The Large White Pig

The Large White is a common breed of pig used extensively in commercial production for both pork and bacon. As the name suggests, they are a large pig with pink skin and white hairs. Their ears are erect and their face is slightly dished. These pigs are the direct ancestors of the Yorkshires of America. Their hams tend to be of a lesser quality compared to other breeds, but have a high lean meat to fat ratio, making them suitable for the modern market. In modern systems it is not purebred Large Whites which are processed for food, but their crossbred offspring which have a better meat structure. The better bloodlines of Large Whites have strong, sound legs allowing them to serve long reproductive lives.

They are known to have large litters (10 to 12 piglets) and produce large quantities of milk, which is one of the reasons for their popularity in the factory farm setting. They are commonly used in crossbreeding programs to increase productivity, usually with a Landrace breed.

While they have been used extensively in factory farm situations, this breed has gradually been introduced to free range and organic enterprises. This presents some difficulty as the breed is very prone to sunburn due to their unpigmented skin and white hairs. They are less suited than other breeds to the outdoor environment, particularly those pigs that are released from intensive farms because they have not had the opportunity to learn to forage for food, and may only recognise commercial pellets as being edible.

Although the Large White is a very popular breed for producers of pork and bacon pigs, it can be difficult to locate purebred individuals. Modern pig production is highly focused on EBVs (estimated breeding values), with many producers importing semen from only the most productive crossbred boars. This ultimately reduces genetic diversity in the pig population and has caused a decline in the number of purebred animals being registered. The Large White is considered a rare breed by the Australian Rare Breeds Trust because there is such a strong focus on crossbreeding, and so few purebred animals being registered each year.

The Large White is closely related to the Middle White and Small White pigs, which have more Chinese bloodlines in their history.