RWPP.Org Breed Standards, Ideals, and Registration Criteria
Details and Examples
This is a lot of information, but it's meant to break the detail down into easier to process bits.
Use it in conjunction with the general information here: RWPP.org Registration Requirements and don't hesitate to reach out with questions using our contact form.
| Trait | "Unacceptable" | "Less than Ideal" | Registration Criteria "Acceptable" | Breed Standard "Ideal" | "Superior" | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wattles | * Less than two wattles | * Thin at the top or stubby | * Two wattles, well-attached | * Two wattles, well-attached, thick, long | * Two wattles, thick, long, heavy, obvious and notable | * Superior wattles will be the first thing that you notice when you see the pig, strangers will stare or immediately ask about them. |
| Color | * Any color other than visually red or with obtrusive markings. Including genetically red hogs who are not visually red | * Visually red with unobtrusive markings. * "Unobtrusive" meaning not distracting from the 'redness' of the animal. Preferably only on the underline and/or not apparent or obvious when initially viewing the animal. | * Visually red | * dark ruby red, mahogany, bright chestnut, or 'orange'. * May develop dark or light shading on the legs, snoot, or underline with age, as well as a dorsal line, and/or black tail tips. | * dark ruby red, mahogany, bright chestnut, or 'orange'. * Does not have a single off color hair, including in tail, legs or shoulders. * This will be our "true red" (genetically red) hogs without underlying black genetics. | * Color is a defining trait of this breed and "less than ideal" candidates should be carefully considered as to their overall balance and potential contribution to the breed. |
| Teat line | * Uneven or short teat line. | * 10-11 functional teats, even or nicely spaced or 12 or more functional teats unevenly spaced e.g.: 7x5 | * 12 functional teats | * 12+ functional, well-spaced teats in a 6x6 or 6x7 | * 14 or more functional, well placed | * Consider evenly spaced vs even vs well placed. The purpose is for each teat to be available to a piglet for nursing. * Consider the number of teats above the line of the umbilical as these tend to be more accessible to the piglet. |
| Size | * Small, thin,' weedy', poor growth rate | * Piglet obviously smaller than littermates/same age piglets. * Mature animals under 500lbs at 3yo. | * Healthy, robust piglet, similar in size to littermates and other similar age piglets. * Growth rate should meet or exceed 1/2lb a day in weanlings, increasing to at least ~1lb/day in the growing hog with maturing individuals meeting ~300lbs within 12 months and mature stock reaching 500lbs within 3-4yrs, | * Piglet larger/stouter than littermates/same age piglets. * Piglet should be over 30lbs at ~60 days old. * Pastured stock is expected to gain at least a pound a day from about 100lbs through maturity, reaching ~300llbs within 10-12 months with a daily feeding. * Mature breeding stock should reach 600-800lbs within 3-4yrs for sows and larger for boars. | * Similar to "ideal". A superior piglet will stand out amongst it's litter mates in size and robustness and consistently outgrow it's same age peers. * Mature breeding stock should meet weight expectation in 'good flesh', healthy, without being obese to the point that they have issues breeding, farrowing and raising their young. | * Size can vary greatly due to the stock's environmental situation, especially in young stock. * While growth rate is primarily genetic, whether it reaches it's potential is a complex issue. E.g.: feed type and availability, pen size/range management, overcrowding, size differences in a large herd, extreme weather conditions. |
| Legs | * Post-legged, extreme knock-knees or pigeon-toes, weak pasterns. | * Obvious but functional faults | * Leans toward the ideal but with faults found on closer examination | * Set on the corners of the pig's body (under the shoulders and hip, in front of the hams and behind the jowl). * Thick and sturdy with the weight of the animal resting on the two primary toes. * The pasterns should be stout, holding the dew claws cleanly off the ground. * Hind and front leg pairs should be parallel to each other when viewed from the front or back. | * Proving the ideal traits into adulthood with soundness at a mature weight. | * Legs are mechanical, pillars and joints are levers. Proper structure and support is key to long term soundness and health in the adult animal. *Note that given the extreme size of these hogs at maturity, young stock may go through awkward growth periods and apparent faults may be part of the growth of their final structure. |
