Does anyone know of or have any infomation reguarding the Kentucky Mule Foot Hog? Also Would like to find pure Berkshires. Thanks Nathan

-- Nathan Harris Sr. (barnyard_mini@yahoo.com), June 17, 2001

Answers

The Mulefoot Hog may not even exist today. Last I heard there were only two breeders left in the U.S. and that was some years ago. The undated Countryside article I have in my files gives a breeder as R.M. Holiday, Rt 2, Box 266, Louisianna, MO 63353. However, it noted he was elderly at that time and he didn't want to fool with the paperwork to transport breeding stock out of MO. If you can track her down, the article was submitted by Deborah S. Wechsler of Chapel Hill, NC.

The only thing which really differentiates the mule foot from other hogs is their unusual fused toes, which form a single hoof instead of a cloven foot. Apparently some type of genetic mutation. At one time there was interest in them as possibly a way to get around some religions stipulation about eating meat from a cloven animal.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), June 18, 2001.

National Mulefoot Hog Association
Kevin Powell 12942 - 338th Street
Strawberry Point, IA 52076
ph (319) 933-2252
email powellk@squared.com

---

If you go to http://www.mapregistry.com/General/species.html then you will be able to sign up for a mailing list with information that will be sent to you.

---

http://www.i5ive.com/welcome.cfm/10456
Heritage Breeds
By Laura Phillips
Welcome to Heritage Breeds, dedicated to the preservation of the unique poultry and livestock breeds that are the foundation stock for today's top hybrids. Whether you're a breeder, hobby farmer, or just curious about these old-style animals, I hope you'll find the articles, discussions, and links here at the site useful.

10 Apr 2001
Mulefoot Hogs - Uncommon and Hardy The critically rare Mulefoot hog survives thanks to preservationists who value its unique genetics and hardy, thrifty nature.

---

Hope this pans out for you. Tell me what you find out.

-- William in Wi (gnarledmaw@lycos.com), June 18, 2001.

Twenty-some years ago my husband went on wild pig hunt in Ky or Tn, I forget which. Anyway, he killed a huge mule-foot hog. This was on some kind of preserve.

-- ruth in se illinois (bobtravous@email.com), June 18, 2001.

I guess I am scratching my head as to how a non-cloven footed hog could help out in a religious dietary situation. The rules stipulate that all animals clean enough to eat are both cloven footed AND cud- chewers. The hog did not qualify even if it did have cloven feet, because it fell short in the cud-chewing department. Now, if someone could come up with a cud-chewing hog, they could get rich quick, I guarantee.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), June 18, 2001.

Go to www.google.com, do a search. There's plenty of info. Whatever the question, always do a google search.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), June 19, 2001.

A few links that will help -

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

Department of Animal Science - Oklahoma State University

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), June 21, 2001.