- Mulefoot
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Mulefoot Conservation status Critically rare Country of origin Spain Pig (Sus scrofa domesticus.) Mulefoot are a breed of domestic pig which is named for its solid, non-cloven hooves reminiscent of a mule[1]. These pigs are typically black, on rare occasions having white spots, and typically reach a weight of 400-600 pounds by the age of two years.
Mulefoot hogs likely originated with the hogs brought to the Gulf Coast by the Spanish; however, exactly when they originated as a syndactyl animal is not clear[2]. One apparent benefit to raising one-toed animals is the elimination of hoof rot, which affects the area of an animal's hoof between the toes.
While this breed flourished during the early half of the century, by 1985 only one herd of Mulefoot hogs remained, belonging to Mr. R.M. Holliday of Louisiana, Missouri. At present, populations of Mulefoot hogs are considered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy to be critically rare, as there are now fewer than 150 documented purebred Mulefoot hogs in existence.
Maveric Ranch[3] took over conservatorship of the Mulefoot Breed in 2006. To date they have placed breeding groups on over 40 farms across the US. Things are looking up for this once critically endangered breed.
References
- ^ Mulefoot Hog albc-usa.org
- ^ Mulefoot Hog ansi.okstate.edu
- ^ Maveric Ranch maveric9.com
External Links
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