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Olivia

CULTURAL LIVING HERITAGE
‘the last of their kind’

A series about endangered pet breeds

Olivia, Bonte Bentheimer

This is Olivia, a Bonte Bentheimer with a friendly character. She’s wandering around nicely the oak trees in the barnyard – as it used to be. You recognize the loose hoes farm Twente. Olivia and her ancestors are originally from this border region and owe their generic name to the German town nearby; Bad Bentheim.

Pigs have traditionally been found on Dutch farms. Wandering around they searched put together a meal themselves – often leftover food from humans – and were so easy to keep. In winter they guaranteed a nice portion of meat.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century there were two types of pigs left in the Netherlands: a small straight-eared pig and a large specimen with large lobe ears. By crossing From foreign breeds the old Dutch pig breeds as we know them now arose: the Bonte Bentheimer and the Dutch Land Pig. The Bonte Bentheimer is known for its fatty meat. Previously a pre, but since the years sixty is a defect in the eyes of the consumer. Leaner pork became popular, after which it deteriorated sharply with the Bonte Bentheimer. In the nineties the breed was even that good as extinct in the Netherlands.

After purchasing a number of foreign Bentheimers and the establishment of the Fokkersclub Dutch Country Pig in 2005, light once again appeared on the horizon. In 2009 there was even an association and associated studbook for the Bonte Bentheimer. But ironically, the increasing demand for fattier pork – because of the rich taste – probably still the best news for this breed.

Status: critical
Number of sows: 80
Trend in the last 15 years: stable

Thanks to:
Julia van Zuuver, Roel te Velde (owner Olivia), Familie Nijhuis (Farm Denekamp) and Fair Vechtdal Meat.

Short about the series
CULTURAL LIVING HERITAGE
‘the last of their kind’

A series on rare pet breeds; the first domesticated (agricultural) pets in danger of extinction. The process of disappearing varieties and crops has accelerated greatly in the last 70 years. I want to stimulate that awareness and the discussion about animal welfare in a positive way through this project. The series should give a nice insight into the different races and their identities. An ode to the dying breed with recognition for the cultural landscape of the provinces where the breed originated or was common. By showing how it used to be or looked like, or should look like, connecting with now.