Breed · Pig breed
Tamworth
Sus scrofa domesticus
The Tamworth is a ginger-red English pig, one of the oldest and least-improved British breeds. Hardy and an active forager, it is a bacon-type pig kept in outdoor systems and is of ongoing conservation interest.
Record
Livestock breed- Breed of
- Pigs
- Species
- Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus)
- Type
- Bacon
- Origin
- Tamworth, Staffordshire, 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 traditional breed tracked in U.S. conservation contexts; consult the current priority list for the present category.
- Adaptation
- Notably hardy and cold-tolerant, well suited to outdoor and pasture-based systems in temperate climates; the pale-skinned red coat still benefits from shade in strong sun.
- Primary uses
- Bacon and pork production, Heritage and outdoor systems
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 Tamworth is a traditional English pig breed associated with the town of Tamworth in Staffordshire. It is one of the oldest and least-improved British breeds, retaining a hardy, athletic character. Its coat is a distinctive ginger to golden-red, and it has a long snout, erect ears, and long legs.
Historically valued as a bacon pig, the Tamworth is well suited to outdoor and pasture-based systems, being a hardy, active forager. As a traditional breed it is tracked by conservation organisations and maintained by dedicated breeders.
Origin and character
The Tamworth is among the oldest recognised British pig breeds and one of the least influenced by imported bloodlines, which has helped it retain hardiness and foraging ability. It was exported to North America and Australia, where traditional-breed keepers maintain populations.
Physical characteristics
- Ginger to golden-red coat, sometimes described as one of the reddest pig breeds.
- Long head and snout, erect ears, and a long-legged, athletic frame.
- Hardy constitution suited to outdoor life and rooting.
Production and conservation
The Tamworth is historically a bacon-type pig, producing a lean, well-flavoured carcass, and its foraging ability suits extensive and pasture-based systems. It is maintained as a heritage breed and appears on the priority lists of conservation organisations.
Relationships
Evidence-backed connections in the knowledge graph.
Farming systems
Scope & limitations
Geographic scope: Global; an English heritage breed maintained internationally in outdoor systems. Husbandry and regulation vary by country.
Climate context: Hardy, cold-tolerant heritage pig suited to outdoor, pasture-based temperate systems.
- This is a breed characterisation, not husbandry, breeding, or veterinary guidance.
- Performance and carcass figures are highly system- and management-dependent and are described only qualitatively here.
- Conservation status is left as unknown: the Tamworth is widely regarded as a traditional breed of conservation interest, 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 traditional pig breed
- Type:
- Official registry
- Jurisdiction:
- United States
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- Moderate
Cited for: General background on the Tamworth pig
- Type:
- Reference database
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12