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What Is Heritage Pork? All About Heritage Pig Breeds

written by

Blaine Hitzfield

posted on

March 19, 2024

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Here’s a little-known fact: the picture of pigs we’re all accustomed to today is nothing like the heritage breeds that first came to America hundreds of years ago. 

Most of today’s pigs are the product of industrial farming practices. They’re bred not for their caliber, but for mass production.

The origin of heritage pig breeds dates back thousands of years, and they’re renowned for their hardiness, nutritional content, environmental benefits, and sustainability. 

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History and Characteristics of Heritage Pigs

Pigs have been part of the agricultural world since ancient times. Until the Industrial Farming Revolution, these animals lived on open fields and pastures—a far cry from the uniform ‘pink’ pig we know today. 

They came in distinct breeds: the long-legged auburn Tamworth, the ebony-coloured Berkshire, and more. 

Farmers carefully selected the best of these heritage pigs for breeding, with the idea of nurturing hardy, robust animals with strong immune systems and tasty, nutritious meat. 

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At Seven Sons, we cross-breed our Heritage pigs like the ones pictured above with modern varieties for a balanced combination of hardiness traits and a fat/flavor profile. Most pork you find in supermarkets comes from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). 

Unlike heritage breeds, factory-farmed pigs aren’t so much bred for quality as they are for QUANTITY. The pigs are unfortunately farrowed in small crates and often given antibiotics to combat the diseases that inevitably develop in such crowded conditions. 

Not only is the industrial approach unkind to the animals and the planet, but also results in loss of hardiness, natural immunity, maternal instincts, and an inability to sustain diverse weather conditions.

For instance, our hogs happily and healthily thrive on pasture even during winter:

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Why Buy Heritage Pork?

Once you try heritage pork, you’ll immediately taste the difference compared to factory-farmed meat. Heritage pork is renowned for its intensity of flavor, juiciness, marbling, and tenderness. It’s nothing like the bland, dry pork you often get at the grocery store. 

Heritage pork is also nutritionally superior because heritage breeds are pasture-raised with plenty of space to roam and play. Their lives are stress-free and spent in a natural environment, making for healthier, happier animals. 

In addition, we never use GMOs, antibiotics, or growth promotants – all of which reduce the nutritional profile of the meat. 

Lastly, ethically sourced meat is better for the planet. Pigs play an essential role in promoting plant diversity because their rooting and foraging practices encourage soil activity. When farmers take a regenerative grazing approach to farming (rotating animals on the pasture to help with natural pest control and biodiversity), they’re working to restore soil health and build healthy ecosystems that sequester more carbon. 

Ready to taste the difference? Shop our range of pasture-raised heritage pork today. Looking for inspiration? Give this recipe for Traditional Southern Smoked Pork Neck Bones a try.

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