We have Gloucestershire Old Spots and Tamworth pigs. The Gloucestershire Old Spots is a heritage breed of pig and currently on the "Critical" List by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy meaning there are fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and estimated fewer than 2000 global population.
The GOS breed is very hardy, thrifty and excellent foragers, supplementing their feed with roots and vegetation. The great feature of this breed for us, is that they are friendly and exhibit excellent maternal instincts. The GOS has proven to be an extremely friendly, laid-back and safe breed to have around our young children, who are often in the same pastures as the pigs, scratching their ears.
Folklore claims the large black spots on the GOS breed are bruises caused by the apples falling onto them as they foraged the orchard floors for food.
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The Tamworth is a rugged, thrifty, very active breed of swine that is unlike the GOS, as it is a lean-type hog. Tamworths are an extremely high-quality breed and is the most active breed of swine currently raised in the United States. The Tamworth has the reputation of producing the best bacon of any of our breeds and is uniform in type.
The Tamworth breed of pig is also a Heritage Breed that originated in England.
Like the GOS, they are also a bacon-type pig. The exact origin of this old English breed is not definitely known, but a Tamworth Swine Association booklet says:
The Tamworth originated in Ireland where they were called "The Irish Grazer". About the year 1812 it is said that Sir Robert Peel, being impressed with the characteristics of them, imported some of them and started to breed them on his estate at Tamworth, England. They have been bred quite extensively ever since they were imported into that country.