Five heritage livestock breeds to watch kansas living magazine. Mulefoot hogs are a critically endangered heritage breed. Pdf the main creole pig population in mexico, the hairless mexican pig, remains as an unimproved. Working with the livestock conservancy and associated registry, the amba manages a herd book of american mulefoot hog. To educate, advocate, protect miniature pigs, improve breeding practices, as well as encourage responsible mini pig ownership, to further the progression of the breed through dna parentage confirmation and future documentation of ancestry. Our registered mulefoot hogs are hardy and winter well. Is a american mulefoot hog the right pig breed for you. Mark dibert writes and we agree, thats not the way we think of pork, and after you taste mulefoot pork, you wont either.
It has a welldocumented history over the last century. Finnish landrace pigs are found in abundance in the northern parts of europe, particularly in finland. The livestock conservancy quick reference guide to heritage pigs. The mulefoot likely originated with swine brought to the gulf coast by the spanish. Of the breeders i spoke with over the last few months, most seemed to have. Coburn, in his classic 1916 book swine in america, notes that the mulefoot hog was found in arkansas, missouri, iowa, indiana, across the southwest and in some parts of mexico. Race to save rare breed of pig hinges on eating them ctv. In the mid20th century, the population began to decline, and by 1964, one breeder, r. Susan frank has a dozen mulefoot hogs, a critically rare breed, and has received a grant to popularize their meat. There are many examples of individual farmers or groups of farmers who have continued to maintain and breed the last herd of a particular type or breed of livestock because they believed that they had something to offer. Mulefoot farm is the best i was amazed at how much better everything tastes vs. The mulefoot pig is a rare breed of domestic pig which is used for its lean meat. Where to find mulefoot and berkshire pork washington post.
So what does mulefoot taste like and where can you get some, you ask. The inferred european origin of pigs in the americas, africa, and australia reflects european expansion during the sixteenth to nineteenth. Jose hernandez driving rachel niceleys four in hand at the indiana cde 2014. Spain and portugal pig breeds, wild boar populations of different european geographic origins and commercial pig breeds were included in the. This heritage breed of swine has a solid hoof resembling that of a mule, it possesses remarkable hardiness and a gentle disposition, and it forages well on pasture land. Mulefoot pork maggies farm at mulberry creek more than. They are solid black with white points occurring rarely. Such characteristics will occasionally occur as a single gene mutation, producing occasional mulefooted pigs within a variety of other breeds. Or book now at one of our other 4376 great restaurants in imlay city. Holiday of louisiana, missouri, established what would become the last herd of purebred mulefoot hogs. Americanlisted has classifieds in jonesboro, arkansas for home and garden, house, gorgeous gardens, practical gardening, waterwise, garden style, home styling, green garden, plants, trees, bushes, flowers, gardening tools, gardening shovel, gardening. When we relocated in october 2019, our new farm did not have the infrastructure to support hogs so we had to make the tough decision to leave them behind. A recessive gene that is expressed in these recent pigs.
We have lived the good life here on the diggin dust heritage hog farm. The livestock conservancy quick reference guide to. Meadowlark heritage farm american mulefoot pigs, kansas. The mulefoot pig is a domestic pig which is used for its lean meat. It is from spain and named for its intact, uncloven hooves reminiscent of a mule. The breed is more likely to have descended from the spanish hogs brought to the americas beginning in the 1500s. By 1985 only one herd remained belonging to a mr r. They fatten quite easily and a mature hog weighs in at the 500600 pound range. Swine it is believed that the majority of the breeds we now know are descended from the eurasian wild boar sus scrofa. A rare breed of pig originating in spain and reared for their lean meat, the mulefoot pig was listed as critically endangered in 20 with only 200. The mulefoot hogs have a soft solid black coat with white points occurring occasionally.
