Horticulture
Ningxiang Swine
Also Known By: Ninsya or Ninsyan (Russian), Ning-Chang (German)
The Ningxiang pig is raised primarily for lard. The breed is of the Central China type and originated in the Hunan Province of China in the Central Subtropic belt. The breed is normally housed and hand-fed year round. The hair coat color pattern has been described as “black clouds overhanging snows with a silver ring around the neck”; the back is slightly concave, and the belly is pouched and pendulous. Read the rest of this entry »
Neijiang
Description: The Neijiang was raised in Southwest China in the Sichuan Basin in China, where the climate is mild, agriculture is well developed, and the area is rich in feed supplies. The pigs are comparatively large in size, with strong body constitution, thick skin (about .7 cm) and thick back fat (3.4 to 5.7 cm). They are also precocious; the young boar may mount the female at as early an age as 2 months, Read the rest of this entry »
Mulefoot Hog
Description: The most distinctive feature of the American Mulefoot hog is the solid hoof which resembles that of a mule. Pigs with solid hooves (also called syndactylism) have attracted the interest of many writers over the centuries, including Aristotle and Darwin. Yet of all the mulefooted hogs described, the American Mulefoot is the only documented population with a breed standard and a long history of agricultural use. Read the rest of this entry »
Mora Romagnola
Description: The Mora Romagnola is an indigenous pig breed of the Ravenna province (Emilia Romagna, Italy); and it is unknown if it was ever exported to other parts of Europe. There are now only 18 animals surviving in one herd near Faenza (Ravenna) , while in 1949 there had been more than 22.000. The Mora Romagnola has a typical long body, the head is long with straight profile and forward-growing ears that cover a long, tapering snout. The average height is 80 cm (sows are taller than boars) with an average mature weight of 250-300 kg. Read the rest of this entry »
Mukota
Also Known By: Rhodesian Indigenous, Zimbabwe Indigenous
Mukota pigs are believed to have been introduced by the European and Chinese traders between 16 and 1700 AD. There are basically two classes of Mukota pigs. One class is short, fat and has a short snout resembling the Chinese Lard pig, while the other resembles the Windsnyer (Wind cutter) in being long nosed with a razor back. They are however both black in color without any shades or spots. Read the rest of this entry »
Mong Cai
Description: Mong Cai is one of the major local breeds in northern part of Vietnam, particularly in provinces of North Mountain, the Red River delta and the northern part of Central Coastline. It has small to medium body size. The head is black with small and upright ears. Black patches are elsewhere on the body with a white band running from one side of the abdomen over the shoulder to other side of the abdomen, making a black saddle over the middle of its concave back. Read the rest of this entry »
Minzhu
Description: The Minzhu breed was introduced into the United Sates through a joint effort of the USDA, the University of Illinois, and Iowa State University. This effort was also successful in introducing Meishan and Fengjing pigs from China. This effort introduced a total of 144 pigs from these breeds into the United States. Iowa State University received 7 Minzhu males from this shipment on July 27, 1989.Minzhu pigs come from far northern China. They can be found in the Middle Temperate Belt, Read the rest of this entry »
Middle White
Description: Middle White swine originated in the Yorkshire area at about the same time and from the same general stock as the Large White and Small White breeds. Mainly, it was a selection for the intermediate size that caused it to be classified as a separate breed. The Middle White has many of the same general characteristics as the Large White except for size and a much more dished face. Read the rest of this entry »
Meishan
Description:The Meishan breed was introduced into the United States under a cooperative effort of the USDA, the University of Illinois, and Iowa State University. This effort also imported Fengjing and Minzhu pigs from China. A total of 144 pigs from these breeds were shipped to the United States. Iowa State University received 22 Meishan females and 10 Meishan boars from this shipment on July 27, 1989.Meishan pigs come from the region of lakes and valleys in China. Read the rest of this entry »
Mangalitsa
Also Known by: Wollschwein (German), Mangulica, Mangulac, Mangalita, Mangaliza, Mangalica, Hungarian Curly Coat, Porc laineux des Pacages, Wollhaariges
Origin: The homeland of the Mangalitsa was the former Austria-Hungary. In the past century this swine breed extended into far reaches of Europe. The Mangalitsa was much favored as a bacon and lard producer. Our eating habits have changed; now hams and cutlets are in demand. The Nobel Swine has long surpassed, almost squeezed out, the Mangalitsa. Read the rest of this entry »