British Lop Pigs - Breed History

The British Lop is a West Country breed which originated around the Tavistock area either side of the Cornwall/Devon borders. For most of its history from the early years of the twentieth century, it remained a local breed undiscovered by farmers outside its native territory. It suited the locality well and was in strong demand there so there was little incentive for breeders to go shouting its merits beyond the far south west.

In those days it was registered and known as the National Long White Lop Eared breed – certainly descriptive if not very snappy. In the 1960s, the name was changed to today’s British Lop.

British Lop History - breed history Page 2

Reproduced by kind permission of The British Lop Pig Society

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