Licences issued for Welsh boars increased dramatically from 41 in 1949 to 1,363 in 1954. The number of pedigree Welsh sows also increased greatly, rising from 850 in 1952 to 3,736 in 1954. This breed of pig became incredibly popular in the mid-20th century and became a crucial breed for the pig industry. The Howitt Committee was set up in 1955 to consider the future of the pig industry in the United Kingdom. It advised the government to concentrate production on three breeds, the Large White, the Landrace and the Welsh pig, and this led to a decline in the other native breeds. In 1973 the Rare Breeds Survival Trust was set up to try to prevent the extinction of many of the British traditional breeds. Nowadays, the Welsh pig is not so widely kept as a pure breed but is used extensively in cross-breeding programmes. By 2005, the number of registered breeding animals had dwindled and the Welsh pig was declared "endangered", and later reclassified as a rare breed. This was due to changes in consumer habits and the large numbers of hybrid pigs being produced by the corporate farming industry, which resulted in a dwindling in the pure bred pig population. In 2008 there were 373 registered females from 24 bloodlines, and 108 registered males. By 2012, the numbers had grown, and there were 837 registered females and 238 registered males. The modern Welsh has a moderately wide head with lopped ears and a straight nose. The ears do not quite extend as far as the snout. The neck is moderately deep and the shoulders are flat at the top, supporting a long, strong and level back. The forelegs are set widely apart and the rib cage is deep. The tail is thick and smooth at the root and the underline of the animal is straight. The loin is well-muscled and the flank and belly are thick. The hind-quarters are strong but not flabby, with well-rounded hams that are firm and thick. The hind legs are of moderate length, straight with good bone and set widely apart. The skin is thin and unwrinkled and the coat is fine and straight. Welsh pigs are generally white in colour but sometimes have a few black spots. Both sexes have at least twelve teats. Boars are generally about in weight and sows range from about . In the nineteenth century, the Welsh was described to have rather long legs and to be a razorback whilst being a slow maturer and coarse-haired. The Welsh pig is a hardy animal and thrives both indoors and in more extensive outdoor systems.