No less than five breeds have shown sufficient increases in the numbers of registered breeding females to be moved down a category.

With no pig breeds in the critical category, the move of the Middle White down to category 3 (vulnerable), leaves the British Lop is now the only pig breed identified as endangered. Tamworths, Welsh and Berkshires have moved from category 3 (vulnerable) to category 4 (at risk), while the British Saddleback has moved from category 4 to category 5 (minority).

In announcing these changes, RBST also points out that there could be potential for even greater improvement in the figures if more pedigree litters were birth notified. Trustee Viki Mills said, “The RBST Watchlist only takes into account registered breeding sows. From the data collected for the 2010 Pig Bloodline Survey it is evident that there are breeders of pedigree animals who are failing to birth notify their litters, which they need to do for pigs to be entered in the Herd Book. Pigs from these un-recorded litters are permanently excluded from pedigree breeding and do not, therefore, contribute to the conservation of their particular breed. We are, therefore, urging all breeders with pedigree animals to ensure that litters that could be entered in the Herd Book are birth notified.”