Breed · Pig breed
Berkshire
Sus scrofa domesticus
The Berkshire is one of the oldest recorded English pig breeds, black with six white points, valued for high-quality, well-marbled pork. It is marketed as Kurobuta pork in Japan and is of ongoing conservation interest.
Record
Livestock breed- Breed of
- Pigs
- Species
- Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)
- Type
- Pork
- Origin
- Berkshire, England, United Kingdom
- Recognition
- Registered
- Conservation status
- Not establishedReported per source and date (e.g. FAO DAD-IS); not a fixed property of the breed.
- Registries
- FAO DAD-IS · Global · as of 2026-07-12Breed recorded in the global inventory of livestock breeds.
- The Livestock Conservancy · United States · as of 2026-07-12A heritage breed tracked in U.S. conservation contexts; consult the current priority list for the present category.
- Adaptation
- A hardy heritage breed suited to outdoor, pasture-based, and semi-intensive systems across temperate climates, with appropriate shade and shelter.
- Primary uses
- Quality pork production, Heritage and premium markets
Registry listing or variety protection is jurisdiction- and date-specific and does not by itself indicate current commercial availability, universal cultivation approval, patent status, or a recommendation.
The Berkshire is an old English pig breed originating in the county of Berkshire and is among the earliest breeds to be recorded in a herd book. It is a medium-sized black pig with characteristic white points — typically the feet, face or snout, and tail tip — and erect ears.
The Berkshire is prized for pork quality, including marbling and flavour, and has a strong premium market, notably in Japan where it is sold as Kurobuta. Having declined in the twentieth century, it has recovered through demand for quality pork and remains of conservation interest.
Origin and history
The Berkshire is one of the oldest recorded British pig breeds and was influential in the improvement of other breeds. It was exported early to the United States and Japan; the American Berkshire registry is among the oldest swine herd books, and Japanese demand for high-quality pork has supported the breed’s revival.
Physical characteristics
- Medium-sized, black-coated pig with white points on the feet, face or snout, and tail.
- Erect ears and a short, slightly dished face.
- Well-muscled frame associated with quality pork production.
Production and conservation
The Berkshire is valued for meat quality — marbling, colour, and flavour — rather than for maximum leanness or growth, which underpins its premium pork markets. After a period of decline, the breed recovered on the strength of these quality markets and is tracked by conservation bodies.
Relationships
Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.
Farming systems
Scope & limitations
Geographic scope: Global; an English heritage breed maintained internationally in quality-pork systems. Husbandry and regulation vary by country.
Climate context: Hardy heritage pig suited to outdoor and pasture-based temperate systems with shelter.
- This is a breed characterisation, not husbandry, breeding, or veterinary guidance.
- Meat-quality and performance figures are highly management-dependent and are described only qualitatively here.
- Conservation status is left as unknown: the breed has recovered from earlier decline but categories are date- and organisation-specific — consult current FAO DAD-IS and conservation listings.
Sources
This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.
- [1]DAD-IS — Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (opens in a new tab)Authoritative
FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Cited for: Breed record and characterisation in the global inventory
- Type:
- Official registry
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- [2]The Livestock Conservancy — breed conservation priority list (opens in a new tab)High
The Livestock Conservancy
Cited for: Conservation context for a heritage pig breed
- Type:
- Official registry
- Jurisdiction:
- United States
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- Moderate
Cited for: General background on the Berkshire pig
- Type:
- Reference database
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12