Farm assistant Lisa with Inky and Gilda. Courtesy Tatton Park
Tatton Park's Home Farm is celebrating the arrival of eight rare saddleback piglets.
The prize porkers are a rare breed and stand out from their oinking inmates thanks to their unique markings - they are mainly black with a distinctive white band across their backs which runs down their front legs.
Among these cute octuplets is an unusual piglet called Inky. Although Inky has lovely black colouring, he has missed out on inheriting a saddle, boasting two white legs instead.
Lisa grapples with Gilda and Inky. Courtesy Tatton Park
British Saddlebacks are known to be very hardy, great grazers and particularly good mums, so staff at Tatton are hopeful that the latest litter will help to keep the breed alive and well.
"We're keeping our fingers crossed that there will be a pretty little gilt (a young female pig) amongst the litter, which will in turn remain on Home Farm in the future as a breeding sow, helping to conserve these rare pigs for future generations to enjoy," said Farm Assistant Lisa Kennedy.
You can see Inky and his brothers every weekend at the Farm during low season, which runs until March.
