FACTS ABOUT LINDERÖDSGRIS
Latin name:Sus scrofa domestica
Family: Porcine animal
Weight: Male (boar) approx. 250 kg and female (sow) approx. 150 kg
Height at the withers: About 1 m
Expectancy:
8-10 years, sometimes up to 20 years
Pepparkaksgris eller Linderödsgris?
The Linderöd pig's body shape differs from that of the modern pig. These pigs are not as elongated in their body shape but are more rounded across the back, like a gingerbread pig! The Linderödsgrisen is our only Swedish landrace pig of the older type, and it was actually close to disappearing completely. Skåne Zoo has been involved in saving the Linderöds pig since 1952.
The conservation of the Linderödspig
Domesticated pigs have existed in Swedish homes and farms for thousands of years. In the past, domestic pigs were kept in the forest during autumn and winter, which led to them mating and producing litters with wild boars. In the 19th century, two types of domestic pig were described: the refined light domestic pig and the more underrated forest pig with traits from the wild boar. Gradually, the large white pig breeds were used to an increasing extent and thus increasingly took over the place of the old country pigs. These pigs, which were more boar-like, eventually became almost completely extinct.
Skåne Zoo and Linderödssvinen
When Skåne Zoo was established in 1952, a couple of pigs from the old tribe ended up here in the park. It was really a happy coincidence, and all Linderöds pigs that exist today have their roots in the pigs that Skåne Djurpark took care of. In 1992, a gene bank investigation of the Linderöds pig was carried out and a total of eight pigs of this breed were then found. Today, the Linderödsgrisen is part of important conservation work and there are around 300 pigs in Sweden.
A resilient pig
The Linderöds pig is our only non-refined land breed, which means that it still has a large variation within the breed. The pigs come in a variety of colors and they are well adapted to our Nordic climate. They like it best if they can be outdoors all year round, bark and take lovely mud baths.
