Meishan

Berkshire

This file reproduces official breed standards verbatim for research. No original standard is authored here.

The Berkshire originated in England. The American Berkshire Association (founded 1875) is the world’s oldest swine registry and the official US herd-book keeper. The British Pig Association is the official UK breed society.

Sources

  1. American Berkshire Association. Berkshire Breed Eligibility and ABA Constitution and By-Laws, Article XIX — Markings and Identification Requirements. Current official text as published at https://americanberkshire.com/berkshire-breed-eligibility/ (retrieved 19 August 2026). Companion PDF Berkshire Breed Characteristics Reference Guide: https://americanberkshire.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Berk-Breed-Requirements-.pdf.
  2. British Pig Association. Breed Standard and Standards of Excellence — Berkshire. Updated Autumn 2013. Official PDF: https://www.britishpigs.org.uk/documents/bpa-standards-of-excellence-berkshire.pdf (retrieved 19 August 2026). Index page: https://www.britishpigs.org.uk/breed-standards.

1. American Berkshire Association — Constitution and By-Laws, Article XIX

ABA Constitution and By-Laws: Berkshire Markings and Identification Requirements

ARTICLE XIX - Markings and Identification Requirements

Section 1. Color. The ideal color pattern is black with six white points (face, four socks, tip of tail). Less desirable, but acceptable, are sandy colored hair in the areas where white and black border. Color Qualifications for Registration (boars, gilts and barrows must meet the following color requirements in order to be recorded): A Berkshire must have white on the face and tail, unless the tail is docked. Three of four legs must be white. A Berkshire must not have a spotted or mottling pattern, which is defined as an intermixture of black and white and/or red skin/hair anywhere on the pig’s body (defined as anything above the elbow and flank and excludes the legs and under belly). Examples of spotted or mottling patterns include: cheetah and giraffe spotted markings anywhere on the back or side of the pig. Also, a Berkshire must not have a contiguous area of white and/or red skin/hair that exceeds 64 square inches anywhere on the body (defined as anything above the elbow and flank and excludes the legs and under belly) of a mature pig (approximately 8 x 8 square inch area on a 300 lb pig; this would be equivalent to 11 square inches on a 50 lb pig). Finally, a Berkshire cannot have a full or 3⁄4 belting pattern that is defined as white skin or hair that fully encircles or nearly encircles the body anywhere between the base of the ear and base of the tail.

Section 2. Ear Carriage. The ideal ear carriage is ridged and tight. Less desirable, but acceptable, ear carriage is: a) ears that are larger than astatically pleasing and b) ear carriage that lacks rigidity.

Section 3. Identification Requirements. No animal shall be eligible to record unless it is distinctively ear-notched at farrowing time. All pigs from the same litter must carry the same litter notch. When individual ear-notches are used, the right ear shall be used for the litter notch and the left ear for individual notch, in accordance with the official Berkshire ear-notching system. Official ear-notching system available on request. No two litters on the farm shall be ear-notched the same during the same farrowing season, which may be interpreted as being between January 1 through June 30 and July 1 through December 31 of each year.

Section 4. Disqualification for Registration of Breeding animals. The presence of one or more of the following are disqualifications for registration: a) less than 6 functional teats on each side, b) the presence of one or more swirls on upper half of the body, c) total blindness, d) rectal or uterine prolapse, e) hermaphroditism, f) atresia ani; g) cryptorchidism or monorchidism; h) scrotal and/or umbilical hernia, and i) ear carriage that “breaks” to the point in which ears are continually directed in a downward angle.

Ineligible Berkshire Characteristic Examples (ABA)

EXCESSIVE WHITE

A Berkshire must not have a contiguous area of white and/or red skin/hair that exceeds 64 square inches anywhere on the body (defined as anything above the elbow and flank and excludes the legs and under belly) of a mature pig (approximately 8 x 8 square inch area on a 300 lb pig; this would be equivalent to 11 square inches on a 50 lb pig).

