Bentheim Black Pied Pig

The Bentheim Black Pied (Schwarzbuntes Bentheimer Schwein) is a rare domestic pig breed from Germany.

It originated in the early 20th century in Lower Saxony, specifically in the Bentheim region.

This breed developed when farmers in Bentheim began crossbreeding local pigs with English breeds like Berkshire and Cornwall pigs, aiming to create a hardy, productive pig with high-fat content.

Other German regions, such as Emsland, Cloppenburg, and Wettringen, also followed similar breeding practices.

The population of this breed peaked in the 1950s, as people preferred fatty pork.

Yet, when new pig breeds with leaner meat became more suitable for the commercial pork industry, farmers stopped raising Bentheim Black Pied pigs because consumer habits changed.

By the late 20th century, only a few herds remained, mainly on traditional farms.

The Bunte Bentheimer pig still exists because of pig breeder Gerhard Schulte-Bernd from Bentheim County. He was the only farmer who kept breeding these pigs for almost 20 years, even when people thought the breed was already extinct. With only 22 sows and 2 boars left, he worked hard to keep the breed pure and save it from disappearing.

In 1995, the Society for the Conservation of Endangered Breeds (GEH) declared it “Endangered Farm Animal of the Year.”

By August 2014, there were 410 herd-book sows and 90 boars in Germany. On top of that, a large population of 400 sows existed in the Netherlands.

Characteristics

Color

This pig has black and white coloring. The majority of its body is white, with black spots spread across it.

The black patches can be large or small and are not evenly distributed. Some pigs have more black spots, while others have fewer.

Coat

This pig breed has a short, fine coat that feels smooth to the touch. Its hair is thin and lies flat against the skin.

Body

The body is strong, sturdy, and well-muscled. It has a wide chest, a long back, and a round, flat belly. The ears are large and floppy, covering part of its face.

Its snout is broad and slightly curved, while the tail is thin and the legs are short but strong.

Size

The Bentheim Black Pied pig is a medium to large-sized breed, with a height of 29.5 inches (75 cm) for boars and 27.5 inches (70 cm) for sows.

Lifespan

This pig has a lifespan of 10 to 15 years.

Growth Rate

How fast do they grow?

The growth rate of this pig is moderate. It grows faster than very slow breeds like Mangalica but slower than intensive commercial pigs.

Weight and Slaughter Time

They reach full size at 12–18 months, with boars weighing 550–660 lbs (250–300 kg) and sows 400–550 lbs (180–250 kg).

At 6 to 8 months old, they weigh around 198–242 lbs (90–110 kg), which is also a good age for slaughter.

Meat

The meat of the Bentheim Black Pied pig is appreciated for its high quality. With a moderate growth rate, it takes longer to grow, allowing it to develop good intramuscular fat, also known as marbling, which gives the meat tenderness, juiciness, and flavor.

The fat on this pig is also thick on the back, measuring about 1.14 to 1.22 inches (29 to 31 mm) when the pig is 5 to 7 months old. Compared to modern pig breeds, Bentheim Black Pied pigs have a higher fat content, which adds to their rich flavor. This makes them ideal for traditional pork products like sausages, hams, and other cured meats.

Raising

Feeding

The Bentheim Black Pied pig can eat a wide variety of foods in its diet.

You can feed them forage like grass, hay, and clover, as well as grains such as barley, wheat, oats, and corn, which provide energy. They also enjoy treats like vegetables such as carrots, pumpkins, cooked potatoes, and beets, or fruits like apples, pears, and melons.

Some farmers choose to give them kitchen scraps, but not those that contain sugar or salt.

If you raise them outdoors, they will forage and eat whatever they find in the soil, such as roots, nuts, and insects.

A constant supply of fresh water should always be available.

Environment

This native pig does well in a pasture-based environment, surrounded by an electric fence with plenty of space to roam and forage. This allows them to consume energy naturally and stay healthy.

However, this breed is not suited for intensive farming systems, as they do not develop well and their health can suffer in such conditions.

Climate

These pigs have lived mostly in Germany and other similar European climates for most of their history, so they do well in moderate climates.

It is not certain which other climates they can be raised in. Since they are hardy and strong, they might be able to adapt to different climates, but this has not been confirmed.

Shelter

These pigs need shelter to protect them from extreme weather conditions so they can stay healthy.

You should provide a shelter with good ventilation and bedding like straw during cold seasons to keep them warm. In hot summers, you need to give them shade so they can stay out of the sun and avoid heat stress

How many pigs per acre?

The number of Bentheim Black Pied pigs you can raise per acre depends on your farming system and the land quality.

If you use a pasture-based system, you can keep 10–15 pigs per acre, but rotating pastures is important to avoid overgrazing. With intensive grazing and extra feed, you can raise 20–25 pigs per acre. If you want them to forage naturally, 5–10 pigs per acre is best.

For breeding sows, you should give each one ¼ to ½ acre so they have enough space to raise piglets.

Breeding

You can breed your Bentheim Black Pied pigs when they are around 7–8 months old, as this is when sows reach sexual maturity. Boars are ready to mate at a similar age.

The pregnancy lasts about 114 days (around 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days), like most pig breeds.

These pigs are quite fertile, and a sow can have two litters per year. The litter size is usually 8 to 10 piglets per litter.

They are good mothers, caring well for their piglets and producing enough milk. They are also protective, which helps reduce piglet loss.

Health Issues

These pigs are resilient and do not get sick as often as other pig breeds. Still, they can catch common pig diseases if you do not care for them properly or if their environment is not kept clean.

Another factor that can affect their health is their diet. If you overfeed them, they can become prone to obesity. Since they have a higher fat content than modern commercial pig breeds, you need to monitor their diet and make sure they have enough space to move and exercise daily.

Advantages

• Heritage breed
• Easy to manage
• Good meat quality
• Great ferility and mothering skills
• Hardy

Disadvantages

• Slower growth rate
• Higher fat content
• Needs more space
• Not suitable for intensive farming
• Limited availability