He acquired swine from all known purebred breeders, and used selective breeding to maintain the breed standard. Mulefoot pigs unlike is said, happen to be very clean animals. Where to find mulefoot and berkshire pork the washington. Because of the high fat content, this breed is particularly good for high quality ham. Parmanian acres parma michigan heritage farm animals. Red depending what generic color it actually is because people refer to several different genetic colors as red when they can actually be brown, chocolate, liver or actually true red is which is dominant and i doubt thats the actually genetic color we are talking about heee but until i can do a dna test to pinpoint the genetic color it actually is i cant say by looking, no one can. Mulefoot hogs are compact in appearance and weigh 400600 pounds. The most distinctive feature of the mulefoot hog is the solid hoof, which resembles that of a mule. While pigs with single hooves are found in writings as far back as aristotle, the mulefoot is the only population to be considered a breed, having an established standard type. Heritage pork is, darker, more heavily marbled with fat, juicier and richertasting than most pork, and perfect for grilling. In contrast, the mulefoot breed is consistent in appearance and behavior, with qualities that have made it valuable in american history and a conservation priority today. Ive had the bacon, pork chops, breakfast sausage, brats, and eggs from mulefoot farm and all have been outstanding. Sep 06, 2015 hogs eating weeds and i spray down in the heat. There are numerous folklorebased tales of the myotonics origin, but most agree they stemmed from a herd in rural tennessee.
One of our products and projects is pasture raising and selling american mulefoot hogs. Major swine breeds include duroc, bershire, yorkshire, landrace, spotted, hampshire, poland china, and chester white. By the 1960s vaccines and treatments were available for most pig diseases and the numbers of mulefoot hogs declined. Breeds of livestock mulefoot swine breeds of livestock. Pig origins from those breeds were assumed to be known without error. We no longer have american mulefoot hogs or, in fact, any at all. The origin of the american mulefoot breed is not clear, but it has a welldocumented history over the last century. Mulefoot are a breed of domestic pig which is named for its intact, uncloven hooves reminiscent of a mule. The mulefoot pig is the rarest swine in america today. Jul 24, 2017 sports have their players to watch, but those of us in the livestock world are a little more interested in heritage breeds to watch. Once i move to my homestead, i plan on getting pigs.
The origin of the mulefoot is unclear, and many theories have arisen about its links. Aug 14, 2015 just mulefoot hogs in the pen eating weeds and apples. They have a foot like a mule or pony, only a single toe, unlike the cloven hoof of a regular pig. The mulefoot hog breed is critically rare and endangered.
Mar 20, 2012 where to find mulefoot and berkshire pork. The mulefoot pig is possibly related to choctaw because these breeds share a similar ancestry to the chocktaw. Live the good life with grit at grit, we have a tradition of respecting the land that sustains rural america. Maine farmers plan to save rare breed of pigs depends on. Raised on pasture, alfalfa and minimal grain supplementation, the mulefoots are a low input livestock. They were also reputed to be resistant to a number of pig diseases prevalent at the time. Mulefoot pork maggies farm at mulberry creek more than a csa. The mulefoot is an american hog breed that is named for its most distinctive. He acquired swine from all known purebred breeders, and used selective breeding to. Conservation priorities of iberoamerican pig breeds and their. It shares some attributes with the choctaw hog, and the two breeds likely come from the same ancestral. Breeds of livestock mulefoot swine oklahoma state university. The most distinctive feature of the american mulefoot hog is the solid hoof, which resembles that of a mule or horse.
Genome data from a sixteenth century pig illuminate modern breed. It is not known the exact origins of the breed, though it is thought that they. We bred chihuahuas in the 90s and then took an interest in the bigger breeds after moving to gods country ranch in 2004. Color variant gene in mulefoot pigs rock creek mill. One apparent benefit to raising onetoed animals is the elimination of hoof rot, which affects the area of an animals hoof between the toes. First the perimeter fence, then the hot wires then the pigs. Race to save rare breed of pig hinges on eating them. Wendland mulefoot pigs the rarest breed of swine in america. The mulefoot gastropub restaurant imlay city, mi opentable. In addition to their unique fightorflight response, the myotonic goat breed offers producers quality meat, and are noted to be. Mulefoot are a breed of domestic pig which is named for its intact, uncloven hooves reminiscent.
