The black pig
Berkshire. In Japan, Kurobuta.
It is one breed with two names. We raise it in Surin, in small numbers, on the same diet as our standard pigs.
What it is
The Berkshire is a British breed, named for the English county it came from. It is black, with white on the snout, the lower legs and the tip of the tail.4 American breeders founded a society for it in 1875, the first for any breed of pig.4
Kurobuta is Japanese and means black hog.5 Berkshire pork raised in Japan, most famously in Kagoshima, is sold under that name and at a high price.4
How the meat differs
The breed carries more fat inside the muscle, which butchers call marbling.5 On the plate that means darker meat that stays juicy over a hot grill, and fat that you will want to eat.
| Standard | Berkshire | |
|---|---|---|
| Meat | Paler and leaner | Darker, with more fat through it |
| Best for | Everyday cooking, mince, sausage | Grilling, chops, belly, neck |
| Diet | The same special diet on our farm | |
| Ready | More often | In smaller numbers: ask what is ready |
| Price | Quoted for each order | |
Which one should you buy?
If most of your half will become mince, sausage and stews, buy the standard pig and spend the difference on a bigger freezer. If you grill, or you want chops and belly that people talk about, buy the Berkshire.
Ask what a half costs this week
We quote every order, because the price moves with the pig. Nothing is charged on this site.