Heritage breed pigs come from bloodlines going back hundreds of years when livestock were raised on multi-use, open-pasture farms. Because of their lifestyle and inherent genes, different breeds became known for a variety of characteristics, including the rich and hearty taste of their meat, bacon flavors, creamy fat and the ability to thrive in the outdoor environment. The common pig in today’s commercial farming originated from these heritage breed lines, modified over years of breeding for specific gene qualities creating a leaner pig that would tolerate a confined indoor environment.   Heritage breeds still carry excellent qualities, but many are not suited for commercial farming practices.  Raising heritage pigs reguires more land and more time resulting in increased costs.  As a result, they are in danger of being lost forever. As fewer heritage breed pigs are grown, their gene pool decreases, and some breeds are now becoming critically rare. In today’s commercial market, heritage breeds cannot compete with commodity pigs. The future of heritage breed pigs is reliant upon farmers who have the knowledge to raise them. By buying heritage breed pork, you can help preserve them. Simply by creating a demand for their meat, these wonderful animals may be saved for future generations.