Xiangxi Black Pig

Xiangxi Black Pig

The Xiangxi Black Pig is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　    It is a specialty of Xiangxi Prefecture in Hunan Province.

　　    The Xiangxi Black Pig originates from both banks of the middle and lower reaches of the Yuan River in Hunan Province. Its main breeding centers are located in Pushi Town, Puyang, and Changping in Luxi County; Daheping, Qijiachi, and Huochang in Yuanling County; and Chehuwan, Maocaojie, Fengshu, Zoushi, and Sanchagang in Taoyuan County. Most regions between the Wuling and Xuefeng Mountains in western Hunan lie at elevations above 1,000 meters, with small red-bed basins scattered along the rivers. The area features mountainous terrain with limited flat land and extensive, rather crude farming practices. Pig farming typically involves daytime grazing and nighttime pen feeding. Both Pushi and Taoyuan are small towns situated in basins. The main crops are rice and cotton, supplemented by broad beans and sesame. Local small-scale grain processing workshops produce agricultural products, and thanks to convenient water and land transportation as well as numerous nearby markets, there is a strong demand for piglets, leading to a long-standing tradition of raising breeding sows.

　　    Place of origin and distribution: The Xiangxi Black Pig is also known as the Taoyuan Black Pig, Pushi Black Pig, or Daheping Pig. It originates from both banks of the middle and lower reaches of the Yuan River in Hunan Province. Its main breeding centers are located in Pushi Town, Puyang, and Changping in Luxi County; Daheping, Qijiachi, and Huochang in Yuanling County; and Chehuwan, Maocaojie, Fengshu, Zoushi, and Sanchagang in Taoyuan County. The Xiangxi Black Pig is distributed across counties such as Guzhang, Dayong, and Chenxi, and is also sold to neighboring areas including Cili, Shimen, Changde, and Linli.

　　    Growing environment: Most regions between the Wuling and Xuefeng Mountains in western Hunan lie at elevations above 1,000 meters, with small red-bed basins scattered along the rivers. The area features mountainous terrain with limited flat land and extensive, rather crude farming practices. Pig farming typically involves daytime grazing and nighttime pen feeding. Both Pushi and Taoyuan are small towns situated in basins. The main crops are rice and cotton, supplemented by broad beans and sesame. Local small-scale grain processing workshops produce agricultural products, and thanks to convenient water and land transportation as well as numerous nearby markets, there is a strong demand for piglets, leading to a long-standing tradition of raising breeding sows.

　　    Physical characteristics: The Xiangxi Black Pig has a relatively sturdy build; its head is of medium size, with variations between long and short types. The forehead features varying degrees of “介”-shaped or “八”-shaped wrinkles, and the ears droop. The midsection is slightly elongated, the back and loin are broad and flat, the belly is large but does not drag on the ground, and the rump is slightly sloped. The limbs are thick and strong, with few pigs having a lying stance. The coat is black, occasionally with white patches appearing at the body’s extremities. There are about seven pairs of teats.

　　    Breed performance: Adult Xiangxi Black Boars have an average weight of 126.83 ± 4.27 kg, body length of 135.33 ± 1.21 cm, chest circumference of 116.00 ± 1.62 cm, and body height of 71.33 ± 1.39 cm. Adult sows have corresponding measurements of 102.82 ± 1.76 kg, 127.14 ± 0.63 cm, 108.36 ± 0.04 cm, and 66.55 ± 0.29 cm. They reach sexual maturity early—boars can be used for breeding at 4–6 months, while sows begin estrus at 3–4 months. First-time litters consist of 6–7 piglets, and experienced sows give birth to around 11. The daily weight gain during the fattening period is 280–300 grams. The slaughter rate is 73.2%, the eye muscle area is 21.5 square centimeters, the leg-to-rump ratio is 24.2%, and the lean meat percentage is 41.6%.

　　    Overall evaluation: The Xiangxi Black Pig has a sturdy build, straight back and loin, a belly that does not drag, and strong limbs. It is highly adaptable and tolerant of extensive feeding and management practices. Fattened pigs have a high slaughter rate and strong late-stage fat deposition ability. It is an excellent local pig breed suitable for mountainous areas and serves as a good parent breed for leveraging hybrid vigor in the middle and lower reaches of the Yuan River in Hunan, as well as parts of Xiangxi. However, the appearance and production performance of breeding pigs in the production area are not yet entirely uniform.