Are you familiar with Berkshire pork? No? Well, here is a short summary of it's history.
In the 18th century, the Berkshire pig was the first pig breed to benefit from purebred stature, making it one of the oldest breeds.
The Berkshire pig was introduced to the United States, by boat, at the beginning of the 19th century. Unfortunately, because the breed is not of American descent, this played against its genetic heritage. In fact, inbreeding provokes deformations such as: crooked legs, piglets with deformed palates (keeping them from nursing), etc. This is why it is important for us to keep records of our breeders.
The Berkshire pig is of average size. It is black, with all four legs white, as well as the tip of the tail and a spot on the forehead. It has a massive head with a short, snub snout. Its ears are straight or sometimes lightly curved. The Berkshire pig has a muscular back and its legs are slightly shorter than the traditional pig.
What you should know, (for those with the more refined palate), is, above all, the quality of its meat. In fact, Berkshire pork is renowned for having the perfect marbling for keeping all its tenderness. Furthermore, it loses very littleweight when cooking. It is a popular request among gourmet restaurant owners. It is appreciated in other countries as well, such as Japan, where it is appreciated for its tenderness, juiciness and flavor. They call it "kurobuta".