 The Berkshire
Berkshire pork is often referred to as the connoisseur's pork. It has long
been prized by those with an appreciation if its fine qualities: its
texture, colour, and its generous serving of fat. Furthermore, the
crackling requires no salt to produce and tastes amazing!
In
the 19th Century, Queen Victoria kept a large herd of Berkshires at
Windsor Castle, and in very recent times Gordon Ramsay chose Berkshires to
fatten for his kitchen on the television show "The F Word". However,
consumer pressure for cheap meat has meant that the Berkshire nearly died
out and there are now approximately only 182 people that keep registered Berkshires in
the UK. Try some of the Berkshire pork raised on Ruth's Little Farm and
become a 21st Century connoisseur!
 The Gloucestershire Old Spot
"Once you try Gloucestershire Old Spots' pork, you'll turn your back on
the tasteless, dried up, intensively reared pork forever." - Derek Cooper,
BBC Radio 4 Food Programme.
Gloucestershire Old Spot pork is celebrated by top chefs including Gary
Rhodes, Delia Smith and Gordon Ramsay. It is differentiated from other,
more commercial breeds by its fat. Pigs bred using modern farming
methods have hardly any fat, whether as visible back fat or as marbling
within the muscle. Conversely, the Gloucestershire Old Spot does
have distinctive back fat and visible marbling. Why is that important?
Both because the layer of back fat means that the Old Spot is hardy enough
for outdoor production; and also because when the meat is cooking it is
being basted in its own fat which makes the pork succulent and full of
flavour. The meat also has the deepest colour of the three breeds that we
rear on Ruth's Little Farm. There are now approximately
only 400 people that keep registered
Gloucester Old Spot pigs in the UK.
 The British Saddle Back
British Saddleback pork is used by world
renowned chefs like Michel Roux. The meat the Saddleback produces is known
for its fine flavour and great crackling. It is very succulent due to a
thick layer of fat and well marbled joints. As a dual purpose pig, we at
Ruth's Little Farm use it to produce both good quality pork and bacon. There
are now only approximately
only 250 people that keep registered
British Saddle Backs in the UK.
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