Emola Farm sells Berkshire pigs at our farm in Mabank, Texas. Berkshire is one of the few hog breeds buyers ask for by name, and the reason is usually the same: they are raising a pig to eat. Call 903-880-0124 to find out whether we have Berkshires on the farm right now.
Because we buy and sell continuously rather than farrowing to a schedule, Berkshire availability moves. If we do not have one today, tell us what you are looking for and we will let you know where things stand.
What a Berkshire Looks Like
Berkshires are black with six white points — four white feet, white on the nose, and white on the tip of the tail. They have erect ears and a shorter, slightly dished face than most commercial breeds. The markings are distinctive enough that once you have seen one you will not mistake it for anything else.
The breed traces back to the county of Berkshire in England and is one of the oldest recorded hog breeds in the world.
Why People Choose Berkshires
Berkshire’s reputation rests on meat quality rather than growth rate.
- Marbling. Berkshire pork carries more intramuscular fat than most modern commercial breeds, which is what produces flavor and keeps the meat from drying out.
- Color and texture. The meat is typically darker and firmer than standard commercial pork.
- Reputation in the trade. Berkshire is the breed behind the pork sold in Japan as Kurobuta, and it is the breed most often specified by name by chefs and by families who care what the finished product tastes like.
The honest trade-off: Berkshires generally do not grow as fast or as lean as a Duroc or a Hampshire. If you are optimizing for pounds of lean meat in the shortest time, another breed will beat it. If you are optimizing for how the pork eats, this is the one.
Berkshire vs. the Other Breeds We Carry
| Breed | Best known for | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | Marbling and eating quality | Families raising a pig for the freezer |
| Duroc | Fast growth, heavy muscling | Buyers who want weight on quickly |
| Hampshire | Lean carcass, show ring presence | 4-H and FFA families |
| Yorkshire | Large litters, good mothers | Anyone building a breeding herd |
Raising a Berkshire in Texas
One point deserves emphasis with this breed specifically: Berkshires are black, and black pigs absorb heat. In a North Texas or East Texas summer, shade is not a nicety. A Berkshire with no shade and no way to cool off is at real risk on a July afternoon.
Give them shade, constant clean water, and ideally a wallow or a sprinkler. Pigs do not sweat, and the darker the animal the more this matters.
Beyond that they are straightforward. Berkshires are generally calm and easy to handle, which makes them a reasonable choice for a first pig or a family project. Fence for rooting rather than jumping — hog panels or heavy woven wire, anchored well at the bottom.
Berkshire Feeder Pigs and Piglets
We handle Berkshires at different stages depending on what comes through:
- Berkshire feeder pigs — weaned, started, and ready to grow out. The most common way to buy.
- Berkshire piglets — younger and smaller, for buyers who want the animal from the start.
- Berkshire breeding stock — gilts, sows, and boars, when available.
Where We Are
Emola Farm, 759 VZ CR 2704, Mabank, Texas 75147 — near Cedar Creek Lake in Van Zandt County, an easy drive from Athens, Canton, Kaufman, Terrell, Gun Barrel City, Corsicana, Tyler, and the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have Berkshire pigs for sale right now?
Availability changes weekly. Call 903-880-0124 and we will tell you what is on the farm and send you a photo.
What does a Berkshire pig cost?
It depends on size, age, and whether the animal is a feeder pig or breeding stock. We quote current prices by phone.
Are your Berkshires registered?
Ask when you call and we will tell you exactly what the animal is and what paperwork, if any, comes with it.
Is Berkshire pork actually better?
For flavor and marbling, most people who have eaten both think so, and the market prices it that way. For growth rate and lean yield, other breeds do better. Buy the breed that matches what you want out of the animal.
Do you sell wild hogs?
No. Emola Farm handles domestic breeds only.