Landrace

The Landrace was developed in Denmark in the early 20th century specifically for bacon production, selected intensively for a long body (more bacon per animal), lean meat yield, and strong reproductive performance. Imported into Australia and widely adopted by the commercial pork industry, Landrace genetics — almost always crossed with Large White for the maternal line and finished with a terminal sire — remain central to Australian commercial pork production today.

Distinguishing features include very long ears that droop forward over the eyes, a long body with more vertebrae than most other breeds (a direct result of selection for bacon length), and a lean, athletic build. Landrace sows are renowned in the pig industry for exceptional mothering ability, often considered the benchmark maternal breed against which others are measured for litter size, milk yield, and piglet survival rate.

Purebred Landrace, like Large White, is mostly maintained by breed societies, show exhibitors, and specialist breeders rather than commercial producers who almost universally use crossbred stock. For small-scale producers interested in working with purebred maternal genetics or supplying breeding stock to other small producers, Landrace remains a valuable and available breed.

Landrace sows are widely regarded as among the best mothers of any commercial pig breed, with strong milk production and litters commonly in the 11 to 13 piglet range from mature sows, supporting high piglet survival to weaning when management is good. The long body confers a higher proportion of premium bacon and loin cuts relative to the carcase as a whole, a key reason the breed remains commercially significant.

Growth rate and feed conversion are comparable to Large White, and the lean, well-muscled carcase meets the specifications required by Australian processors for bacon and fresh pork lines.

The long drooping ears that characterise the breed can partially obscure vision, occasionally making Landrace pigs more easily startled by sudden movement or noise from an unexpected direction — handlers should approach calmly and announce their presence. Otherwise the breed presents no significant management complications beyond standard pig care: shade and wallow access for outdoor stock, routine parasite management, and good nutrition through gestation and lactation to support the breed's strong reproductive performance.