Hampshire Pig
Sus scrofa domesticus
Tracing its origins to southern Scotland and northern England before being imported to the United States in the 1820s-1830s, the Hampshire is a black pig with a distinctive white belt around the shoulders and front legs, erect ears, and a lean, heavily muscled build.
Species
Porcine
Family
Suidae
Climate requirements
Its dark, hardy skin gives it good tolerance of sun exposure and less intensive housing, making it a practical option for Kenyan smallholders with simpler, semi-outdoor pig structures, though it still needs shelter from heavy rain and cold nights.
Husbandry guide
Hampshire sows typically farrow 8-12 piglets per litter and can produce up to two litters a year under good management. The breed is valued for its lean, well-muscled carcass, so finishing rations are usually managed to avoid excess fat while supporting steady growth to market weight. Basic housing needs include dry bedding, draft-free farrowing areas and adequate space to accommodate its active, muscular frame, alongside routine deworming and vaccination against classical swine fever and erysipelas as with other breeds. In Kenya it is mainly kept and crossed as a terminal sire line to improve leanness and carcass quality in market pigs rather than as a primary maternal breed.
Economic importance
As one of Kenya's four major recognised pig breeds, Hampshire crosses supply the lean, well-muscled carcasses that butcheries and processors pay a premium for, giving farmers who focus on meat quality an added market edge.