Moura

Also Known By: Estrela, Estrelense, Mouro and Pereira

The Moura breed is usually a blue roan in coloration, occasionally red roan. They were originated from Duroc, Canastra and Canastrao in southern Brazil.

The breed is rare.

Reference:

Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.

Photographs:

Marson Bruck Warpechowski, MSc. Zooptecnia, Prof. Assistant, Depto. Zootecnia

British Landrace

Like all the Landrace strains that are to be found in the north European countries, the British strain is white in color, has the characteristic heavy drooped ear that covers much of the face, is very long, muscular and is known for producing high quality pork. According to a pamplet published by the Landrace Breed Committee of the National Pig Breeders Association, British Landrace have been found to produce less back fat than the other British breeds in tests and have been found to have the most rapid growth in gilts and second most rapid growth in young boars. The same studies found them to be longer and to have the highest percentage of high priced cuts, with 36.5% of the side being ham and rump.

The English first imported Landrace from Denmark in 1949 and used them in experimental studies. In 1953, further importations of registered breeding stock were officially made and the breed society was formed. It amalgamated with the National Pig Breeders’ Association in 1978. Now, in turn, England has been exporting some of its best Landrace to other countries around the world. While these exports are not as numerous as England’s exportations of the Large White, they are nevertheless sizable and easily second in English swine exportations of breeding stock.

The British Landrace have the same high prolificacy and docility that is common among Landrace swine. The sows and their litters do well in confinement systems. The ability of the Landrace boar to sire crossbred pigs for bacon or for other commercial slaughter has made them increasingly popular. Sows that result from crosses of Large White and Landrace dominate the majority of British hybrid sow herds.

Today, the British Landrace is found scattered throughout England, but its greatest concentration is in the major pork producing areas of the Eastern counties and in Yorkshire. Its popularity has also spread to Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Mora Romagnola

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. Nowadays the sows are not very prolific (5-6 piglets for primiparours and 9 for multiparous) and have a poor supply of milk for their litters.

The name “Mora” ("blackberry", or “mulberry” or “moor") was adopted in 1942 in reference to its coloring, very dark brown with a coppery hue; sows have a thicker ridge of longer bristles along the back and the skin is dark grey, with a rosy color underside. The young have hair of a fulvous color, which becomes darker as they grow.

There were several varieties at one time; the widespread “Forlivese", the light red “Faentina” and the darker “Riminese". Until mid ’50’s all varieties were crossed with local inbred strains of Large White (the “San Lazzaro” and “Bastianella"); the hybrid offspring was known as “Fumati” (smoky).
Like most old-fashioned breeds, the Mora is quite prone to becoming fat, it is a late developer but it is vigorous and well adapted to outdoor systems of management being an excellent grazer.

The Dipartimento di Scienze Zootecniche of the Università di Torino (Italy) and WWF Italy have recently started an attempt to conserve the Mora Romagnola. Three sows and one boar have been bought near Faenza (Ravenna) from the owner of the last herd, Mr. Mario Lazzari.
Our initial program consists of two steps: 1) a collection of data, books, articles, pictures and other news about the Mora Romagnola; 2) the search of other animals through the world (pure or crossbreds). If you have any information please contact us at the following address.

Dr. Ivo Zoccarato – Università di Torino
Dr. Riccardo Fortina – WWF Italy

Dipartimento di Scienze Zootecniche - Università di Torino
Via Leonardo da Vinci, 44. 10195 Grugliasco (TO). ITALY
Tel. 0039011 – 6708575 or 6708577 Fax 0039011 – 6708563
Email: ivo.zoccarato@agraria.unito.it or riccardo.fortina@agraria.unito.it

WWF Italia - Delegazione Piemonte e Valle d’Aosta
Via Peyron, 10. 10143 Torino. ITALY
Tel. 0039011 – 4731746 Fax 0039011 – 4373944
Email: fortina@aerre.it or mc1750@mclink.it

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. The latter class predominates in Zimbabwe and is also found in some parts of Mozambique and Zambia. There are about 70,000 Mukota pigs in Zimbabwe. The first comprehensive study on indigenous pigs in Zimbabwe was done in 1973 with pigs from an area in the North Eastern part of Zimbabwe called Mukota, hence their name.

Mukota pig are well known to be hardy and well adapted to the harsh tropical environment in terms of heat stress, disease resistance and inadequate nutrition. Naturally Mukota pigs have a selective advantage to survive and reproduce on low plane of nutrition. Water consumption is also very low. For example 6 litres (1.5 gallons) per litter is adequate weekly. The low plane of nutrition here refers to low energy, low protein and high fiber. It has an enlarged caecum were elaborate hind-gut fermentation occurs making it able to strive on high fibrous diets compared to other pig breeds. Mukota pigs can easily survive under very unhygienic conditions testifying to their high disease resistance.

Mukota pigs are kept free ranging during the dry season (from June to October) and in pig houses or fold yards during the rainy season (November to May).

