Kolbroek

Kolbroek Varke

Oorsprong van die ras

Daar bestaan drie denkrigtings oor die oorsprong van die Kolbroek:

  • Die eerste verwys na ‘n skip, die Coalbrook wat in 1778 aan die Kaapse kus gestrand het
  • Die tweede teorie ondersteun die gedagte dat die Portugese die betrokke varke tydens die 15de eeu die land ingebring het. Varke is klaarblyklik deur hulle vir ruilhandel aangewend. Die spesifieke varke blyk van Chinese oorsprong te gewees het.
  • Die derde teorie ondersteun die gedagte dat die naam Kolbroek homself aan die kolle op die varke se vel ontleen het – Kol (kolle) en broek (boude)

Die ras is relatief univorm in voorkoms en bouvorm en word algemeen as ‘n unieke ras beskou.

Algemene beskrywing

Die Kolbroek is kleiner as die moderne Europese rasse en is oorwegend swart van kleur. Ligter kolle en patrone is redelik algemeen en die buik raak dikwels byna aan die grond. Die boude is goed ontwikkel en die bene is stewig (alhoewel fyn), met sterk kloutjies. Die Kolbroek is vroegryp ras wat stadiger as die moderne varkrasse groei. Dit het dikker rugvet teen 222 dae maar is nog ‘n klassieke spekvark, nog ‘n klassieke vleisvark. Dit kan dus met reg as ‘n dubbeldoel varkras beskou word. Die Kolbroek is ‘n plaaslik aangepaste vark wat oor die laaste bykans ‘n eeu nie deur telers geneties “verbeter” is nie.

Unieke eienskappe

  • Ideale grootte en bouvorm vir vryloop boerderystelsels
  • Goeie moedereienskappe en hoogs vrugbaar
  • Effektiewe omsetter en benutter van ruvoer
  • Vermoe om te wei en wortels en blaarmateriaal te benut
  • Oortollige vet kan van die karkas verwyder en as spek en varkvel van die hand gesit word
  • Mak geaardheid
  • Weerstandig teen stres
  • Potentiaal om as liefdevolle en inteliggente troeteldier te dien

Normale produksie omgewing

Gematigde tot warm klimaatstreke. Dikwels naby plattelandse nedersettings gevind, waar dit ‘n belangike rol as “opruimer” van afval organiese materiaal vervul.

Prestasie van die ras

Volwasse massa: <110kg
Ouderdom by eerste jong: 12 maande
Gemiddelde werpsel grootte: 7-8 varkies

Kolbroek Pigs

Origin of the Breed

There are three schools of thought about the origin of the Kolbroek:

  • The first refers to pigs on a ship, the Coalbrook that was wrecked on the Cape coast in 1778
  • The second school supports the theory that the Portuguese introduced pigs during the 15th century. Pigs were apparantly used for barter. The specific type of pig appeared to be of Chinese origin.
  • The third theory supports the claim that the name is derived from thes spots on the hams – hence kok (spot) broek (ham)

The breed is however, fairly uniform and is generally accepted as an indiginous breed.

General description

The Kolbroek is smaller in size than modern European breeds and is predominantly black in colour. Lighter spots and patterns are fairly common and it has a belly that almost touches the ground. The hams are fairly well developed and th legs, although slender, are sturdy with particularly strong feet. The Kolbroek is an early maturing breed that grows slower than modern breeds. It has a higher back fat thickness at 222 days. It is, however, neither a baconer nor a porker, larder or dual-purpose breed. It is rather a locally adapted pig that has not been genetically improved for nearly a century.

Qualities

  • Ideally sized for free range systems
  • Good mothering ability and high fertility
  • Efficient converter of high roughage rations
  • Ability to forage and digest root and leaf crops
  • Surplus fat can be reduced and sold as lard and crackling
  • Docile temperament
  • High stress lolerance
  • Potential as a companion animal (pet)

Normal production environment

Temperate to warm climates. Often found near rural villages where it plays an important role as a forager.
Breed and Performance Information
Mature weight: <110kg
Age at first breeding: 12 months
Average litter size: 7-8 piglets