Gloucestershire Old Spots
"Big Mama" looking for a tasty tidbit.
Gloucestershire Old Spots is a heritage breed of pig from Gloucestershire county in England. They are an off-white color with randomly placed black spots and big floppy ears. Old Spots were popular in the late 19th and early 20th century as "cottage pigs" or "orchard pigs" because families kept them around their cottages or in their orchards due to their docile nature, foraging, natural maternal instincts, and hardiness. However, Old Spots were ill suited for industrialized, concentrated pork farming that chose lean, pale, high yielding breeds which fit the factory conditions of mass-production. "Heritage" pig breeds died out or were simply not selected as "preferred" breeds. In the past 20-30 years, due to a growing understanding of the impact of an industrial pork operation, people have returned to heritage breeds as a viable source of pork.
We take a lot of pride in the quality of our pig's lives.They are intelligent, friendly, and curious animals and we treat them as such. The are raised outside on pastures and gone by gardens. They eat grasses, clover, acorns, apples, beans, lettuce, corn, and tomatoes (their favorite). They don't mind the winter and do just fine in the snow.
We raise Blue group Old Spots. For more information on the Old Spot breeding groups, please visit either GOSA (Gloucestershire Old Spots of America) or Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders Club (the English version). We do occasionally have piglets for sale. Please contact us if you are interested.
We take a lot of pride in the quality of our pig's lives.They are intelligent, friendly, and curious animals and we treat them as such. The are raised outside on pastures and gone by gardens. They eat grasses, clover, acorns, apples, beans, lettuce, corn, and tomatoes (their favorite). They don't mind the winter and do just fine in the snow.
We raise Blue group Old Spots. For more information on the Old Spot breeding groups, please visit either GOSA (Gloucestershire Old Spots of America) or Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders Club (the English version). We do occasionally have piglets for sale. Please contact us if you are interested.
A note about heritage breedsWhy heritage breeds? Heritage breed animals are "old". They bring with them generations of a shared human and animal agricultural experience in their DNA. Their unique physical appearance is indicative of a "physiological distinctiveness" that has been bred out of factory raised animals living in concentrated factory settings.
Factory pigs have forgotten how to be pigs because real pigs don't fit nicely into factories. Heritage breeds have never been asked not to be pigs, and we at Lockehaven Farm have found the big man upstairs got it pretty much right. Its not our place to change pigs, but to re-learn what our ancestors knew: mimic nature's template and you'll get good results. It is our opinion that happy pigs are inherently healthy pigs. A pig that can graze on a pasture, wallow in some mud, and eat some fallen acorns or apples under a tree is a happy pig. Happy pigs dig, plow, and fertilize, and this makes for healthy pastures. Healthy pastures make more happy pigs, and happy pigs are delicious. |
GOS Pork
GOS pork is known for its distinct flavor. This is due in part to the increased marbling of the pork, but is also due to their natural diet. Our pork is pasture raised: clovers, grasses, apples, nuts, and garden vegetables make up the majority of our pigs diet. The resulting flavor is like nothing you will find in a supermarket. If you are interested in improving your pork, let us know how much and what you're looking for.
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