Mating is uncontrolled during the free ranging period. Reproduction cycle follows an annual rhythm with peak season of farrowing occurring during the early rainy season in October/November. The age at first litter ranges from 6 to 12 months. The average litter size is between 6.5 and 7.5. Weaning is natural. The total weight of litter as a proportion of the sow weight is of the same order (i.e. 11 %) as for Large White or Landrace, so this means there is scope for genetic improvement through selection. Possibilities being considered at the moment involves divergent selection using a potentially small fat Mukota dam (well adapted to harsh conditions) crossed with a large lean sire to produce slaughter generation. This will allow exploitation of hybrid vigor and produce an efficient growing pig reared from a hardy mother subsisting in a constrained environment.

The carcass yield is about 30% less than from the exotic Large White. However the meat has exceptional organoleptic properties. It is popularly known to have “sweet” meat in Zimbabwe.

Reference:
Dr. Irvin Mpofu, University of Zimbabwe, Animal Science Department, Box MP 167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

Holness, D.H. 1995. The tropical agriculturalist - PIGS. CTA/Macmillan, London. pp 16-48.

Mason, I.L. 1996. A World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds, Types and Varieties. Fourth Edition. C.A.B International. 273 pp.

Mong Cai

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.

High prolificacy, good adaptation to poor-quality feed and disease resistance are its favored characteristics. Gilts reach puberty at 2-3 months of age. Average litter size at birth is of 12. Pig weighs 60 kg at 12 months of age, with backfat thickness of 53-59 mm.
Reference:

Nguyen Ngoc Tuan and Tran Thi Dan. National University of Ho Chi Minh City, College of Agriculture and Forestry, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Minzhu

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, to the north of the Huaihe River Basin and the Qinling Mountains. The cold and dry climate of this region makes the Minzhu very tolerant to cold temperatures and harsh feeding conditions. They are also known as the Ming, Min, or Da Min. Minzhu is said to mean “folk pig.”

The breeds imported through this effort are slow growing and fat, but have a very good taste. They are considered to be resistant to diseases and are able to consume large amounts of roughage, farm by-products and other roughages being their main feed. Most are raised in pasture with limited concentrates.

The Minzhu breed can be identified by its very long black hair. This hair has coarse, long bristles and a dense woolen undercoat in the winter. This hair allows sows to farrow in an open shed at 4° C with no problems. The body size of this breed is relatively large, with a narrow, level back and loin. Minzhu pigs are able to store 4.6 kg of body fat in the abdomen. Sows grow to be about 87.5 cm high, 130 cm around the chest, and 88.3 kg in live-weight. They have a backfat thickness of 3.2 cm and a dressing percentage of 72.2%.

It is a prolific breed, though not as prolific as the other breeds imported. They reach puberty at 3-4 months of age, achieve high embryo survival rates, and a large litter rate of 15-16 pigs. Third and later parities of this breed had 15.5 pigs born, with 11.0 being weaned. Their 240 day weight was 233.9 lbs., with an ADG of 1.10 lbs.

Information compiled by Marcus Johnson, Freshman Honors Student, working with Paul O. Brackelsberg, Professor of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, from Breeding and Reproduction, ASL-R644.
Article and photographs contributed by Max F. Rothschild, Professor of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames.
Further information from FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 46, Livestock Breeds of China, by Cheng Peilieu, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing.

Middle White

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. It is more early maturing than its large relative and hence, more valued when the object is to produce lightweight marketable pork in a relatively short time. At the Royal Smithfield Show, average weights were 61.8 kg at an average of 17 weeks.

The white-colored swine are well balanced and meaty. They are usually bred straight in England and have not captured much of a share of the commercial market. The breed is found scattered over England today, but has been generally declining in popularity. When crossed with the Large White, they have been successfully incorporated into commercial operations. Despite their smaller size, the sows have been found to rear an average of 8.15 pigs per litter. They are good mothers and are known for their quiet nature.

There has been little or no export demand for the breed whose history closely parallels that of its relative, the popular Large White. Middle White swine are registered in the National Pig Breeders Association, 7 Rickmansworth Road, Watford, Herts WD1 7HE, England.

Meishan

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. They are considered Taihu pigs, deriving their name from the Taihu Lake in their region of origin. This region lies in the Mid Subtropic Belt, a narrow region between North and Central China, in the Lower Changjiang River Basin and Southeast Coast. This area has a mild climate.

The breeds imported from China are slow growing and fat, but have a very good taste. They are considered to be resistant to some diseases and are able to consume large amounts of roughage. Meishan pigs are well fed and managed, being fed farm by-products and water plants, as well as concentrates.

The Meishan breed is known for its wrinkled face and skin. Sows grow to be about 57.8 cm high, 100 cm around the chest, and 61.6 kg in live-weight. They have a backfat thickness of 2.5 cm and a dressing percentage of 66.8%.

Meishan pigs are perhaps one of the most prolific breeds of pig in the world. They reach puberty at 2.5-3 months of age, achieve high embryo survival rates, and a large litter size of 15-16 pigs. It is quite common to have two litters per year. Third and later parities of this breed had 17.0 pigs born, with 12.9 being weaned. Their 240 day weight was 170.5 lbs., with an ADG of 0.75 lbs.