Linderöd pig
In Sweden, we have had domesticated or semi-domesticated pigs for at least 4,000 years. Linderöd pigs were common in the past but are now an endangered landrace.
One of two kinds of pigs
For a long time, the distinction between domestic and wild pigs was unclear. Half the year, the farms' pigs went into the forests to forage which made it inevitable that the domestic and wild pigs would mate. In the 19th century, there were two types of domestic pigs: the Swedish forest pig, which resembled wild boar, and the domestic pig, which resembled today's modern meat pigs.
Forest pigs become Linderöd pigs
Forest pigs were declining in number and if a farmer at Linderödsåsen in Skåne had not chosen to keep this older breed of pig, it might have disappeared completely. Thanks to his pigs, the breed has been preserved and given the name Linderöd pig.
Thrives outside all year round
Linderöd pigs are white, gray or brown with black spots. They have sturdy legs and often forward-facing ears. Linderöd pigs grow slower than modern breeds, but they also don't need as much energy-dense food and they are also good at finding their own food. They are at their best when they get to graze in the woods and fields. They are hardy and healthy, and thrive outside all year round.
Quick facts
Food: Plants, roots, caterpillars, worms
Weight: 150–250 kg
Height: About 100 cm at the withers
Young: Usually 4–12 piglets
Lifespan: Mostly 8–10 years, sometimes older
The Linderöd pig is the only pig left of all the landraces
The breed was saved in the 1950s
Like many other old Swedish livestock breeds, the Linderöd pig has been replaced by more productive breeds. The Linderöd pig was almost completely extinct when Skåne Zoo took over the care of the remaining pigs in 1952. Since then, more zoos and keepers have joined the conservation effort.
A pig for homesteading
The Linderöd pig is a landrace adapted to the older peasant society, which was mostly self-sufficient. The breed is still best suited to homesteads where they play an important part of the natural cycle. Pigs are good at foraging for weeds, worms and roots, while also working and fertilizing the soil. Eventually, the pigs become food for us humans.
Gene bank keeps the breed alive
Conservation efforts are carried out in a so-called gene bank in order to preserve the Linderöd pig and its traits. The animals in Slottsskogen are all part of this gene bank. If you are thinking of having domestic animals, you can help conservation efforts by choosing a Swedish landrace and becoming a part of its gene bank.
Why is it important to preserve different breeds?
The more diverse breeds with different traits we have, the better equipped we are to face changes and challenges in the future. This reduces the risk of harms such as the spread of diseases or eradications due to environmental changes. You can support conservation efforts by buying products from farmers who keep landraces.
Maintaining a diversity of livestock breeds can help ensure food security at home and reduce poverty around the world.