A RARE herd of plump, pink pigs has just arrived at a Lakeland farmstead in a bid to save their kind from becoming a footnote in the annals of swine breeding history.

Some 49 Welsh breed pigs have moved into the pens of Bridgefield Farm at Lowick, near Ulverston. Farmer John Sutcliffe has taken them in at his Rare Breed Survival Trust Pig Finishing Unit as part of an effort to safeguard the breed's future Welsh pigs were this month officially recognised by the British Pig Association as "at risk of extinction" after a survey revealed there were only 405 registered sows in 32 herds. More worryingly, half the sows are in five herds, leaving the breed vulnerable should those farms be hit by disease.

In the 1950s, Welsh breed pigs were one of three chosen by the Government to be the foundation of the modern British pig industry because they produced a good commercial carcase. But they have fallen out of favour to hybrid breeds which fatten-up faster and offer leaner meat.

"Cheap foreign imports have made it a commercial necessity to produce meat quickly," said Mr Sutcliffe. "But British agriculture has been so successful in producing cheap, tasteless food it's taken the pleasure out of eating meat."

To put the pleasure back in to bacon butties, sausage suppers and pork roasts, Mr Sutcliffe is one of a number of rare breed farmers pursuing the quality meat niche market and investing in old varieties valued for their flavour.

Pedigree sows and boars are retained for breeding while their offspring join the food chain in keeping with the trust's motto Eat them to keep them.

The Welsh pigs have now earned their place in Mr Sutcliffe's collection of Gloucester Old Spots, Tamworths and British Saddlebacks.

"Welsh breed pigs are worth saving, they are tasty pigs," he said. "They have marbling in the meat and a larger layer of fat than commercial meat which improves the cooking quality. It is tasty and succulent."

The progeny of his Welsh pigs will soon be passed to Aireys Butchers Shop at Ayside beside the A590, which handles all Mr Sutcliffe's rare breed meat and turns it into cookable cuts and sausages.

Aside from their worth on the plate, rare breed pigs are becoming increasingly popular as pets and hobby herds.

"There are more people keeping them," reported Mr Sutcliffe. "They are incredibly biddable things. They like human contact."

In keeping with the rise in popularity, The Westmorland County Show is putting pig classes into the main ring this year. Pigs were on the bill for the first time in 2003 and, such was the enthusiastic response, organisers have decided to give them a bigger billing.

At the September show there will be competitions for the traditional and modern breeds and obstacle courses for junior handlers and their pet pigs and another one for adults although they will be paired with someone else's pig to add to the difficulty.

"It shows a bit of a change in this area," said show chairman Rodger Read. "You have more hobby farmers keeping livestock now. People just love pigs."