Chenghua Pig

Chenghua Pig

　　【Main Production Areas and Distribution】 It is produced in districts and counties such as Jinniu, Shuangliu, Pixian, and Wenjiang in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. It is distributed in counties including Xindu, Jintang, Guanghan, Shifang, Pengxian, Guanxian, Chongqing (historical name), Dayi, Xinjin, as well as Deyang, Mianzhu, and Longquan.

　　The production area has a solid agricultural foundation, a mild climate, abundant rainfall, and rich agricultural products and green fodder, providing favorable feeding conditions for pig farming. In addition to focusing on the reproductive performance of sows, breeders in the area also pay attention to the physical appearance of the pig breed. Due to market demand, there is a preference for shortening the fattening period and raising smaller-sized pigs, often using rice, fine bran, and leguminous green manure as feed.

　　Historical Formation of the Chenghua Pig Breed

　　The Chenghua Pig has a long history of breeding. Archaeological studies have uncovered pottery pigs and stone pigs in multiple Eastern Han Dynasty tombs in the Chengdu Plain. According to records in Yang Xiong’s “Ode to the Capital of Shu,” which mentions “Shu people buying rice to fatten pigs,” the breed dates back over 1,800 years. The production area benefits from favorable agricultural production and socio-economic conditions, abundant grain, and proximity to large and medium-sized cities, resulting in a high demand for commercial pigs. To shorten the fattening period and increase the commercialization rate, local farmers prefer raising smaller pig breeds. In addition to reproductive performance, great emphasis is placed on physical appearance—breeders favor pigs with fewer facial wrinkles, smaller ears (commonly called “coin ears”), and lighter heads. They often choose pigs with broad, straight backs, round and slightly drooping bellies (commonly referred to as “boat-bottom bellies”) and entirely black coats. In terms of farming methods, straight-line fattening is practiced, and refined feeds like rice and fine bran are customarily used for fattening, which has promoted the formation and development of the Chenghua Pig breed. It is a major local breed in the Chengdu Plain region.

　　Physical Characteristics of the Chenghua Pig

　　The Chenghua Pig is medium to small in size, with a square-shaped head, few and shallow forehead wrinkles, relatively small and drooping ears, and a moderately sized snout. It has a thick, short neck, a relatively wide and slightly concave back and loin, a round belly that droops slightly, and a full hindquarter. Its limbs are short, sturdy, and upright. The coat is black, with 6 to 7 pairs of nipples evenly spaced.

　　Breed Characteristics of the Chenghua Pig

　　An adult Chenghua boar weighs an average of 148.9 kg, measures 138.0 cm in body length, 127.1 cm in chest girth, and 74.3 cm in height. Adult sows average 128.9 kg, 135.4 cm in body length, 121.1 cm in chest girth, and 66.0 cm in height. On average, a sow produces 10.74 piglets, each weighing 0.87 kg. The litter weight at 20 days old is 33.9 kg. The Chenghua Pig is also known for its early maturity, ease of fattening, high slaughter rate, and tender meat quality.

　　Production Performance of the Chenghua Pig

　　Growth and Development: Under moderate nutrition levels, 6-month-old Chenghua replacement boars weigh 44.4 kg, and sows weigh 47.0 kg. According to measurements by state-owned farms, adult boars (22 individuals) weigh 148.9 kg, measure 138.0 cm in body length, and 127.1 cm in chest girth; adult sows (209 individuals) weigh 128.9 kg, measure 135.4 cm in body length, and 121.1 cm in chest girth.

　　Breeding Performance: They reach sexual maturity relatively early. Male piglets can produce normal sperm at 59 days old. Boars raised in rural areas often begin mating at 3–4 months of age when they weigh around 25 kg, while those raised on state-owned farms typically mate at 8 months old when they weigh about 60 kg. Female piglets experience their first estrus at 88 days old. Sows raised in rural areas generally mate for the first time at 6–8 months of age when they weigh around 70 kg. Multiparous sows (398 litters) average 10.74 piglets per litter, with newborns weighing 0.87 kg each. At 60 days old, an average of 9.13 piglets survive weaning, with a litter weight of 104.1 kg.

　　Fattening Performance: Under conditions of unrestricted mixed concentrate feeding, pigs reach 93.1 kg in weight after 141 days at 7.5 months old, with a daily weight gain of 535 grams. Each kilogram of weight gain consumes 11.3 megacalories of digestible energy and 525 grams of digestible crude protein. For fattened pigs weighing between 65.8–87.0 kg, the slaughter rate is around 70%, and the lean meat percentage of the carcass is between 41.2–46.1%.