Bentheim Black Pied

The Bentheim Black Pied pig ( or pig country Bentheim ) is a breed of pig from the county of Bentheim and Emsland. The Bentheim Black Pied pig is threatened with extinction. Today, this breed is gaining increasing importance, since it is characterized in contrast to the high-bred pigs, better meat quality. The fat content is relatively high, the meat itself has a high intramuscular fat content, which is beneficial to the sensory qualities of the meat effect (taste, appearance, frying ). The Bentheim Black Pied pig has spread all over the body larger black spots, is precocious and productive.

The history of Colorful Bentheim pig

The history of Colorful Bentheim pigs begins mid-19th century. Back in Germany, the farmers were responsible for the pigs on the farms. In addition to the predominant white Landrace breeds the attitude and colorful Pied breed was popular with them. The Bentheim Black Pied pig was a fruitful, contented, stress- resistant and undemanding breed of pig with good mothering ability. The piglets could be due to the good quality of meat - and not least because of the spotting - sell well in the markets.

Origin of races

In northern Germany it was obviously not satisfied at this time with the achievements of the current domestic pigs and began around 1840 in the so-called march pig, a variant of the European country pig introgress blows. Among them were Berkshire boar and Cornwallschweine from England. The present-day Lower Saxon counties county of Bentheim, Emsland and Cloppenburg and the Westphalian betting rings can be regarded as a place of origin. In each case, the falling from the crosses above colorful piglets were further used with floppy ears for breeding. Full isolated dive with litters and piglets with yellow- reddish color, which are interspersed with black spots. A detailed explanation has not been found for it. It is believed that temporary introgression of Tamworth pigs or unwanted coverages by wild boar boars are responsible.

Heyday

In the 1950s, the marriage of Colorful Bentheim pig was. As a simple and low -held and prolific animals, they provided a meat of excellent quality, which was also very much in demand after the heavy wartime. The breed was officially listed in a national herd book.

Decline

With the advent of the economic miracle in Germany were changing consumer habits. Lean meat was then asked the ( compared to the proportion in today's pork) could not deliver the Colorful Bentheim due to the " unfavorable " meat - fat ratio. Also the pig changed - few "economic race" took the place of earlier, regionally adapted breeds. The stud book was closed and the number of breeders of Colorful Bentheim pig fell dramatically. Ultimately, only held the breeder Gerhard Schulte- Bernd from Isterberg in the county of Bentheim on the attitude of the Swatbunten firmly and tried for years on end, to convince authorities and farmers of a coordinated further breeding and marketing. In the 90s of the last century he held virtually the entire remaining stock of Colorful Bentheim pig. With only around 100 breeding animals in Germany, this breed was highly threatened with extinction. The persistence of Bernd Schulte, the return to the strengthening of regional culture and thus also animal husbandry ( obtaining important genetic resources ) now lead to a new flowering of this old pet breed.

The Bentheim Landrace pig was declared in 1995 by the Society for the Conservation of Old and Endangered Livestock Breeds (GEH ) for 'at-risk livestock breed of the Year ".

Future

With the founding of the Association for the Preservation of Colorful Bentheim pig, the establishment of a nationwide herd book with the collection of all existing stocks in Germany, the establishment of a coordinated breeding program and a modern marketing strategy for the future of these are worth preserving breed of pig is to be set a long-term perspective.

Association for the Preservation of Colorful Bentheim pig eV

The story of a recognized non " Association for the Preservation of Bentheim pig eV " is still young. On 1 March 2003, the inaugural meeting at the Tierpark Nordhorn took place. Owners, breeders, enthusiasts and friends of the Colorful Bentheim pig met to determine the future fields of activity and activities of the association:

  • Construction of a nationwide herd book
  • Recording of all animals held in Germany
  • Support and advice of the breeder and the breeding interested
  • Create a breeding program
  • Development of a marketing program
  • Applying for funding and grants
  • PR and Public Relations for the Bentheim pig

A major achievement was the establishment of a national herd book. The breeding population has recovered significantly from 50 (2003) 572 strain Animals ( 2008). 2008 88 herd book farms are reported in 13 states. Other breeders there are now in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Today's use

With the onset of flowering of interest in the breed, the Bentheim Black Pied is now increasingly used again in food production and gastronomy. This is supported by the general trend towards " Slow Food ", as well as the inclusion of Colorful Bentheimers in the " Ark of Taste " shows. The meat of Colorful Bentheimers is so often used in the scene and upscale restaurants, as well as for the production of premium foods such as the Westphalian ham on the bone, the Ahlen sausage and other sausage and ham specialties.

116066
de