During the 17th century lop-eared pigs were developed in the northern regions of Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. Hence almost all the pigs that were developed in northern Europe were generally referred to as Celtic pigs (Jones, 1998). Common characteristics of these Celtic pigs were their long legs, a large coarse body, flat sides and large drooping ears hanging over their eyes!
The modern strains of Landrace pigs, found all over the world, are the descendants of the famous Danish pigs that were developed in Denmark. The development of the breed began in about 1895. It apparently resulted from crossing inter alia the Large White from England with the native Danish pigs (land pigs). The Danes were the first to recognize the economic advantage of the Landrace as an outstanding pork and bacon producer. Towards the last few years of the 19th century, Danish stud pig breeders began to improve their herds (Large White and “land pigs” – the latter culminated into the Landrace) rapidly through progeny testing and refined breeding techniques. The Danish national pig breeding scheme was established in 1896. Hence the oldest official and national pig breeding scheme in the world. The Landrace pig was developed for the export of a consistent bacon product, “Wiltshire sides”, to Great Britain with a minimum of wastage. (Other continental pigs were too short and fat). The Landrace pig is a comparatively new breed, first coming to South Africa in the early 1950's. It's strength lies in it's extreme length of body, high percentage of meat to bone and fat ratio as well as full rounded hams. This required features such as a small head, neck and light shoulders, and tremendous length and heavy hams, a high proportion of lean meat, and an absence of fat with fine bone. The eradication of the MH -gene from the breed resulted inter alia in less prominent hams and a decline in the high proportion of lean meat.
Apart from possessing attributes of economic production (weight gain and feed efficiency) the improved Landrace is a recognized mothering breed, producing large litters with regularity over long periods. Thus a breed with very high fertility and excellent motherhood. Not surprisingly the above mentioned factors resulted in not only making Danish bacon universally acknowledged for uniformity and quality, but also entrenched the Landrace breed as the second most numerous breed in the world.
The first Landrace pigs in South Africa were imported in 1952 from Holland by a Mr Friend of Natal (presently known as Kwazulu-Natal). During August 1953 the second consignment of Landrace pigs was imported by Dr. F. N. Bonsma from the Carindall Stud in Sweden. This consignment was intended for the research farm of the University of Pretoria.
The Dutch Landrace was a more robust type of animal, whilst the Swedish Landrace was more feminine, with a fine bone structure, but with outstanding mothering abilities. [In fact it is believed that the Swedish Landrace had a more profound influence on worldwide Landrace populations than the Danish Landrace]. It is believed that the third consignment of Landrace pigs was imported by a German Stud breeder in 1959. Four years after the first Landrace import into South Africa, the official pig progeny testing scheme of South Africa was implemented.
Through the abovementioned breeding and genetic improvement program, local pig stud herds have responded so well and made such remarkable progress that the breed became known as the South African Landrace. An Investigation into the Landrace breed by Dr. J. H. Hofmeyr (previous director of the ADSRI, Irene) in the late 1950's resulted in the breed gaining entry into a common herd-book register at SA Studbook.
During the 1950's and 1960's the University of Pretoria played a prominent and leading role with regard to research, training and exposure of the SA Landrace, Large White and Large Black pig breeds. This was achieved through the selling of genetically superior weaner pigs of the three breeds to prospective and prominent pig stud breeders that were listed on the waiting list.
In South Africa the extreme lightness of bone of the Landrace gave rise to durability problems. Stress susceptibility in excessively muscled strains (such as the Belgian Landrace) presented the breed with other problems, exacerbated by the hot climate and long distances to the market.
The Landrace has excelled as a universal foundation mother breed and when crossed with the Large White (also foundation mothers), produces F1 female stock of exceptional reproductive merit.
General Appearance
The Landrace is a particularly long bodied, lop eared white pig, with light forequarters, a well defined meaty back with large hams. Docility and ease of handling are also features of this breed.
Head and Ears
The head should appear small and light in relation to the body, long snouted and free of jowl. Ears are long and lopped forward. More recently a medium length of ear is preferred allowing the animal more vision when moving and less encumbrance at feeding. Ears must not be erect.
Neck
Long and slender flowing into neatly angled shoulders.
Shoulders
Obliquely laid on the body with a hand width between top points. Not protruding but well set forming unity with the body, but loose enough to allow free easy movement.
Back
Long with a very slight arch for strength with the hindquarter tending to be higher than the forequarters. When viewed from above it should have a medium to wide breadth of back with a well defined eye muscle running through full loins into large rounded hams.
Legs
Bone is inherently fine and care should be taken to improve this feature without losing sight of the breed's intended favourable meat to bone ratio. Sickle hocks are to be avoided. Feet should be well placed and set to allow sturdiness of stance on medium, even sized claws.
Hams
Landrace pigs are renowned for ham development, more so than most of the other breeds. The hams are full, tended to roundness and deeply formed into the hocks. However, they must not hinder the animal's walking ability by being too large or overly muscled.
Bone, Pasterns and Clays
The Landrace must have strong bone, but be refined. The pasterns must be gently sloping. Clays should be even in size, white and not splayed.
Sow and Boar Underline
Because the Landrace has superior mothering ability, it is essential to have at least seven functional and evenly spaced teats on either side of the sow and boar – the boar to have at least three teats on either side in front of the sheath. Being a mothering type of pig it is recommended to select for seven or more on either side even though fourteen qualify for registration.
Color
The Landrace is a white haired pink skinned pig. A limited number of blue spots from which hair grow is permissible. Black hair is a disqualification.
Objectional Points
Disqualifications
Breeding animals with faults in categories 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are not eligible for registration
