Registered Pure-Bred Berkshires
On Saturday September 5, 2015 we signed the paperwork and put down a deposit to purchase 9 adult (3 pregnant sows, 4 non-bred sows and 2 boars) registered Berkshire breed pigs. This passel of pigs is all the breeding stock from one of the very few registered breeders in BC and includes 5 distinctive bloodlines, 3 female lines and 2 male lines.
Berkshire are a true heritage breed pig that have been renowned for their eating qualities for over 300 years. Currently Berkshires are listed as "vulnerable" by Rare Breeds Canada.
Berkshire pork is internationally recognized as a premium meat. Japanese have a special name for the Berkshire breed, they call it "Kurobuta" or "black pig", because pork from the purebred Berkshire is so tender, juicy and flavorful, the Japanese have long recognized the value of it. Much of the pure Berkshire pork produced in the United States is currently being exported to Japan. In England, the Queen keeps a passal of Berkshire for Royal dining.
Berkshire pork ranks at or near the top for:
> High Ultimate pH Score - relates to low cooking loss, better water-holding capacity and high degree of tenderness
> Loin Firmness / Drip loss - resulting in improved processing and tenderness
> Meat Color - consistantly a much redder meat than most pork.
> Cooked Loin Quality - it is a marbled meat, with a nice amount of intramuscular fat, tenderness and juiciness.
For our homestead this moves us into a position of being able to offer (on a limited basis) registered pure-bred Berkshire breeding stock, as well as a new premium line of pork products for our customers to enjoy.
