Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs are dying out because of the rising popularity of a rival breed that starred in Downton Abbey says top breeder

A TOP breeder claims Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs are dying out — because of the popularity of a rival breed that starred in Downton Abbey.

Judy Hancox, 58, says the Oxford Sandy and Black pigs bred by Lady Mary in Downton have become more popular and sparked a rapid decline in Old Spots.

She said:"The Gloucestershire Old Spot has been done to death, it has been very fashionable for a long time," she said.

"The Oxford Sandy and Black just took over from the Gloucestershire Old Spot. They are still around but there is only a finite number of breeders."

According to the British Pig Association, with only 709 left, the breed is now considered 'at risk'.

Judy said: “The Downton story line was a big turn up for the Oxford.”

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Marcus Bates, chief executive of the British Pig Association, said: "Both are at risk of extinction, the threshold is 1,500 Gloucestershire sows and there are 709 – there is a long way to go.

"The situation has been a lot worse than it is today. In 1967 there were only 176 Gloucestershire sows.

"They were saved by a very dedicated group of breeders, if you think back to that sort of era, Sgt Pepper had only just been released, Greenpeace didn't exist, conservation was less mainstream than now."

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