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I took this portrait of Sooki sometime around 1933. I'll bet it is the only portrait you will find of Hampshire hog on the Internet. This breed of swine originated in England and was introduced to the United States in the early 1800s. Hampshire swine are black with a white belt encircling the front of the body including the front legs and feet. They are meaty, medium-sized hogs with a smooth appearance and are active and alert animals.
I grew Sooki from a little pig. We bought her as a little pig from a local farmer. She was well cared for and grew quickly. We had not grown pigs for several years and had to rebuilt the pen for Sooki. I feed her surplus vegetables. I tried feeding her scrap Irish potatoes and at first she turned them down. But, after a few days of coaxing, she developed a taste for them.
Sooki had a pleasant personality. She loved to be scratched with a corn cob. She would lay on her side and grunt contented, somewhat like a cat purring. I grew fond of Sooki, and tried not to think of her future. Later she became a fine mother, but I tell you more about that right HERE
Sooki loved her food. I used to mix up a bucket of middlings and water and Sooki had a ear like Pavlov's dogs. When she heard the bucket stirring uphill she would start squealing. And when I approached the pig pen, she would stand up to greet me. It took a lot of timing and skill to get her out of the way and dump the bucket of slops in the trough. Then she would lay down in the trough and slurp up the tasty mix. That's what you call good pig etiquette.
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