Okay, I’m going to put my pride on the shelf and adopt utter transparency here. We had a new litter of Mulefoot hogs born on the farm recently. Both parents are registered, traditional black stock. Here is the litter:
!?!?!?!?!?!
Sorry the picture is black and white, but you can see which 3 pigs I’m talking about. In color, they are a reddish gray, with stripes. Kind of like a chipmunk. Has anyone else had any experience with this?
I’ve done a good deal of searching and researching since they were born. Or, I should say that I’ve tried. There is a scant amount of information to be found online. For good reason, nobody wants to risk their reputation as a breeder by admitting that this recessive gene has shown up on their farm.
But, for the good of the breed, I think it might be time to start talking about it. What I’ve found is that it is a recessive gene in some bloodlines. But 3 pigs in one litter? I question whether it is recessive enough.
This was this sows first litter. Her mother and other close relatives have always had entirely black and traditional litters (including her full sister, bred to the same boar.)
So, comments? Experience? Opinions?
