Welcome to Rectory Reserve, home of the Curly Coat pig in Lincolnshire.

Based in the Wolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty, we have been breeding this distinctive rare breed since 2007 although our other animals – horses, dogs, cat, ducks and chickens – have lived with us here since 1999.

The original Lincolnshire Curly Coat pig became extinct in the early 1970s. However, during the last century several hundred were exported to Austria and Hungary to cross-breed with, and improve, the native Mangalitza curly coat pig – itself a rare breed which had been facing extinction in the second half of the last century. About a dozen Mangalitza sows and three boars were imported to the UK, for the first time, in 2006. Our original pigs – Mangal, Wurzel, Ginger and Pepper - came from the first litters of these imports to be born in England.

Curly Coat pigs are extremely versatile; their black skin enables them to live outside under the hottest sun whilst their dense coats keep them snug in all but the harshest of winters. Furthermore, they love people and, in our experience, other animals too! This makes them ideal for the ‘cottager’ and ‘smallholder’ as well as for farm parks and other centres where animals are ‘visitor attractions’.

Our vision is to develop a sustainable future for the Curly Coat pig in Lincolnshire. This encompasses breeding and selling the pigs whilst also developing a market for their products. Their meat is as distinctive as the animal itself: marked by an unmistakeable nutty flavour. It is ideal for smoking and curing, lending itself equally to ‘Parma’ style ham and piquant ‘chorizo’ type sausages and to more traditional ‘English’ sausages and flavoursome bacon. The lard is pure white and slow to carbonise which means that it can be cooled, stored in the refrigerator and re-used. Additionally, research has shown it to be low in cholesterol and high in Omega 3 which is particularly appealing to the health-conscious cook

Rectory Reserve Delivery information

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