The Oxford Sandy and Black is a breed of
domestic pig
The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Su ...
originating in
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primaril ...
. Named for its colour, which is a base of
sandy brown with black patches, the breed is also sometimes called the "Plum Pudding" or "Oxford Forest pig."
Related to the old
Berkshire
Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Ber ...
and
Tamworth breeds,
it is one of the oldest pig breeds native to Britain.
The Oxford Sandy and Black is a hardy, docile pig suited to being reared outdoors, where its colour protects it from sunburn (which pink pigs tend to suffer from). The breed has twice neared extinction,
but is recovering, partly thanks to the efforts of the breed association, the Oxford Sandy & Black Pig Society.
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References
Pig breeds originating in England
{{British livestock, R.2