| Head/Face, Eyes, Jowl, and Snoot | * Long, thin nose and snout, or convex profile. * Extremely short 'pug' nose. | * Eyes smaller than normal, giving a 'mean' appearance. * Forehead to snout being too straight. * overly fatty jowls | * Eyes are bright, friendly and curious. * Head should be balanced and proportional with the overall animal. * It should be wide between the eyes and have a gently triangular shape when viewed from the front with full but not overly fatty jowls. * The view from the side should show an obvious change of angle between the forehead and the top of the nose. * Nose should be full and thick with a gentle taper to an active snout. | * Eyes are bright, friendly and curious. * Head should be balanced and proportional with the overall animal. * It should be wide between the eyes and have a gently triangular shape when viewed from the front with full but not overly fatty jowls. * The view from the side should show an obvious change of angle between the forehead and the top of the nose. * Nose should be full and thick with a gentle taper to an active snout. It should have a gentle curve to the tip of the snout. | * Meeting the ideal standards in a way that balances and enhances the entire animal. * Mature sows should have a maternal air about them and boars appear more masculine. | * these criteria may be applied gently in younger animals, especially those that may be in awkward growth phases. * Pigs with eyes that are smaller than expected give rise to the insult "pig eyed". These pigs can give the appearance of being mean or bad tempered regardless of their actual temperament. |
| Ears | * Stiffly upright | * Softly upright ears in piglets past weaning age. * Ears that appear to stick out to the sides of the head. (Both of these may be more prominent in younger piglets, but should resolve as the animal matures.) | * Large ears softly falling forward. * Protecting eyes without obstructing vision. | * Large ears softly falling forward. *Protecting eyes without obstructing vision. * Regardless of size, ears will be mobile and under the control of the hog. * Ears should be set more toward the 'corners' of the head then on the side. | * Large ears softly falling forward. * Protecting eyes without obstructing vision. * Regardless of size, ears will be mobile and under the control of the hog. * Ears should be set more toward the 'corners' of the head then on the side. (11-1 more than 10-2). * The angle of attachment matters as well as placement. * The ears should fall forward rather than lop sideways. | |
| Genitalia | * Dysfunctionally small or with obvious issues such as a gapping or poorly placed vulva | * Poorly developed. Small or uneven testes. * This should be judged kindly in younger stock. | * Obvious and healthy appearing. | * Obvious and healthy appearing. * Appropriately placed on the sow, under a high tail set, for ease of breeding and farrowing. | * Should maintain the Ideal standards in the mature animal, especially in a multiparous sow. | |
| Temperament | * Openly aggressive | * Skittish or hard to handle. * This could be due to lack of handling, but the pig should be open to building a relationship with their handlers. | * Laid-back and generally friendly nature, accommodating to being handled and managed. * Strong maternal traits. | * Friendly natured and curious, open to building a relationship with their human handlers. * Maternal and protective to all piglets, not just their own. | * Friendly and curious, accommodating to the human involvement in their world, but with the intelligence and energy to be appropriately protective of all piglets. | |
| Overall Outline | * Flat back with an overly long body. *Remember a proper outline may not be apparent in very young animals or in various poses, depending on head position. * Combinations of: Narrow hams, slab-sided, flat backed, shallow in the flank, splayed toes on hind legs | * A longer rather than rounder body * Shorter rather than longer legs * Overall outline change as the hog grows and an otherwise acceptable piglet should be given the chance to mature. * Poorly developed, thin or narrow. Consider this could be environmental. | * Gently arched back, the mature hog will have a rounder appearance rather than long. * Legs should be longer, rather than shorter. * Thick, wide shoulders and hips | * Gently arched back with a steeper fall to the rump, high set tail, head and ears should be proportionate to the mature body. * Legs should be longer rather than shorter, to allow for travel on pasture, breeding and agility in the farrowing nest. * Thick, wide shoulders and hips should be apparent even in young stock * Uniform depth at heart girth and flank. * Overall smoothly balanced. | * Maintaining "Ideal" traits through maturity. | |
| Health and Robustness | * Sickly, due to poor immune system as opposed to environmental * Intolerance to weather changes. | * Lack of curiosity, energy or appetite * The animals environment should be consider as to it's role in this issue. | * Red Wattles, as native pasture hogs, should be healthy and robust, with playful energy and great appetite. | * Red Wattles, as native pasture hogs, should be healthy and robust, with playful energy and great appetite. * Even young adults may travel unexpected distances if allowed, and should be observed to romp and play at times. | * Ideal traits carried into their mature years. | * Environment can have a great deal to due with an animals ability to stay healthy and should be considered. |