Our first pure red mulefoots have been doing really well. Mulberry creek mulefoot pork faq maggies farm at mulberry. The mulefoot hog is an american breed that descended from the hogs that the spanish brought to florida and the gulf coast in the 1500s. Nov 03, 2014 pastured heritage mulefoot hogs produce an incredibly rich, dark red meat. Thats why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing to grit through our automatic renewal savings plan. The american mulefoot pig is the rarest swine in america. Complete mitochondrial sequences were downloaded from genbank. Its currently still on the critical watch list, but with its recent popularity the numbers of registered stock are steadily increasing. Get menu, photos and location information for the mulefoot gastropub in imlay city, mi.
Genomewide snp data unveils the globalization of domesticated pigs. Registered mulefoot boar 8mths old registered mulefoot boar very friendly. Sows, gilts, boars and feeders currently available. He remembers from boyhood that his family and others raised these hogs by putting them on islands in the missouri and mississippi rivers to forage during the summer and then rounding them up in the fall for slaughter. The origin of the mulefoot is unclear, and many theories have arisen about its links with mulefooted stocks in asia and europe. Five heritage livestock breeds to watch kansas living. Jun 01, 2007 so what does mulefoot taste like and where can you get some, you ask. Mulefoot pork is considered the best pork available.
The finnish landrace pig breeds were developed by means of crossings with the improved indigenous. About us american mulefoot breeders association, inc. Water hollow farm is home to the critically rare mulefoot pig. Pastured heritage mulefoot hogs produce an incredibly rich, dark red meat. They have the same origin as the other landrace pig breeds of europe. We have lots of room to wander around, eat a very highquality diet of locally produced feed, and enjoy gnawing on plants and lounging in mud. The hogs have medium flop ears and a fairly gentle disposition. The origin of the mulefoot hog the origin of the american mulefoot breed is not clear. The reds and spotted ones were considered extinct after the 1920s.
Mulefoot hogs likely originated with the hogs brought to the gulf coast by the spanish. It is classified as critical by the american livestock breeds conservancy. Handsome mulefoot boars seeking long term relationship. I was going to put a photo here but couldnt find one that didnt make me lose my appetite. Dogs have always been a part of our lives, and it is hard to remember a time we did not have at least one around. One of the most peculiar pigs has to be the mulefoot hog, so named as if you know. Archaeological evidence from the middle east indicates domestication of the pig occurs as early as 9,000 years ago, with some evidence for domestication even earlier in china. The mulefoot hog has historically been known to have the best tasting hams of all the pig hog. We want the breeds we preserve to be useful, not just maintained for the sake of maintenance. We rasie this special breed and are dedicated to the preservation of this breed on the brink of extinction.
Choctaw hogs have fused toes forming a hoof, like the mulefoot. Native pigs in the philippines agribusiness philippines. One of the litters had one red, four black and two spotted. Breeds of livestock swine breeds breeds of livestock.
One of the reasons we selected the mulefoot hog over other heritage breeds is that it is listed on the slow food ark of taste as among the best tasting hogs out there. Just mulefoot hogs in the pen eating weeds and apples. Pdf genetic analysis of mexican hairless pig populations. This means that there are less than 200 annual registrations of these hogs, and less than 2000 in the global population. This characteristic will occasionally occur as a single gene mutation, producing occasional mulefooted pigs within a variety of other breeds. The mulefoot is an american hog breed that is named for its most distinctive feature, the solid, noncloven hoof which looks like the hoof of a mule. Hogs range in size from 150200 pounds hanging weight whole hog, and are processed at rrr in buckley. In many cases such farmers have ensured the survival of that breed until its value has been recognized. Maine farmers plan to save rare breed of pigs depends on eating them. Her farm, which raises and fattens the rare american mulefoot hogs for slaughter, is essential to.
Shipped item origin destination date shipped uship price pig hogs steinbach, mb r5g can. The mulefoot hog is a native breed to america and is considered a heritage breed. I have found a breeder of both mulefoot pigs and american guinea hogs. Mulefoot pigs have small lungs compared to their body size. Heritage breeds are the breeds of our forefathers livestock variations that waned in popularity through the industrial age, but have recently experienced a resurgence as hobby farms and directsell markets emerge.
A remnant population of the american mulefoot has been owned by r. Riverplains farm is a full service carriage driving and foxhunting training facility, as well as, a working farm. Holiday of louisiana, missouri, for nearly forty years. For this, it is reminiscent of a mule and is called the mulefoot pig.
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