Pietrain

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

The Pietrain originated in Belgium. The British Pig Association maintains the official UK herd book and standard of excellence.

Sources

1. British Pig Association. Breed Standard and Standards of Excellence — Pietrain. Updated Autumn 2013. Official PDF: https://www.britishpigs.org.uk/documents/bpa-standards-of-excellence-pietrain.pdf (retrieved 19 August 2026). Index page: https://www.britishpigs.org.uk/breed-standards.

British Pig Association — Breed Standard and Standards of Excellence

PIETRAIN

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 Almost horizontal (Neither prick nor lop) Colour Normally white with black patches.

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.

Head Relatively light, short with a medium broad forehead, a straight profile. Nose Broad straight snout. Ears Short and broad in relation to the length. Tip of the ears towards the front and slightly towards the outside. Neck Relatively short but spare Cheeks Not well developed Chest Broad and not too deep; more or less cylindrical. Shoulders Should stick out and are well-muscled. Back Is straight, broad and flat. Flanks Are well filled. Loin Is broad, thick and well-muscled Sides Strongly arched. Rump Is broad, well-muscled and slopes as the rump of a horse with a slight hollow in the shape of a plate just above the tail, which is attached fairly low. Hams Are well rounded, broad, well filled and descend near to the knuckle joints. Legs Straight and strong. Topline Shows for preference a furrow along the vertebral column enhancing the square appearance at each side of strong musculature. Shoulder-blade Is broad in the form of a plate. Underline Is parallel to the line of the back and well supported. Udder should be strongly developed and regularly placed containing at least 12 teats.

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

Ears Prick or lopped Cheeks Fatty or pendulous

Breeders should be aware that a facility exists to record the stress gene status of pigs in the herdbook.

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