Although archaeologists found that cattle, sheep, goats, chickens and dogs were brought into South Africa by early migrants, the archaeological evidence for their ownership of pigs is not so certain. Ancient Egyptians depicted a small breed of pig with a bristly mane but this does not resemble the Kolbroek pig. This breed is also known as a Lard Pig by virtue of its huge accumulation of fat.
Kolbroek pigs are very short with pricked ears and a squashed face. The breed is dark coloured being either black or brown and are often striped at birth. These stripes may have been the origin of the name Kolbroek (breech markings).
This breed resembles a breed of pig common in China. There is evidence that a sailing ship, belonging to the Dutch East India Company was wrecked off the coast at Cape Hangklip and that the pigs on board fell into the hands of farmers who had settled in the area. The name of this ship was the Colebrook. The origin of both the pig and its name is therefore in dispute!
It seems a possibility that there is truth in most of the rumours. The breed is probably descended from pigs introduced into the country but their origin may never be known.
A Kolbroek sow
The Kolbroek is extremely hardy and survives by scavenging outside huts or homesteads. This makes the pig ideal for rural areas where intensive farming is not possible.
Although it is maintained that all pig breeds were introduced by Europeans, it can be seen that the Windsnyer quite closely resembles the description of the ancient Egyptian breed which are small and have bristles forming a distinct mane. Like many of the indigenous domestic animals they have a large colour variation being either black, reddish-brown, brown, black and white or spotted. Some of the young even have longitudinal stripes which are typical of the young bushpig. The name Windsnyer (wind-cutter) is derived from its shape as it is narrow-bodied, long-nosed and razor-backed.
The Windsnyer
Like the Kolbroek, this pig is very hardy and scavenges for its food. It can convert food with a low nutrient content very efficiently, enabling it to survive on food such as the cereal by-products of brewing. It has been shown that the 570 kg food needed by one pig of an imported breed to produce a litter of ten piglets, is sufficient for two and a half indigenous sows and a combined litter of 20 piglets. The Windsnyer is also able to survive periods of food shortage. The pig is an excellent mother which results in very few piglet deaths.
In Zimbabwe where the breed is more common, it is maintained that the meat is better than that of the imported breeds.
Further information is available from jbester@arc.agric.za
