Tongcheng Pig

Tongcheng Pig

Tongcheng Pig is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Tongcheng Pig is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The Tongcheng Pig production area is located in the low mountainous and hilly regions of the Mufu Mountains in Hubei Province, with the central production area in Tongcheng County. The region mostly features sandy loam soil, while southern Jiangnan typically has

　　red and yellow soils. It lies within a subtropical climate zone, with an average annual temperature of around 16°C and significant temperature differences between winter and summer. Crops are grown two to three times a year, primarily rice, along with dryland crops such as tubers, barley, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, rapeseed, sorghum, corn, and cotton. The area is rich in produce and is known as a “land of fish and rice.” Grain processing, flour milling, and brewing industries are well-developed, with abundant agricultural by-products. There is also a plentiful supply of green fodder and wild grass throughout all seasons, providing excellent conditions for the development of pig farming.

　　[Geographical Distribution]

　　Tongcheng Pigs are distributed across counties including Chongyang, Puchi, Tongshan, Xianning, Wuchang, Echeng, and Daye.

　　[Breed Characteristics]

　　Tongcheng Pigs have short, wide heads with many diamond-shaped wrinkles on the forehead. Those with deep, coarse wrinkles are called “Lion Heads,” while those with long, straight heads and fine, shallow wrinkles are called “Wanzi Heads” or “Oil-Spout Barrels.” Their ears are medium-sized and droop. Their backs and waists are often slightly concave, and their limbs are relatively sturdy, though those raised in confinement year-round often have splayed feet. Their coat color is “black at both ends, white in the middle,” meaning the head, neck, hips, and tail are black, with a 2–3 cm wide band of black skin bearing white hair at the junction of black and white, known as the “halo band.” The torso and limbs are white, with a small tuft of white hair on the forehead called the “brush tassel flower” or “white star.” Some pigs have white hair extending to the nose tip, called “broken head flower,” and some have white hair at the tail tip. A few pigs have one or two irregular black patches on the torso, called “waist flowers” or “speckled pigs.” The black areas on the head and tail are relatively small, and the black zones often connect at the crown via the temples, referred to as “nodding black tail.” They usually have 6–7 pairs of teats.

　　[Breed Performance]

　　Adult Tongcheng boars weigh 97.01±5.64 kg, measure 122.45±2.10 cm in body length, 107.30±2.17 cm in chest girth, and 68.71±1.16 cm in height. Adult sows weigh 94.38±5.05 kg, measure 120.00±0.35 cm in body length, 107.69±0.36 cm in chest girth, and 60.96±0.18 cm in height. Tongcheng Pigs are early-maturing, prone to fattening, have fine bones, a relatively high lean meat ratio, and tender meat. However, their hindquarters are not very full, and their body structure is somewhat loose.

　　Tongcheng Pig

　　Geographic Scope

　　The production area of Tongcheng Pigs covers 11 townships: Junshui Town, Shinan Town, Beigang Town, Wuli Town, Magang Town, Shadui Town, Guandao Town, Maishi Town, Tanghu Town, Daping Township, and Sizhuang Township, encompassing 167 administrative villages and 4 state-owned forest farms. The total area is 1,140.7 square kilometers. The geographical coordinates are longitude 113°36′ to 114°4′ and latitude 29°2′ to 29°24′. In 2010, the Tongcheng County production area had 728,700 pigs slaughtered and 375,500 pigs in stock, including 43,300 breeding sows.

　　Product Quality and Characteristic Features

　　1. External Sensory Characteristics: Tongcheng Pigs are of medium build, with a coat color described as “black head, black tail, one star.” The head, neck, hips, and tail are black, the torso and limbs are white, and there is a small tuft of white hair on the forehead. The snout is light red, the ears are medium-sized and droop. Head types vary based on the length of the face and the depth of forehead wrinkles, categorized as “Wanzi Heads” and “Straight Heads.” The neck is of moderate length, the back and waist are slightly concave or straight, the belly is large and drooping, with 6–8 pairs of teats, and the limbs are sturdy. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: The meat of Tongcheng Pigs is tender, bright red in color, and has a unique flavor. The muscle protein content is 18%–19.49%; total fat is 9.23%–18.56%; cholesterol is 50.12 mg/100g–57.35 mg/100g. It is rich in 17 types of amino acids, with a total amino acid content of 16.45%–18.2%. 3. Product Quality and Safety Requirements: Strictly comply with the “Production Environment Evaluation Standard” (NY/T5295—2004), “NY5032—2006 Pollution-Free Feed and Feed Additive Use Guidelines for Livestock and Poultry,” and “NY5032—2006 Pollution-Free Veterinary Drug Use Guidelines for Livestock and Poultry Raising.”