Minzhu Pigs

Facts about Minzhu Pigs. The Minzhu pigs come from Northern China where according to China’s statistics they were taken from 25 different farms around the area. The "Minzhu Pig" are mostly found in the middle temperate belt all the way to Huaihe River Basins. There are some also found in Qinling mountains. These places normally have very harsh and intolerant conditions.

The Minzhu Pigs were first introduced to the United States by USDA and the University of Illinois. It was a joint venture which saw the introduction of other pigs like Meishan and Fengjing which also are from China. This also saw a successful introduction of other 44 breeds of pigs around United States.

Minzhu pigs have black hair which identifies them from other pigs. Mostly the hair is coarse with long bristles. The Minzhu Pig are known to have a dense woolen undercoat too especially around winter. This clearly identifies their origin because the places of origin are very cold. Fortunately they adapt so well even when taken to the extremely cold parts of United States. An observation made was that the Minzhu Pigs can stay out with the low temperature of around 39 degrees F°(4 degrees Celsius).

The Minzhu Pig breeds of pigs are very slow growing though fat. When you compare them to other pigs you will discover that their growth is not as fast as it is expected. But when slaughtered their meat is very sweet.

Minzhu pigs are resistant to diseases so rarely dies prematurely. This is another good adaptation that defines the. The Minzhu Pigs feed on roughage and in fact they take very large amounts of roughages in a day. Other farm by- products are a delicacy for these pigs too. This makes it easy for farmers to keep them because during dry spells they can also feed on farm by-products. Generally they are known as low quality feeders.

Minzhu pigs are relatively big. They have a narrow level back and loin. Minzhu Pig Sows can grow up to about 35 inches (87 cm) high, with a chest of 50 inches (130 cm) and weighs around 195 pounds (88 Kg). their back fat is also very thick. It is around 1 3/16 inches (3 cm) with a dressing of 72.2 %. Not much is known about their male counterparts but it is believed to have similar characteristics but slightly bigger.

The Minzhu Pigs reach puberty at around 3 to 4 months. The Minzhu Pig have a very high embryo survival rates if you compare them with other breeds of pigs. But again this is possible because the Minzhu Pig are resistant to most disease. Their litters are large too with a rate of around 15 to 16 pigs. The sows nurse their piglets for about three to five weeks. When Piglets are weaned off of their mother’s milk, they are not called piglets but are known as shoats. Piglets at birth weigh about 2.5 pounds (1.1 kilograms), and on average, will double their weight in one week. .


Minzhu Pigs have 44 teeth when full grown, when they are baby pigs (piglets) the have 28 teeth which will fall out when they are 12 months old. Just like human teeth, the Minzhu Pig has an enamel coating that makes the pigs teeth stronger and helps it curb disease. Minzhu Pigs chew their food because pigs have a digestive system similar to a human digestive system and cannot digest food that is not chewed

Minzhu Pigs do not sweat a lot, that's why they cover themselves in the mud to keep their bodies cool. The expression "sweating like a pig" comes from a reference to pig iron, which comes form iron smelting.

Cross breeding of the Minzhu Pigs can be easily done though according to Chinese, it depends on where they are exported too. This also explains why they slightly differ in size which is seen in breeds that are bred outside United States.

Minzhu pigs are known for their meat and are exported worldwide. Most farmers love them because they are tolerant and can survive under very harsh condition. This gives them an option because they can feed them on pastures available. Since the Minzhu Pig are gentle, one can graze them around without worrying about destruction.

Minzhu Pigs are very intelligent, not like people think, that pigs are dumb animals. A Minzhu Pig can drink between 10 to 14 gallons (37.8 to 53 liters)of water in a day. Minzhu Pigs are omnivores like humans, an omnivores, (definition-they eat both other animals and plants). The Minzhu Pig snout is its most important tool for finding food. The Minzhu Pigs snout is used for their excellent sense of smell and have poor eyesight.

The saliva of Minzhu Pigs contains pheromones-( A chemical substance used to attract a mate) similar to that of other pig breeds that communicate their sexual wants. The male Minzhu Pigs discharge this steroid and female pigs will go to vast lengths to acquire a smell of the sent.
Minzhu Pigs are raised for there meat such as ham, sausage, bacon and pork chops. Pigs can make great pets. "A wild male Minzhu Pig is called a boar"- meaning uncastrated male pig, that lives in the wild and can be hunted. "Feral pig or hog is defined as a wild boar" can be a very big danger where humans habitat.

Minzhu Pigs can carry a variety of diseases and can pass them to humans. Minzhu Pigs have small lungs compared to their body size.

The term Swine: is any variety of omnivorous, even-toed ungulates of the family Suidae, this includes hogs, boars and pigs having a short neck, thick skin a movable snout and a stout body.

Minzhu Pigs unlike is said, happen to be very clean animals. Minzhu Pigs make sure their bathroom area is far away from where they eat, lie down and rest, even piglets (baby pigs) will find a place to go to the bathroom, far away from their nest.

Minzhu Pigs Feet

The four feet and four toes of the pig are called "trotters" that humans eat as a delicacy called pigs feet or pigs knuckles. A Minzhu Pigs foot has four toes that are pointed downwards when the pig walks, it walks on the tips of its toes, rather than its whole foot and only uses two of the toes in the middle and the outside toes for balance. The Minzhu Pig has tougher feet at the ends that are hooves. The two toes in the middle of the foot are slightly webbed, this helps the pigs balance for walking.
"Scientific name for Pig Sus scrofa", the wild swine (Boar) from the old world with a narrow body and prominent tusks is from where most domestic swine come from. The "fear of pigs Swinophobia".