The Chester White breed originated in the county of Chester, Pennsylvania in the United States and thereby derived its breed name. The counties of Delaware, Philadelphia and Lancaster that surrounded Chester also made contributions to the breed.

The foundation stock were Yorkshire and Lincolnshire animals that had come from England. Sometime between 1815 and 1818, captain James Jeffries imported a pair of white boars from England, which were referred to as a Bedfordshire or Cumberland. These boars were used extensively on white animals in that county. Some Chinese pigs (and apparently also Yorkshire) were used later on to improve the Chester county stock. From these matings the Chester White breed started.

Chesters, like the Durocs, have excellent bone and make good working boars. The Chester White played an important role in the formation of synthetic breeds such as the Lacombe of Canada (Chester White x Berkshire x Danish Landrace) and the Palouse (an inbred Chester White x Landrace line).

The Chester White in South Africa

The pioneer of the breed in South Africa is Mr Arthur Webber of Longside Stud, who farms in the Pretoria district. In 1983, he imported the first consignment of Chester Whites to arrive in the country. The 100 pigs came from Illinois in the US and he acquired them mainly for use as a mother line. From that time, the breed has been significantly upgraded and refined and new bloodlines introduced, primarily through regular imports of frozen semen from top USA studs, for the artificial insemination of local sows and gilts.

There are very few breeders of Chester Whites in the country today, with the largest located in the Northern Cape. Generally, the breed is used mainly in extensive and semi-intensive units and as a mothering breed for the production of white F1 females in commercial herds, either as Large White x Chester White or Chester White x Landrace F1 sows.

The breed is medium in size compared with other local breeds, is hardy and thrives well under extensive conditions.

Standards of Excellence for the Chester White

General Appearance

Good symmetry, wide, well balanced with good lines and quality. It is deeper in body than most breeds. Hair must not be excessively curly or course. A strong hide, but not too thick or tightly covering the body. The Chester White has been used primarily as a maternal breed in the USA and promoted as “the rugged white breed”. They are often referred to as the White Duroc and their standards of excellence are the same except for color.

Head and Ears

The head is of medium size, though with young boars it sometimes appears somewhat large. It should be straight to slightly dished. The nose should be of medium size and length. The forehead should be broad. Large, well placed dark eyes for clear forward vision are a particular feature of the breed. The ears are of medium size and thickness and point forward and downward. Ears should never cover the eyes completely. Erect ears are not regarded as a disqualification but are not preferred. The neck is of medium length, clean, not jowly or collared or bristly on the crest or mane.

Back

The back should be level to slightly arched with good length and width, not hollowed or excessively arched. At maturity the body must have good depth.

Front Legs

The front legs are well placed, wide apart showing width of chest but not too upright or straight. Shoulders should be well placed so as to allow for easy walking.

Hind Legs

Hind legs should be of medium length, not too tall and straight – allowing for free and easy movement and of strong bone placed well apart.

Hams

The ham must be broad, long and smoothly muscled from the top of the rump to the hocks.

Bone, Pasterns and Clay

Should have strong bone development and strong gently sloping pasterns. The ideal clays should be of even size varying from blackish to amber in color.

Sow and Boar Underline

Sows should display a good underline of at least seven functional teats on either side. These teats should be of good shape and quality. Boars should have at least seven teats on either side with three teats on either side in front of the sheath. Very small or overly large teats should be avoided and attention given to nipple quality and texture in the breed with a view to improving dam performance.

Color

White – any black hair is unacceptable.

Objectional Points

1. Excessively coarse or curly hair or bristly mane
2. Black hair
3. Coarse heavy ears that hinder eyesight
4. Stiff erect ears
5. Inverted teats
6. Small pin nipples
7. Kinky tail
8. Uneven or small testes
9. Extremely flighty temperament or over aggression in boars
10. “Goose stepping” action or any other hindered action
11. Less that seven functional teats on each side, and all other genetic defects of any kind. This applies to boars, sows and their progeny.
12. Extra digits, visible deformities or any signs of contagious disease

Disqualifications

Animals with faults in categories 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 should be disqualified.