Gloucester Old Spots
Gloucester Old Spots, sometimes known as the "Orchard Pig" were traditionally pastured in orchards where they ate drop apples. In small scale orchard management they helped prevent pest problems arising from the drop apples. They are good foragers and survive very well in pastures without supplemental feed. Years ago people use to tell stories that the pigs got their spots from the apples dropping on their backs.The Old Spots has often been referred to as a "bacon" pig, due to the significant depth of body that provides a larger percentage of bacon per hundredweight of carcass. They often carry more fat than breeds that are more popular commercially.
Old Spots tend to be very calm, good-natured animals, another trait that makes them desirable to homesteaders and small farmers like us. The females tend to be very devoted mothers, while the males seldom pose a threat to piglets.