Swifty Swine Productions uses several breeds of swine. We have Durocs, Hampshires, Yorkshires and pot bellies. The Yorkshires are probably the fastest, but they're the meanest. The pot bellies prance around a lot and stop and smell the roses, says Zach Johnson, owner and "Swine Master" of Swifty Swine Racing And Swimming Pigs.

Below is a little information about the different breeds that we use.

Duroc Pigs

The Duroc breed of hogs had its origin in the eastern United States and in the Corn Belt. It would seem presumptuous today to attempt to identify the foundation stock of the breed, which was originally called the Duroc-Jersey, because persons attempting to write the history of the breed only a few years after it was formed could not definitely state the exact source of the red hogs that went into their foundation. One source of the red or reddish-brown hogs that were found in the United States was reputed to be those that came from the Guinea coast of Africa, and it is said that hogs similar to those found on the Guinea coast were found in every country to which early slave trading vessels found their way. In The Story of Durocs it is stated that red hogs were brought to America by Columbus on his second voyage, and red hogs were also brought to this country by DeSoto. These were presumed to have come from Spain and Portugal, and red hogs were sent from Portugal to Nova Scotia. In The Breeds of Livestock, Sanders is of the opinion that reddish-brown hogs of the Berkshire strain were brought to the United States and probably found their way into the Duroc breed.

Hampshire Pigs

The Hampshire breed of hogs may well be one of the oldest original early American breeds of hogs in existence today. Although there is some doubt as to the exact origin of the Hampshire breed, historical records indicate that Hampshires probably originated from the "Old English Breed." This black hog with a white belt was quite numerous in Scotland and Northumberland and other counties bordering Scotland. They were noted and criticized for their large size, but admired for their prolificacy, hardy vigor, foraging ability and outstanding carcass qualities.

Yorkshire Pigs

The American Yorkshire pig is a breed of domestic pig. It is the American version of the Yorkshire pig (now usually known as the English Large White pig), white in color, with erect ears, and the most recorded swine breed in the United States. The Yorkshire breed was developed in Yorkshire, England, circa 1761. In 1830 the first Yorkshires were imported to the United States, specifically to Ohio, but because of their slow growth rate they did not become popular until the late 1940s. At that time, many large Yorkshires were imported from Canada and England for their ruggedness and favored carcass. The breed then improved rapidly through selection. Today Yorkshire pigs are found in nearly every American state, with highest populations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and Ohio. The modern Yorkshire is muscular with a high proportion of lean meat. Yorkshire data records have been maintained with great diligence, including growth, sow productivity, and backfat formation, representing the largest source of documented livestock performance records in the world.

Pot Belly Pigs

Potbellied Pigs, also referred to as Pot Belly Pig, Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs, Miniature Pet Pigs, and some have falsely call them Micro-mini Pigs and Tea Cup Pigs, are a smaller member of the pig family that have been on this earth for some 50 million years. Descendents of the wild boars of Europe, they migrated to South East Asia where they adapted to the geography and became smaller then their cousins. The Pet Pigs we are familiar with today in the US were first imported from Canada about 1988 and quickly became popular as a household companion pet because of their pleasant disposition, relative small size and ability to bond with their human companions.

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