We absolutely love our GOS pigs here at Winding Creek Farm. We call them our giant puppy dogs pigs. The work we are doing with this breed is incredibly rewarding and important. Check out the recent article in Illinois Country Living with a photo I took of our pigs as the front-page cover!

“Maggie Ray says raising farm-friendly animals the old-fashioned way was attractive to her family. The Rays have a variety of animals, including American Buff geese (“watch” on the CPL), several varieties of heritage breed turkeys and Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs (listed as “threatened”).

“If we’re helping to save the planet, you might as well do it with something that needs help,” Maggie says. “Keeping these old genetics alive and reintroducing some of the benefits of them even to more commercial lines is important, things like good mothering abilities and more.”

Raising Heritage Breeds – Illinois Country Living Magazine (icl.coop)

The Gloucestershire (pronounced gloster-sheer) Old Spot Pig, or GOS Pig, descended from a region in Gloucestershire, England known as the Vale of Berkeley. Recognized as the oldest pedigree spotted pig in the world, the GOS was once popular with small family farms, where they were raised on dairy byproducts (such as whey) and orchard “drop fruit,” giving these pigs the nickname “the orchard pig”. Legend has it that they got their spots from apples dropping off the trees and leaving bruises. They are highly maternal pigs with excellent foraging ability and hardiness. Our pigs are registered with the GOSA & we will be offering future breeding stock that is registered, so you too can help save this wonderful breed.

“Old Spots genetics were used in America in the 20th century to create breeds like the Spotted Poland China, the Chester White, and the American Spot, but GOS pigs never really became popular in the US and neared extinction in the UK by 1977. In 1995, Importation of 20 GOS piglets by the Kelmscott Farm Foundation of Lincolnville, Maine, helped establish a purebred population; a breed society, Gloucester Old Spots of America, Inc., was founded in 1996 to maintain the breed and institutional records. Preservation efforts in Britain and American have been promising, though the breed is still endangered in both countries. The breed also benefits from the continued support of the British Royal Family, which favors pork from these pigs for their table.”- The Livestock Conservancy

To learn more check out Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig - The Livestock Conservancy & Home - Gloucestershire Old Spots of America, Inc (gosamerica.org)