EAR CARRIAGE

The ideal ear carriage is ridged and tight. Less desirable, but acceptable, ear carriage is: a) ears that are larger than astatically pleasing and b) ear carriage that lacks rigidity.

SPOTTING OR MOTTLING

A Berkshire must not have a spotted or mottling pattern, which is defined as an intermixture of black and white and/or red skin/hair anywhere on the pig’s body (defined as anything above the elbow and flank and excludes the legs and under belly). Examples of spotted or mottling patterns include: cheetah and giraffe spotted markings anywhere on the back or side of the pig.

BELT

A Berkshire cannot have a full or 3⁄4 belting pattern that is defined as white skin or hair that fully encircles or nearly encircles the body anywhere between the base of the ear and base of the tail.

The ABA Berkshire Breed Characteristics Reference Guide (June 2023 PDF) restates the same Article XIX sections and adds this note on facial white:

White is allowed on the ears, but NO solid white may appear on the ears. In regards to white on face — face being considered ears to snout and base of the jaw — blaze between the eyes that extends over the snout under the chin is ideal. However, a stripe between the eyes, white snout/chin is acceptable and all black is a disqualification.

2. British Pig Association — Breed Standard and Standards of Excellence

BERKSHIRE

Updated Autumn 2013

Section A - To be eligible for Herd Book entry a pig must (except in exceptional circumstances) be: - bred in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland - have at least 12 sound teats - ear-marked and birth recorded with the BPA in accordance with current regulations - the offspring of parents already registered either in the Herd Book of the same breed (or in a supplementary register of the Herd Book maintained at BPA’s discretion) - Free from congenital defects (e.g. Umbilical and Scrotal Hernias , Atresia Ani (blind anus), cryptorchid boars, extra cleys, twisted, overshot or undershot jaw and rose on the back) - conform to any other such regulations as are made by the BPA Council from time to time

In exceptional circumstances a pig which does not fulfil all the criteria above may be accepted for herdbook registration following an inspection.

Breed Specific Requirements for Herdbook Registration

Colour Black, with white on face, feet and tip of tail only.

Breed Specific Disqualifications which make the pig ineligible for Herdbook Registration

None

Section B – Standard of Excellence – These are recommendations only - breeders should try to achieve these standards in their breeding programmes. Pigs will be judged against these standards of excellence at BPA shows.

Character A combination of the following definitions denoting type, quality, breeding and masculinity in the case of boars, and femininity in the case of sows and gilts. Head Fine, face dished, snout of medium length, wide between the eyes and ears. Ears fairly large, carried erect or slightly or slightly inclined forward and fringed with fine hair. Jowl light. Neck Fine, evenly set on shoulders, free from wrinkles and free from crest. Shoulders Fine and well sloping. Special notice to be taken regarding this point in the case of females. Legs and Feet Straight and strong, set wide apart, standing well on toes and a good walker. Back Long and level. Tail set high. Good spring of rib. Hams Broad, wide and deep to hock Belly Straight underline, with at least twelve (preferably 14) wound, evenly spaced and well placed teats starting well forward. Bone Well developed in males and fine in females. Flesh Firm without excessive fat. Skin Fine and free from wrinkles. Hair Long, fine and plentiful, with absence of mane especially in females Colour Black, with white on face, feet and tip of tail only.

Breed Specific Objections – Breeders should try to avoid these in their breeding programmes

Colour Patches of white hair on body (an odd white hair is acceptable)

Pigs must comply with Section A. Breeders should aspire to breed pigs which meet the Standards of Excellence in Section B. More information is available in the BPA leaflet – Pedigree Breeding the Next Steps.

British Pig Association, Trumpington Mews, 40b High Street, Trumpington, Cambridge, CB2 2LS Tel: 01223 845100 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.britishpigs.org Updated Autumn 2013

Note: The word “wound” in the BPA Berkshire Section B Belly line is as printed in the official 2013 PDF (other BPA breed PDFs use “sound” in the equivalent line).