Hemley Hill Farm – British Lop Pigs for Sale
We champion native rare breed animals, and in Spring 2020 added fantastic floppy-eared British Lop Pigs to our farm near Princes Risborough.
Sadly, due to commercial pig breeding Lop Pig numbers are dwindling, and the breed is currently listed as ‘Priority’ on the 2024/25 RBST endangered watchlist.
The British Lop (also known as the ‘Cornish Lop’) originated from lop-eared white pigs that lived on farms throughout south west England for centuries. When food production upscaled in the 1950s, bacon and pork production focused on just three large pig breeds, the Large White, the Landrance and the Welsh pig, pushing the demand for Lop Pigs to an all time low.
Its plight came to the attention of the RBST and the British Lop has been listed as a rare breed for over four decades. Thankfully, although still scarce, Lop herds are re-emerging – like ours – across the country.
What makes the British Lop Pig so distinctive?
We could talk about our Lops until the cows come home, so to sum up here are our favourite Lop characteristics:
- Despite being a large breed (Boars weigh in at around 350 kg) Lops are largely docile and easy to manage – our love rootling around the fields all day and are fantastic foragers
- Long and lean, Lops are white in colour with large floppy ears
- Lop pigs make excellent, attentive mother pigs and have large litters
- Our Lops are reared slowly and outdoors which makes a huge difference to the taste – its good balance of intramuscular fat gives the pork a delicious, creamy texture
- Quality Lop pork and ham looks amazing (not a wiry hair in sight!) and presents beautifully on butcher counters
As big fans of the British Lop Pig, we are keen to conserve and keep this wonderful British breed going, and you can help too.
Buy Lop Pig Pork! Our premium pork can be found exclusively at Block and Butcher, Wendover, who are 100% committed to flying the flag for traditional native breeds. Visit www.blockandbutcher.uk for more information.
Breed Lop Pigs! Help ensure their survival by breeding them or if you’d like some weaners to raise for your own pork production just let us know!
We sometimes have British Lop Pigs for sale, contact us today. *NO WEANERS/PIGS AVAILABLE AT THE MOMENT – When more are available they’ll be advertised here – keep an eye on our site for details.
What Is The Love A Lop Pig Campaign?
The Love A Lop campaign aims to raise public awareness of the British Lop Pig and it’s benefits to breeders, butchers, chefs and consumers. It is a structured campaign that works through media presence, chef endorsement, branding and marketing materials. The Love A Lop campaign aims to make British Lop pork a household name, as Aberdeen Angus has become to beef – we want people to ‘think British Lop’ when they think of pork.
A few ways you can make a difference
In helping to raise awareness and increase demand for British Lop pork, you are helping to remove this species from the RBST endangered species list and ensure its survival into the future.
- Ask your local butcher for Rare Breed British Lop Pork.
- Ask what breed is being served in your local restaurant – ask if they serve British Lop pork and explain why they should!
- If you’ve enjoyed it, spread the word! Help us to create the ‘buzz’ that will heighten awareness of the breed and help to drive sales.
- Support our campaign to re-introduce rare breeds to our menus.
- If British Lop pork isn’t on your menu yet, take the plunge and hang your hat on this breed. It is a premium product that your customers will return for.
- Choose rare breed. The quality of rare breed pork is higher due to the rearing process – the pigs are reared slowly for taste rather than leanness and mass production.
