The Hampshire pig is a domestic swine breed characterized by erect ears, a black body, and a white band around the middle, covering the front legs. The American National Swine Registry notes this as the fourth "most-recorded breed" of pig raised as

livestock Livestock are the domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to provide labor and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The term is sometimes used to refer solely to animal ...

in the United States, and probably the oldest American breed of hog. It is believed to have derived from English Breed, found in northern England and Scotland. Importations of this hog breed to America were thought to have been made from

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English cities on its south coast, Southampton and Portsmouth, Hampshire ...

in England between 1827 and 1839. Pigs remaining in this part of England developed later into the

Wessex Saddleback The Wessex Saddleback or Wessex Pig is a breed of domestic pig originating in the West Country of England, (Wessex), especially in Wiltshire and the New Forest area of Hampshire. It is black, with white forequarters. In Britain it was amalgamated ...

. Residents of Hampshire are often colloquially referred to as "Hampshire Hogs", a name which goes back at least to the 1790s. Hampshire hogs are noted for being well-muscled and rapid growers, and for exhibiting good carcass quality when used as meat animals. When used as breeding stock, the sows of this breed have been praised for their capacity as mothers, having "extra longevity in the sow". Hampshires are good-tempered; they do not grow as fast as many cross-breds, but they do grow faster than American Yorkshires.US National Swine Registry: Hampshire
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Pig breeds originating in the United States {{Pig-stub