Gloucestershire Old Spot Pigs (GOS pigs)
Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs....a heritage breed of pig that is endangered. Just a few short years ago, these pigs were on the critical list for becoming extinct! There were less than 2,000 registered animals worldwide!! In 2015 they moved up a step and are now listed as a threatened breed with The Livestock Conservancy. This means there are now less than 5,000 registered animals worldwide. Better numbers, but preservation breeding still needs to be continued!!
The Gloucestershire Old Spots pig is an English breed of domestic pig which is named after the county of Gloucestershire. It is also known by some other names such as Gloucestershire Old Spot, Gloucester Old Spot, Gloucester, GOS, Orchard Pig, The Cottager’s Pig or simply Old Spots. It is among the very oldest of pig breeds.
The breed was developed in the Berkley Vale of Gloucestershire, England, during the 1800s. Its exact origins are not known, though it was likely based on two breeds – the original Gloucestershire pig which was large, off-white, had wattles and was without spots, and second, the unimproved Berkshire. Both of the old breeds used to develop the Old Spots are now extinct.
The first known registry for the GOS pigs was in the UK and was called The Gloucestershire Old Spots Breed Society. This registry was formed in 1913. No other pedigreed spotted pig was recorded prior to that, which makes the GOS the oldest spotted pig breed in the world!
The Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders’ Club (GOSPBC) was established in the UK in 1990. In 2009 they were honored when HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne), who keeps GOS pigs at her Gatcombe Estate home in Gloucestershire, agreed to become their Patron! They are the only pedigree pig organization in Britain with royal patronage.
There are two GOS registries in the USA. In 1996 The Gloucestershire Old Spots of America Inc (GOSA) was formed. This registry is ran entirely by dedicated volunteers! Then in 2013 the registry called Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders United was born in the Pacific Northwest (GOSPBU). Many GOS pigs in the USA are double registered with both registries, though an equal number are only registered with the first.
(Click the white links shown above, to explore The Livestock Conservancy website and the GOS registries noted.)
Some of the well known characteristics of this breed include:
Docile – making it a suitable choice for first time pig keepers and an important consideration for family operations or older farmers.
Hardy – the breed is very adaptable to extremes of temperatures and weather patterns.
Good dams – the GOS is a milky breed and a good dam. In many cases, sows will continue breeding at a greater age than many other breeds and hybrids.
Quality Pork & Bacon – there is a huge demand for the high quality meat produced by GOS pigs. Their pork is a marbled pork, like beef is marbled. Makes it juicy and not tough.
They make an ideal crossing breed. Put to a white breed, the offspring will be white with the advantage of hybrid vigor. (Although we feel keeping them pure is critical for the survival of the breed.)
Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs....a heritage breed of pig that is endangered. Just a few short years ago, these pigs were on the critical list for becoming extinct! There were less than 2,000 registered animals worldwide!! In 2015 they moved up a step and are now listed as a threatened breed with The Livestock Conservancy. This means there are now less than 5,000 registered animals worldwide. Better numbers, but preservation breeding still needs to be continued!!
The Gloucestershire Old Spots pig is an English breed of domestic pig which is named after the county of Gloucestershire. It is also known by some other names such as Gloucestershire Old Spot, Gloucester Old Spot, Gloucester, GOS, Orchard Pig, The Cottager’s Pig or simply Old Spots. It is among the very oldest of pig breeds.
The breed was developed in the Berkley Vale of Gloucestershire, England, during the 1800s. Its exact origins are not known, though it was likely based on two breeds – the original Gloucestershire pig which was large, off-white, had wattles and was without spots, and second, the unimproved Berkshire. Both of the old breeds used to develop the Old Spots are now extinct.
The first known registry for the GOS pigs was in the UK and was called The Gloucestershire Old Spots Breed Society. This registry was formed in 1913. No other pedigreed spotted pig was recorded prior to that, which makes the GOS the oldest spotted pig breed in the world!
The Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders’ Club (GOSPBC) was established in the UK in 1990. In 2009 they were honored when HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne), who keeps GOS pigs at her Gatcombe Estate home in Gloucestershire, agreed to become their Patron! They are the only pedigree pig organization in Britain with royal patronage.
There are two GOS registries in the USA. In 1996 The Gloucestershire Old Spots of America Inc (GOSA) was formed. This registry is ran entirely by dedicated volunteers! Then in 2013 the registry called Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders United was born in the Pacific Northwest (GOSPBU). Many GOS pigs in the USA are double registered with both registries, though an equal number are only registered with the first.
(Click the white links shown above, to explore The Livestock Conservancy website and the GOS registries noted.)
Some of the well known characteristics of this breed include:
Docile – making it a suitable choice for first time pig keepers and an important consideration for family operations or older farmers.
Hardy – the breed is very adaptable to extremes of temperatures and weather patterns.
Good dams – the GOS is a milky breed and a good dam. In many cases, sows will continue breeding at a greater age than many other breeds and hybrids.
Quality Pork & Bacon – there is a huge demand for the high quality meat produced by GOS pigs. Their pork is a marbled pork, like beef is marbled. Makes it juicy and not tough.
They make an ideal crossing breed. Put to a white breed, the offspring will be white with the advantage of hybrid vigor. (Although we feel keeping them pure is critical for the survival of the breed.)
