High-quality lean meat pigs from Xintai

High-quality lean meat pigs from Xintai

　　The high-quality lean meat pigs from Xintai are a local improved breed developed through three-way crossbreeding using local sows as the dam line and Yorkshire and Landrace boars as the sire line, followed by fixation through intercrossing. This breed boasts strong adaptability, rapid growth, excellent reproductive performance, high lean meat ratio, and fine meat quality.

　　　 Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the original pig breed in Xintai was the North China black pig. After the founding, more than ten superior pig breeds were introduced to Xintai, such as Yorkshire, Xinjin, Harbin White, Jinhua, Neijiang, and Beijing Black pigs, which were used to crossbreed and improve the local stock. The local black pigs were mainly of Laiwu black pig lineage, exhibiting the physique, appearance, and characteristics of Laiwu black pigs, with high litter sizes, strong maternal instincts, tolerance to coarse feed, and strong disease resistance.

　　　 In 1988, Xintai began using local black sows as dams and introduced Yorkshire boars as sires for two-way crossbreeding, vigorously promoting the complete set of technologies for commercial lean meat pig production. By 1991, two-way crossbreeding had become widespread, establishing Xintai as a county-level base for producing commercial lean meat pigs. The county won the Shandong Province “Golden Pig Cup” Award for contributions to animal husbandry and was recognized as an advanced unit in base construction. Building on this, three-way crossbreeding trials and promotion were initiated. In 1999, by introducing superior boars such as New Landrace and Duroc for three-way crossbreeding, a local breed was cultivated. A comprehensive system was established including five major service areas: breed improvement, breeding and propagation, disease prevention, feed supply, and technology extension. By 2000, three-way crossbreeding had become widespread, followed by fixation through intercrossing, resulting in the local high-quality lean meat pig breed of Xintai. These pigs are relatively large in size, predominantly white-coated, with only very few exhibiting small black spots. They have a well-integrated head and neck of moderate length, a rectangular face, medium-sized ears that droop slightly, a straight back and loin, sturdy and tall limbs, and well-developed hindquarter muscles. Sows have well-developed udders, averaging seven pairs of teats, while boars have well-developed and symmetrical features. According to tests by animal husbandry authorities, the average fattening period is 104.5 days, with an average daily weight gain of about 742.48 grams. The average consumption of concentrated feed is 225.56 kilograms, with an average feed-to-weight ratio of 2.93:1. At a body weight of 90 kilograms, the average dressing percentage is 71.37%, and the average lean meat ratio is 57.65%.

　　　 By 2000, Xintai had been established as a “National Demonstration County for High-Quality Lean Meat Pig Production,” with 150 high-quality lean meat pig breeding zones, 260 specialized villages, 2,100 large-scale farms, and 16,000 large-scale breeders. Large-scale breeding accounted for over 80% of the total pig production in the region. The city’s stock of high-quality lean meat pigs reached 620,000, with 1.1 million slaughtered annually. Among these, 110,000 were breeding sows, producing 2.2 million high-quality lean meat piglets per year. These piglets are sold to more than ten provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Guangxi. The total output value of pig farming reached 1.1 billion yuan.