about us

The Large Black Pig is one of the oldest heritage pig breeds, originally developed in England during the late 1800s. It quickly became prized for its ability to thrive outdoors, its docile nature, and its ability to turn pasture and foraged feed into flavorful, marbled pork. This earned them their nickname as "the bacon pig".

• Appearance: True to its name, the breed is all black with large, floppy ears that often cover the eyes. These ears help protect against sunburn and insects when foraging.
• Temperament: Known for being gentle, calm, and easy to manage, qualities that make them ideal for pasture-based systems.
• Size: A large-bodied pig with long, deep sides, making them efficient meat producers while still maintaining balance and mobility.

• The breed was established by crossing Cornish black pigs and Devon pigs, creating a strong outdoor grazer suited to the English and American climate.
• By the mid-20th century, the Large Black was widespread in England, prized for its flavorful pork and bacon.
• With the rise of commercial pork production, focus changed to fast-growing pig breeds, allowing the Large Black pig breed to fall out of favor.
• Large Black pigs are now considered a rare heritage breed, listed as “vulnerable” by organizations such as The Livestock Conservancy.

• Meat Quality: Richly marbled, juicy, and tender pork with a depth of flavor often compared to fine beef.
• Specialty Cuts: Particularly renowned for bacon and cured meats, thanks to its fat quality and unique flavor profile.
• Artisanal Appeal: Chefs and food lovers seek out Large Black pork for its distinct taste and the ethical story behind its pasture-based production.

Raising Large Black Pigs supports:

• Biodiversity – Protecting an endangered heritage breed.
• Sustainability – Outdoor, pasture-raised pigs improve soil health and live in harmony with the land.
• Tradition – Preserving the old-world flavor and farming practices that connect us to the past.

Lowry Family Pastures began as a passion project shared by Bryan and Melanie Lowry. When Bryan is not spending time with the herd, he is automating spreadsheets in his accounting day job.  Melanie brings her knowledge of supply chain management to this venture, allowing her to spend time doing what she loves. They both share a love of the outdoors, farm life, and the entrepreneur spirit.  With a strong interest in hobby farming and quality food production, they settled on learning all they could about this heritage breed, The Large Black Pig. 

To create a vibrant farm with heritage breeds, produce the highest quality meat products, and to offer the best tasting pork products in the region.  To meet our customers' demand for delicious pork while providing our pigs with the care and environment they deserve.

While Melanie and Bryan together run their farm business, they know they could not have embarked on this venture without the help of some very patient friends and mentors that were willing and able to teach them the ropes and help them ignite their dream.

To bridge the gap between farm and table, connecting people closer to the food they eat.  To revive the Large Black pig breed and share our joy with our community in the process.

We offer traditional full and partial pork product packages, allowing you to choose the right cuts for your needs. You'll find whole hog and half hog options in our online store already. Our smaller package options are coming soon.

We have partnered with one of the best USDA processing facilities in the area, allowing us to package our artisan cuts with the highest quality standards.  

When you buy from Lowry Family Pastures, not only are you buying delicious premium pork; you are also supporting small business, local farming, and a cleaner way of life.  When you support small businesses like Lowry Family Pastures, you help make a difference.