SAVING HERITAGE HOGS,
ONE FARM AT A TIME
PRESERVING HERITAGE BREEDS
All we need to do is empower individuals with the right philosophy and the right information to opt out en masse.” — Joel Salatin
WHY CHOOSE HERITAGE BREEDS?
You’re a small-farm owner
Heritage breeds are a fantastic part of any small farm. These animals are independent and resilient, so they love to forage and free range, and have the ability to mate naturally. Pigs and chickens help cultivate the land. They have fewer health issues than commercial breeds because they tend to hardiness and disease resistance And they are well-adapted to a wide variety of climates.
You’re a homesteader
You love being self-sufficient and living off the land. You purchased a house with a small acreage with a mission to plant a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and raise poultry and livestock for meat and eggs. Maybe you even produce your own electricity with solar panels and have a water well instead of being connected to public utilities.
You’re a hobby farm owner
You became a hobby farmer because of your love for animals. You take pride in preserving and caring for heritage breeds. Heritage breeds come in all sorts of colors, shapes, and sizes. Adding them to your hobby farm benefits biodiversity and conservation. They easily integrate with the rest of your farm due to their docile and friendly temperament.
mission
Heritage breeds are facing a crisis due to modern farming changes. In the last century, farming has shifted drastically, favoring uniformity across the globe. This shift means more animals are kept in confined spaces, fed standardized diets, and only a few modern breeds are used—those that produce the most in these conditions. As a result, the rich variety of heritage breeds, each uniquely adapted to different local environments, is rapidly disappearing. We're losing the genetic diversity that heritage breeds bring to agriculture, which is a loss not just for farming, but for our global heritage.
Heritage breeds are becoming rare because of big changes in farming in the United States over the last hundred years. Farmers have been choosing animals that produce the most, which means fewer heritage breeds are around. When there are only a few animals of a breed, it's hard for that breed to survive. It also makes it tough for farmers to improve the breed's productivity, leading to even fewer animals. As a result, these special breeds are in danger, with their numbers dropping as farmers move to more common, productive breeds.
Small-scale sustainable farmers play a crucial role in saving heritage pig breeds. By choosing to raise these breeds, farmers continue the legacy of our ancestors, promoting farming systems that work in harmony with nature. Heritage pigs are perfect for low-input, sustainable farming, offering a resilient and economical choice for today's farmers. Getting involved with heritage breeds not only ensures their survival but also brings personal satisfaction, community connections, and economic benefits. This effort helps preserve a vital part of our agricultural heritage for future generations, contributing to the sustainability of agriculture.
Saving heritage breeds is possible through practical use and the revival of traditional breeding practices. By incorporating these breeds into productive farming and using time-tested selection methods, today's farmers can restore the valuable role of heritage breeds in agriculture. Promoting these animals and employing successful techniques can enhance their productivity. For heritage breeds to thrive, it's crucial they're raised for various purposes across numerous farms, echoing their historical usage. Whether for exhibition or production, every effort contributes significantly to preserving heritage breeds. Thoughtful planning enables farmers to significantly aid in the conservation of these important breeds on their farms, ensuring their long-term viability and the continuation of our agricultural heritage.