Pork is one of the most common meats on our tables, and various breeds of domestic pigs are very common. However, many people have limited knowledge about pig breeds. Do you know the best breeds of sows? This article will introduce ten breeds of pigs, including Duroc, Large White, Landrace, Hampshire, Rongchang, Jinhua, Pietrain, and Bozhong, among others. Let's learn about them together.
1. Duroc pig
Duroc pigs are one of the most well-known pig breeds in the eastern United States, particularly in New Jersey and New York. They were developed by crossing the Duroc of New York with the Jersey Red of New Jersey. Duroc pigs are widely distributed throughout the United States and are one of the most popular breeds in the world. The most prominent characteristics of Duroc pigs are their robust and sturdy build, and their ability to adapt to harsh environments. They grow quickly and have high feed conversion rates, hence the nickname "all-rounder." This breed is extremely resilient and possesses excellent adaptability. However, one drawback of Duroc pigs is their relatively low fertility and slow growth rate in their early growth stages.
2. Large White pig
Large White pigs, also known as Yorkshire pigs, originated in England. Due to their large size, high reproductive rate, high feed conversion ratio and slaughter rate, and strong adaptability to different environments, they are widely raised in developed pig-producing countries worldwide. Large White pigs are one of the world's most famous and widely distributed dominant lean-type pig breeds. Based on observations from various regions, Large White pigs can adapt to both the cold northern and warm southern climates of China. In China, the number of Large White pigs raised is relatively large. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, China's Central University introduced Large White pigs and conducted comparative observations with foreign breeds.
3. Landrace Pig
The Landrace pig is an excellent breed for cured meat. Originally named "Landrace Pig," it originated in Denmark and was developed through crossbreeding local pigs with Large White pigs. Its entire body is snow-white, with a slender, streamlined shape; a long, narrow head, large, drooping ears, a straight back and loin, well-developed hind legs, full thighs, and relatively long limbs; it grows quickly and is highly efficient at utilizing feed; it has thin skin and lean meat; and each litter produces 11 to 12 piglets. Adult boars weigh approximately 400 to 500 kg, while sows weigh approximately 300 kg. Landrace pigs require good husbandry and management conditions and are now widely distributed throughout the world. China introduced this breed in 1963.
4. Hampshire Pig
The Hampshire pig is one of the most widely distributed pig breeds in the United States. Introduced to the Corn Belt states in the early 20th century, it became one of the three major lean-meat breeds in the US. After being introduced to many countries such as Japan, Denmark, and Canada, its crossbreeding results have been excellent. Its advantages lie in its well-developed back and hindquarter muscles, resulting in a high lean meat percentage. Adult boars weigh between 315 and 410 kg, while sows weigh between 250 and 340 kg. Although initially called "thin-skinned pig," it has been known by its current name since 1904. However, its disadvantages include relatively poor fertility and adaptability. Nevertheless, it remains a well-known lean-meat sire breed worldwide.
5. Rongchang Pig
Rongchang pigs, one of the world's eight superior pig breeds, hold an important position in my country's pig farming industry. This breed has existed for over 400 years and is renowned both domestically and internationally for its unique characteristics, including strong adaptability, ease of semen collection from boars, good lactation performance in sows, strong maternal instincts, stable genetic traits, high lean meat percentage, excellent meat quality, and good bristle quality. In 1957, Rongchang pigs were included in the British publication *Dictionary of Livestock Breeds and Names*, becoming an internationally recognized valuable pig breed resource. After review by the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Management Committee, Rongchang pigs, with their "high lean meat percentage, white color, and specific genetic traits," were listed by the Ministry of Agriculture as a nationally protected superior local pig breed and received special attention in the Seventh Five-Year Plan.
6. Jinhua pig
Many people may not have heard of Jinhua pigs, but they have certainly heard of Jinhua ham. Jinhua ham is made from the meat of Jinhua pigs. Jinhua pigs are one of my country's finest sow breeds, characterized by thin skin, fine bones, small heads, and slender limbs. Their carcass has a low skin-to-bone ratio, resulting in a higher edible portion. Furthermore, Jinhua pigs have a high reproductive capacity, averaging over 14 piglets per litter. They have a long reproductive lifespan; excellent sows can maintain high productivity for 8 to 9 years, producing approximately 20 litters in their lifetime. Moreover, Jinhua pigs have numerous teats, strong milk production, good maternal instincts, and a high piglet weaning rate. In addition, Jinhua pigs are well-adapted to the climate of most parts of my country, and have therefore been exported to countries such as Japan, France, Canada, and Thailand. In the 2020 China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement, only the "Jinhua Two-End Black Pig" was included as a pork breed.
7. Pietrain Pig
Pietrain is one of the world's five most famous pig breeds, originating in Brabant, Belgium. It was developed through backcrossing French Bayeux crossbred pigs with British Berkshire pigs, and then crossbreeding with British Large White pigs. Pietrain pigs are renowned for their high lean meat percentage. Among all well-known breeds, it boasts the highest lean meat percentage and the most developed muscle mass. Its well-developed back and loin muscles and leg muscles are highly sought after in the pig farming market. In today's pig farming market, which emphasizes lean meat percentage and body shape, the Pietrain pig is a highly valuable breed.
8. Bozhong Pig
The Polish-Central pig is a highly regarded black pig breed originating in the United States, and is one of the country's oldest breeds. It is a crossbreed of Chinese, Russian, and British pigs, and is entirely black with six white markings. Adult boars weigh approximately 390 to 450 kg, while sows weigh between 300 and 400 kg. In the United States, Polish-Central pig sows rank first in the nation for annual meat production. The Polish-Central pig is renowned for its high-quality meat and lean meat percentage, a fact confirmed in pork competitions at national hog shows. Furthermore, the Polish-Central pig is adaptable to almost any environment, whether free-range or penned, making it a favorite among pig farmers. If you are unsure about black pig breeds or which breed is best, I would recommend the Polish-Central pig without hesitation.
9. Horse-bodied pig
The Ma Shen pig is a well-known local pig breed in China, originating from Shenchi, Wuzhai, and Lingqiu counties in Shanxi Province. It is a famous black pig breed, and in this vast and sparsely populated area, people typically raise pigs through grazing or a combination of grazing and stall feeding. These pigs grow up in relatively harsh environments, thus possessing high litter size and excellent piglet protection abilities. Even in high-altitude and low-nutrition conditions, the Ma Shen pig can still maintain normal reproductive function. Although its growth rate is relatively slow, the Ma Shen pig has a high lean meat percentage, and therefore can be found among various sow breeds. Field investigations have confirmed that the Ma Shen pig not only adapts to harsh environments but also has a significantly lower disease incidence rate than other introduced pig breeds.
10. Ningxiang Pig
Ningxiang pig, also known as Ningxiang native spotted pig, originates from the Liushahe and Caochong areas of Ningxiang County, China. Therefore, it is also called Caochong pig and Liushahe pig. As one of China's four famous pig breeds, it has a history of over 1000 years. Except for Tibet and Taiwan, Ningxiang pigs have been introduced to all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across China. It is characterized by high reproductive rate, early maturity and easy fattening, loose meat, and tolerance to roughage. During its rearing process, it exhibits a docile temperament and strong adaptability. Through long-term selective breeding, Ningxiang pigs have developed unique characteristics: tender meat and delicious flavor. It is hailed as an important national livestock gene pool and was listed as a recommended breed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the 1970s.
The top ten pig breeds are recommended based primarily on breed popularity and taste, with reference to relevant internet rankings and lists. This list is for reference only. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or offer criticism at the end.
