1952. Today’s pig stock of 248 pigs, 64 boars and 184 hogs (according to the statistics of 2004) originates from a stock of outdoor pigs on the ridge of Linderöd in Skåne. In 1992 The Association of Landtsvinet (The Native Pig) was founded primarily in order to keep The Linderöd Pig as a pure native breed by keeping a gene bank. The association also works for a healthier and natural production of pigs in general (See Plan och riktlinjer för Föreningen Landtsvinet). The Swedish Board of Agriculture has acknowledged The Association of Landtsvinet as a registrating association. The gene bank activity is open for all owners of animals who breed The Linderöd Pig. The gene bank activity is a way of controlling the origin, which ensures the purity of the breed, as the identity and origin of the animals are registered in a gene bank register. The registrar at the gene bank of the association issues the gene bank certificates. Only animals from a stock affiliated to the gene bank are entitled to get a certificate on their official origin and to be registered in the register of the gene bank. This activity is a guarantee to keep The Linderöd Pig a pure native breed.