Dongshan Pig

Dongshan Pig

The Dongshan Pig is a product with geographical indication.

　　According to oral historical records of the Dongshan Yao people and the *Fan Family Genealogy*, the ancestors of the Dongshan Yao were originally primitive "natives" combined with the clan led by Xiangqing, who migrated from Jiangxi to settle in Dongshan during the late Yuan Dynasty. The *Pan Deng Li Guiyin Sacrificial List* of the Dongshan Yao documents ancestral sacrifices from the Guangxu period to the third year of the Republic of China: “The Pan Faituan household of three, including the Huang woman...”; “...offered a sacrificial pig at the local earth god shrine en route to the Shewang Temple for ancestral peace”; “Pan Fadeg’s ancestral grave is located at Weisuan Chong Banling, where a sacrificial pig was offered at the Shewang Temple en route”; “Deng Meinai’s ancestral grave is buried at Yongxian Guan’s Youchayi Tian tou Pinglongdu, with a sacrificial pig offered at the Pingshe Wang Temple.” These records from the *Pan Deng Li Guiyin Sacrificial List* reveal that the Dongshan Yao began domesticating the Dongshan Pig shortly after settling in Dongshan during the late Yuan Dynasty. This document serves as evidence of the historical practice of Dongshan Pig breeding. Additionally, Professor Pan Fudong, who researches the history and culture of the Dongshan Yao, wrote in his book *Dongshan Yao Society*: “The Dongshan Pig was first raised in the early Ming Dynasty.” All these sources confirm that the Dongshan Pig has a history of 600 years. The 1998 edition of the *Quanzhou County Annals* records that by the 1950s, the Dongshan Pig had been selected by the county’s animal husbandry authorities as an outstanding local breed. In the 1970s, it was recognized by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences as one of the country’s fine pig breeds and was included in the *China’s Fine Pig Breeds*.

　　The Dongshan Pig is mainly produced in Quanzhou County, Guangxi. The production area features mostly sandy loam soil, while the southern regions consist of red and yellow soils, belonging to a subtropical climate zone with an average annual temperature of around 16°C and significant seasonal temperature variations. Crops are grown two to three times a year, primarily rice, along with dry crops such as tubers, barley, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, rapeseed, sorghum, corn, and cotton. The region is rich in produce and 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 a year-round supply of green fodder and wild grass, providing excellent conditions for pig farming.

　　Breed Characteristics

　　The Dongshan Pig has a short, broad head with many diamond-shaped wrinkles on the forehead. Those with deep and coarse wrinkles are called “lion heads,” while those with long, straight heads and fine, shallow wrinkles are called “wanzi heads” or “oil snouts.” The ears are medium-sized and drooping. The back and waist are relatively straight, and the limbs are sturdy, though those raised in confinement often have splayed hooves. The 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 black-white junction, known as the “halo band.” The trunk and limbs are white, with a small tuft of white hair on the forehead called the “pen bud flower” or “white star.” Some pigs have white hair extending to the nose tip, called the “broken head flower,” and some have white hair at the tail tip. A few pigs have one or two irregular black patches on the trunk, called “waist flowers” or “speckled pigs.” The black areas on the head and tail are relatively small, often connecting at the top of the head centered around the temples, known as “nodding black-tipped.” The number of teats is generally 6–7 pairs.

　　Breed Performance

　　Adult male Dongshan Pigs weigh an average of 119.02 kg, measure 132.29 cm in body length, 114.86 cm in chest circumference, and 74.36 cm in height. Adult females weigh 124.31 kg, measure 129.30 cm in body length, 118.36 cm in chest circumference, and 66.40 cm in height. The Dongshan Pig matures early, gains fat easily, has fine bones, a relatively high lean meat ratio, and tender meat. However, its hindquarters are not very full, and its body structure is somewhat loose.

　　Dongshan Pig

　　Geographical Range

　　 The Dongshan Pig originated in Dongshan Yao Ethnic Township, Quanzhou County, and is distributed across 18 townships within the county: Dongshan, Baibao, Xianshui, Caiwan, Longshui, Daxijiang, Jiantang, Shitang, Anhe, Lianghe, Fenghuang, Wenqiao, Miaotou, Yongsui, Huangshah river, Jiaojian, Quanzhou, and Shaoshui. The protected area spans 4,022.19 square kilometers, with geographical coordinates between 110°37′–111°29′ east longitude and 25°29′–26°23′ north latitude. The county raises 177,300 Dongshan Pigs, with 15,200 breeding sows, producing 71,000 market hogs and 50,000 replacement gilts annually.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: The Dongshan Pig has distinctive local morphological features. Its body is tall, with a straight back and well-proportioned structure. The chest is broad and deep, the belly large but not dragging the ground, and the limbs are strong with upright stance. It has 12–14 teats, occasionally 16, evenly distributed and well-developed. The head is refined and slightly long, with a flat face, slightly wide forehead, and irregular wrinkles. The ears are large and drooping. The trunk, limbs, tail tip, bridge of the nose, and nose tip are white; the head, ears, tail base, and surrounding areas are black, referred to as “four whites and two blacks.” A few pigs have black patches on the trunk. The Dongshan Pig is gentle in temperament, adaptable, disease-resistant, and tolerant of coarse feed. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: The Dongshan Pig has thick skin and high muscle fat content. The cross-section of the back lean meat shows a marbled appearance, and the meat is delicious with a unique flavor. The moisture content of the longissimus dorsi muscle is 60.4%–65.4%, ash content 0.8%–1.06%, fat content 12.8%–13.4%, protein content 19.6%–21.7%, dietary fiber content 0.15%–0.17%, total amino acid content 17.25%–18.86%, and caloric value 873.4 kJ/100g–945.4 kJ/100g. (3) Product Quality and Safety Standards: Strictly comply with the *Pollution-Free Animal Feed and Feed Additive Use Guidelines* (NY5032) and *Pollution-Free Livestock and Poultry Veterinary Drug Use Guidelines* (NY5032).

　　(1) External sensory characteristics: Dongshan pigs have distinctive regional morphological features. Their body structure is characterized by a tall and large frame, a straight back and waist, and well-proportioned body parts. They have broad and deep chests, large abdomens that do not drag on the ground, sturdy limbs, and stand squarely. They have 012–14 teats, with a few having 16, all evenly distributed and well-developed. The head is refined and slightly elongated, with a flat face, slightly wide forehead, and irregular wrinkles. The ears are large and drooping. The trunk, limbs, tail tip, nasal bridge, and nose tip are white, while the head, ears, base of the tail, and surrounding areas are black—referred to as “four whites and two blacks.” A small number of pigs may have black patches on the trunk. Dongshan pigs are gentle in temperament, adaptable, highly disease-resistant, and tolerant of coarse feed. (2) Internal quality indicators: Dongshan pigs have thick skin and high muscle fat content. The lean meat cut from the back exhibits a marbled appearance, and the meat is delicious with a unique flavor. The moisture content of the longissimus dorsi muscle in Dongshan pigs ranges from 60.4% to 65.4%, ash content from 0.8% to 1.06%, fat content from 12.8% to 13.4%, protein content from 19.6% to 21.7%, dietary fiber content from 0.15% to 0.17%, total amino acid content from 17.25% to 18.86%, and caloric value from 873.4 kJ/100g to 945.4 kJ/100g. (3) Product quality and safety regulations: Strictly comply with the "Criteria for the Use of Feed and Feed Additives in Pollution-Free Livestock and Poultry" (NY5032) and the "Criteria for the Use of Veterinary Drugs in Pollution-Free Livestock and Poultry Rearing" (NY5032).