The Tamworth is one of the great dual purpose pigs producing both great pork and bacon but they grow slower compared to other pigs and for that reason they are rarely raised by profit farmers. The Tamworth is very hardy, allowing it to be kept in a range of environments such as rough pasture, forest and meadowland. Thanks to their thick, coarse coat they are ideally suited to living outdoors all year round. As forager pigs, they are most closely related the forest boar of medieval times rather than the modern quick-fattening commercial breeds.