Taoyuan Black Pig

Taoyuan Black Pig

The Taoyuan Black Pig is a protected geographical indication product.

The Taoyuan Black Pig is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　The Taoyuan Black Pig is a specialty of Taoyuan County, Changde City, Hunan Province. It features distinctive physical traits known as “trumpet-shaped snout, mantis-like neck, butterfly-shaped body, crucian carp belly, and carp tail.” The breed matures early, easily gains fat, has strong fat-storing capacity, delicious taste, and tender meat.

　　Also called the Yanyuan Black Pig, it is a dual-purpose breed for both meat and lard. It originated in areas around Chehuayuan, Qinglin (Maocaodian), Fengshu, and Zoushi in Taoyuan, with the pigs from Yanyuan in Chehuayuan being the best—hence the common name “Yanyuan Black Pig.” Today, the breed is distributed throughout Taoyuan County. Many purebred Taoyuan Black Pigs have also been introduced to parts of Changde City, Hunan Province, and the northern region of Qianyang.

　　The Taoyuan Black Pig adapts well to the intense summer heat and severe winter cold in Hunan. It is known for its ability to thrive on coarse feed, gentle temperament, and excellent fattening performance. Fattened pigs can reach about 100 kilograms in weight between 210 to 240 days old, with an average daily weight gain of over 400 grams. Researcher Xu Kexue from the former China Rural Development Research Center conducted a cluster analysis of 48 Chinese pig breeds based on 32 traits across four major categories—physical characteristics, reproduction, growth, and carcass—combined with ecological and geographical indicators. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, he determined that the Taoyuan Black Pig is the central breed among Chinese pigs and can be considered representative of them.

　　The Taoyuan Black Pig’s body size is intermediate between the Pushi Black Pig and the Dahuoping Pig. It has a relatively short and wide head, a large snout, and some pigs have upturned mouths. Its body is broad and deep, with a slightly shorter midsection, coarse and sparse hair, and slightly lighter black color, occasionally showing white spots at the body’s extremities. Male pigs have a higher front body, tails longer than the hock joint, and round tail stems; female pigs have a higher rear body, large non-dragging bellies, well-developed teats (7 to 8 pairs), evenly spaced, and sturdy, strong limbs.

　　The Taoyuan Black Pig has an appearance characterized by “trumpet-shaped snout, mantis-like neck, butterfly-shaped body, crucian carp belly, and carp tail.” This breed matures early, easily gains fat, has strong fat-storing capacity, delicious taste, and tender meat.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The protected geographical indication area for the Taoyuan Black Pig agricultural product spans the following coordinates: (111°36′41″E to 110°51′47″E, 29°24′08″N to 28°24′24″N). It includes 40 towns in Taoyuan County: Zhangjiang, Shen Shui Gang, Chehuayuan, Qinglin, Fengshu, Zoushi, Mutangyuan, Jiaqiao, Pantang, Mazongling, Qihé, Shuangxikou, Reshi, Haoping, Huangshi, Jiuxi, Huangjiapu, Ligonggang, Zhongjiapu, Niuchehe, Longtan, Guanyinsi, Sanyang, Shejiaping, Taipingqiao, Wuxihe, Niwotan, Jian Shi, Lingjintan, Xinglongjie, Siping, Zhengjiayi, Taohuayuan, Luhua, Shaping, Yangxiqiao, Chayuanpu, Taipingpu, Xi’an, and Guniushan. The total production area covers 4,442 square kilometers, with an annual output of 200,000 pigs. Among these, six towns—Zhangjiang, Shen Shui Gang, Qinglin, Chehuayuan, Fengshu, and Zoushi—are the core production areas, covering a total of 36,090 hectares with an annual output of 100,000 pigs.