Yorkshire

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

The American Yorkshire is the same historic breed as the British Large White (see Large White). The American Yorkshire Club, administered by the National Swine Registry, is the official US breed registry.

Sources

1. National Swine Registry / American Yorkshire Club. Yorkshire Eligibility Requirements. Updated by the board of directors of the American Yorkshire Club, 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).

American Yorkshire Club — Eligibility Requirements

Updated by the board of directors of the American Yorkshire Club – March, 2015

1. Yorkshire barrows or gilts exhibited as market animals:
   1. Must be white in color and possess Yorkshire breed character (ears must be erect).
   2. Must be ear notched within seven days of birth.
   3. Must NOT have any color hair except for white.
   4. Must NOT have more than two pigmentation spots larger than a U.S. minted dime or one pigmentation spot larger than a U.S. minted quarter. These pigmentation spots (combined) can NOT exceed a U.S. minted silver dollar.
   5. Must have no evidence of an extra dewclaw.
   6. Must be stress negative.
   7. There are no underline requirements to record and exhibit Yorkshire barrows or gilts as market animals.
2. Yorkshire boars and gilts intended for breeding:
   1. Must meet the above requirements (except item 1.g.), along with the following to be eligible for recording and exhibition in a breeding animal class:
      1. Must possess six or more functional teats on each side of the underline to be recorded and exhibited. Pin teats and inverted nipples are not considered functional.
      2. 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 Yorkshire Features” (from the NSR breeds flyer):

1. Upright ears
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