The Pig of St Valentine: Heart Shaped Spots

We use to call "pig" an insensitive person. But why do we offend pigs this way? Pigs can be so romantic... While humans are desperate to make love woos and express their affection on Valentine's Day, this little English piglet offers us all its affection in an image.

Named, of course, Valentine, the female piglet is a star amongst the neighboring hogs after being born with an unusual, heart-shaped marking on its back. Her owner, Eric Freeman, was amazed by this pattern when the Gloucestershire Old Spot piglet was born just before the day of lovers.

"I've never seen markings like this before. It's very strange and quite funny with the timing," said the 75-year-old breeder, a founding member of the Gloucester Old Spot Pig Breeders' Club.

The 12-day-old odd piglet belongs to a litter of seven at the pig farm Freeman owns in Taynton, near Newent (Gloucestershire), Byford's Farm.

The special little animal has already got a protective mother, Mandi Lou.

"Some sows get really annoyed and squeal but Old Spots are known for being quiet. Mandi Lou was very good and didn't mind Valentine having her picture taken. I've bred thousands of Old Spot piglets over the years but this is the first ever to have such a clear heart-shaped mark. It couldn't be more appropriate with Valentine's Day just around the corner," said Freeman.

Freeman has been breeding Old Spots at Byford's Farm for 25 years.

"The breed has come back from near-extinction in the past few years. I think there are probably around 400 members of the breeders' club and they have spread far and wide. There has been a lot of interest because they are a fatty breed and it's a different taste to the normal type of pig - it's much more succulent," added Freeman.