Pictured: The ten little porkers which might help save Britain's rarest breed of pig



This litter of newborn porkers has brought fresh hope for the future for Britain's rarest breed of pig.

The ten British Lop piglets will help the breed as it battles for survival. Lops are losing out to more traditional hybrid pigs which are bred to grow quickly and sell fast.

Just 2,000 of them born every year, compared to around 10,000 large white hybrid pig. But most experts believe the Lop produces the tastiest bacon.

Playtime: These piglets are among ten newborns who have brought fresh hope for the future of Britain's rarest breed of pig

They are said to have more succulent meat due to their laid-back nature which in turn is down to their floppy ears that act as blinkers.

The latest litter arrived at Smallicombe Farm, near Honiton, in Devon.

Breeder Maggie Todd said that, ironically, the best hope of saving the breed was to eat them.

She said: 'We are thrilled, it's always exciting to have a new litter.

'They are very rare and there aren't very many breeders in the country, but we need to make sure that they are not lost.

'The pure breeds like these went out of fashion because farmers are producing pigs that grow faster and offer a better return.

'But they actually have a much better flavour and texture than the hybrid pigs.

'One or two of the new litter may be saved for showing or breeding, but we won't be able to select them until they are a bit older.'

Tea time: The two-day-old piglets enjoy a feed from their mother

There are just 54 bulls and 267 sows registered with the British Lop Society, and some of these are kept in France.

Mrs Todd said: 'People often think that because they're rare they mustn't be eaten but it's quite the opposite - if people don't eat them, we can't breed them.



'We're trying to get back to quality produce.

'People are becoming more aware of what they eat and where it comes from, so hopefully they will become more interested in this better quality meat.'



Frank Miller, secretary of the British Lop Society, said: 'Their future is difficult to say and we really need more breeders.

'Unfortunately they are not the first choice for a pretty pig - they don't have the interesting markings that many people want.

'But there may be a future for them in Europe, as there is a real stress problem with pigs over there now.

All worn out: Mummy pig takes a break

'Pigs die out in stressful situations and if an animal is stressed it has very poor meat.

'Farmers are looking into breeding stress-free pigs with the British Lop, but it won't be for a while yet.

'In the meantime, we will be happy if we can get more breeders. We do have people who want the meat, but at the moment we just can't supply it.'



The British Lop is a west country breed which originated around the Tavistock area either side of the Cornwall/Devon borders.



For most of its history from the early years of the twentieth century, it remained a local breed undiscovered by farmers outside its native territory.

It suited the locality well and was in strong demand there so there was little incentive for breeders to go shouting its merits beyond the far south west.



In those days it was registered and known as the National Long White Lop Eared breed – certainly descriptive if not very snappy. In the 1960s, the name was changed to today’s British Lop.



When the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) was established in 1973, the Lop was listed as one of the six rare pig breeds recognised by them.



The inclusion of a breed as officially listed as ‘rare’ generally increased interest in all such breeds and indeed the Lop is more populous now than at any time in the last 30-odd years.



However, it suffered, in comparison with the other rare breeds of swine, by not looking particularly distinctive.



It is, after all, as its earlier name says, a white lop-eared pig and to the non-specialist, could be confused with the Welsh or the Landrace.



Instead, enthusiasts flocked to pigs with short snouts, spotted or ginger hogs but not so readily to the pig that looked quite normal.



Yet the Lop has a great deal going for it. It is generally docile and easy to manage and is hardy enough to be farmed outside.