Liangguang Small-spotted Pig

Liangguang Small-spotted Pig

　　The Liangguang Small-spotted Pig is one of China’s locally renowned pig breeds, known for traits such as early sexual maturity, quick fattening, and strong maternal instincts. However, due to its slow growth rate, concave back, and relatively low feed efficiency, it has not been widely promoted.

　　Distribution of the Liangguang Small-spotted Pig

　　It is found in the southern parts of the Yujiang and Xijiang River basins near the Guangdong-Guangxi border. Its primary production regions include Luchuan, Yulin, Hepu, Gaozhou, Huazhou, Wuchuan, and Yunan. The Liangguang Small-spotted Pig boasts advantages such as early maturity and fast fattening, along with strong mothering abilities. However, it also has a concave back, large drooping belly, slow growth, and relatively poor feed conversion efficiency.

　　Physical Characteristics

　　The Liangguang Small-spotted Pig is small in size, characterized by short body and legs. It features a short head, short neck, short ears, compact body, short legs, and a short tail—hence it is also known as the “Six Shorts Pig.” Its forehead is broad with “〈〉”-shaped or diamond-patterned wrinkles, and a white triangular star in the center. The ears are small and spread outward. The back and loin are broad and slightly sunken, and the belly is large and drags on the ground. Body length and chest girth are nearly equal. The coat is black-and-white spotted, with the head, ears, back, loin, and hindquarters being black, while the rest is white.

　　Production Performance

　　1. Growth and Development: At six months old, female pigs weigh 38 kg, measure 79 cm in body length, and have a chest girth of 75 cm. Adult sows weigh 112 kg, are 125 cm long, and have a chest girth of 1.13 meters.

　　2. Reproductive Performance: They reach sexual maturity early. Male piglets develop sperm at around 70 days old. Female piglets begin estrus between four to five months of age when they weigh less than 30 kg. Most are bred for the first time at six to seven months old, weighing around 40 kg. First-time litters average eight piglets, while sows having three or more litters average ten piglets per birth.

　　3. Fattening Performance: According to data from Guangxi, fattening pigs gain an average of 309 grams per day from 11 kg to 87 kg. Each kilogram of weight gain consumes 4.22 kg of mixed feed and 3.42 kg of green fodder. When slaughtered at 75 kg, the dressing percentage is 67.72%. The carcass consists of 37.2% meat, 45.2% fat, 10.5% skin, and 7.1% bone.

　　Crossbreeding Utilization

　　When used as a dam line and crossed with introduced lean-meat pig breeds, a new hybrid variety is produced. Crossing with sire breeds such as Landrace, Yorkshire, and Berkshire improves traits in the first-generation offspring. In particular, first-generation crossbred pigs show daily weight gains exceeding 510 grams.