Meishan

Landrace (American Landrace / British Landrace)

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

Landrace pigs descend from the Danish Landrace. The American Landrace Association, administered by the National Swine Registry, is the official US breed registry. The British Pig Association maintains the official UK herd book for the British Landrace.

Sources

  1. National Swine Registry / American Landrace Association. Landrace Eligibility Requirements. Updated by the board of directors of the American Landrace Association, March 2015. https://nationalswine.com/pedigree/breed-eligibility.php and NSR breeds flyer https://nationalswine.com/events/downloads/docs/nsr_breeds_flyer.pdf (retrieved 19 August 2026).
  2. British Pig Association. Breed Standard and Standards of Excellence — British Landrace. Updated Autumn 2013. Official PDF: https://www.britishpigs.org.uk/documents/bpa-standards-of-excellence-british-landrace.pdf (retrieved 19 August 2026). Index page: https://www.britishpigs.org.uk/breed-standards.

1. American Landrace Association — Eligibility Requirements

Updated by the board of directors of the American Landrace Association – March, 2015

  1. Landrace barrows and gilts exhibited as market animals:

    1. Must be white in color and possess Landrace breed character (ears must be down). Refer to ideal Landrace photo.
    2. Must be ear notched within seven days of birth.
    3. Must NOT allow any color hair other than white.
    4. Must NOT allow more than three spots of skin pigmentation.
    5. Must NOT allow any spot of skin pigmentation larger than one U.S. minted quarter.
    6. Must have no evidence of an extra dewclaw.
    7. Must be stress negative.
    8. Must not have hernia or rupture – both scrotal and abdominal.
    9. Must not have hermaphroditism.
    10. Must not have cryptorchidism.
    11. Barrows must not have one testicle or any pronounced abdominal condition of the testicles.
    12. Must have at least six functional udder sections on each side of the underline. Pin teats and inverted nipples are not considered functional.

  2. Landrace boars and gilts intended for breeding:

    1. Must meet the above requirements along with the following to be eligible for recording and exhibition in a breeding animal class:
      1. A boar must not have a physical defect (including but not limited to an adhered or tied penis, limp penis, infantile penis and coiling of the penis in the diverticulum), which would hinder proper delivery of semen, and the boar must extend his penis without physical manipulation excluding the expression of the sheath fluid; if a boar cannot meet the above requirements, his pedigree will be canceled.

NSR “Ideal Landrace Features” (from the NSR breeds flyer):

  1. Ears droop and slant forward
  2. Long, clean face
  3. Long, clean neck
  4. Big, even toes
  5. Wide based from front to rear
  6. Long, lean, well-shaped top
  7. Seven functional teats on each side that are well spaced and prominent
  8. Long side with good rib shape
  9. Good hip structure with long, developed muscle
  10. Hind legs that set down square with a flexible hock

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

BRITISH LANDRACE

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

Ears Drooping and slanting forward Colour White

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.

General The British Landrace pig has been developed for speed of growth to furnish long, lean carcases, whilst preserving stamina and a strong constitution.

Head Light, medium length and fine with minimum jowl. Nose Straight, slightly concave with age. Ears Medium size, neither coarse nor heavy. Neck Clean and light and of medium length. Shoulders Not deep, free from coarseness, of adequate width and well laid into the body. Back Long and slightly arched. Breadth uniform throughout. No dip at shoulder or loin. Ribs Well sprung ribs throughout Loin Strong and wide with no deficiency in muscle. No dip in front of hands. Sides Firm, compact and not deep. Quarters Medium length, broad, straight or very slightly sloping to the tail. Hams Full and rounded from both back and sides. Deep to hock. Wide between legs with moderately good inner thigh Tail Set reasonably high. Thick at root. Legs Medium length, well set and square with the body. Bone strong but not coarse. Cleys even and well developed. Pasterns strong, springy and not too long. Skin Soft and slightly pink. Hair fine and white. Action Firm and free. Underline Should be straight. At least fourteen sound, well placed teats, starting well forward.

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

Coat Preference for no black hair.. Skin Preference to be free of black pigment.

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