Results of the 2004/05 Berkshire Survey
Surveyor: Jo Wykes-Sneyd

I sent out 180 survey forms in January, of which 168 were returned, giving a total of 153 breeders, with 15 breeders no longer keeping Berkshires. This is a huge increase on 2003 (105), and confirmation of just how popular this breed is becoming. In fact demand for weaners and in-pig gilts far exceeds supply at the moment.

The results of the Survey continue to show that the Royal Lustre is still the most popular sow line, with 79, followed once again by the Stonebow (65). The Suzanne is the lowest, with 21 sows recorded plus 10 gilts, but this is up by 6 sows from last year, when no young gilts were recorded, so things are looking more encouraging here. The Peter Lad boar line holds his place at the top (32), and the new Australian Lassetter line is doing well, with 8 boars, up from 3 last year. However, the Nama Abel is becoming critical, only 4 boars recorded this year, worse than 2003 (5+1), there is no obvious reason why this should be so with a well-established line, and if anyone is looking for a boar this year, please consider keeping this endangered line, we must do all we can not to lose it.

Total sows 382, gilts 78, overall females 460, again a good increase on 2003 (359). Total boars 97, young boars 12, male total 109, giving an overall increase on 2003 of 20. These are very good results for what are, still, difficult times for livestock keeping, and after losing animals during the FMD crisis of 2001, it is good to see numbers rising again.


Jo Wykes-Sneyd
jo@berkshirepigs.org.uk