What kind of pigs are good to raise in Tibet?

(1) Central production area and distribution

Tibetan pig (XizangTibetanpig) is mainly distributed in agricultural areas and semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral areas on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in my country. It is the highest-altitude pig in the world. The pig breeds in the region can adapt to the harsh alpine climate and the low-breeding conditions of grazing. As of 2007, there were about 30,000 pigs in Tibet, mainly concentrated in Linzhi, Qamdo and Baqing County, Suo County, Ru County and other places east of Nagqu. Among them, Linzhi area is the area with a large number of Tibetan pigs, about 10,000.

(2) Natural ecological conditions of the production area

Tibet is located on a plateau with very complex terrain and special natural conditions. The forests and river valleys at an altitude of 2900-4100m are the main Tibetan pig production areas. The climate in the production area is very cold, the four seasons are unclear, the vegetation is sparse and low-growing. The annual average temperature is 6.4~8.5℃, the temperature difference between day and night is large, the frost-free period is 103~120 days; the annual precipitation is 304~640mm, the annual evaporation is 1737~2397mm; the annual average sunshine hours are 1883~3220h. The pastures in the territory are broad, including mountain grassland pasture, shrub meadow pasture and alpine dwarf sagebrush pasture. The pastures are mainly Gramineae and Cyperaceae. Crops are harvested once a year and twice a year in low-altitude areas. The main crops are highland barley, wheat, broad beans, rapeseed, and corn, followed by buckwheat, potatoes, broadroots, sugar beets, etc. The livestock industry is developed, with sheep, goats, oxen, and yaks as the main species, followed by horses and pigs.

2. Origin and changes of breeds

(1) Breed formation

The head shape, weight and body shape of Tibetan pigs are similar to those of local wild boars, and some adult boars They have tusks that resemble local wild boars, and there are many hybrids between domestic pigs and wild boars in areas where wild boars are frequent. Therefore, it is certain that Tibetan pigs are a group formed by Tibetan herdsmen domesticating local wild boars. However, there is currently no conclusion about the systematic status of the local wild boar, especially its evolutionary relationship with the North China wild boar (Susscrofamoapiensis) and the dwarf wild boar (Susscrofasilaianus). The former is distributed as far as Gannan (the cooperative pig production area) and the Jinsha River The left bank (the origin of Tibetan pigs in Sichuan), the latter’s distribution area includes the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and northwest Yunnan (the origin of Tibetan pigs in Diqing).

The origin area of ??Tibetan pigs is located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. According to the records of "Red History" and "New Red History", in the 2nd century BC, the leader of the Yalong tribe, Nie Chi Zanpu, established the Tubo regime [www.nczfj.com] with Yalong Soka (in the middle of present-day Nedong County) as the center. County, Lang County and Milin County were its central areas of activity. By the Zhigong Zanpu period eight generations later, Tubo "began to cultivate the land, smelt gold and silver, and build bridges"; "the custom of engaging in agriculture was prevalent in the world." There is an economic basis for domesticated pigs. The "Old Edict" records that Tubo's "climate is extremely cold, and rice does not grow. There are barley, beans, wheat, and buckwheat. There are many livestock such as yaks, pigs, dogs, and horses... and there is a lot of gold, silver, copper, and tin." People may follow the livestock and not live together often, but there must be a city." This shows that settled agriculture was already developed in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River centered on Lhasa at that time, and pigs were already domestic animals of local residents. At that time, the pigs in the Yalong area had narrow heads and long mouths, so that Cai Basitu Gongeduo, the author of "Red History" Jie (1309-1364) described it as "Mongolian boot" shape. This is consistent with the head shape of Linzhi pigs among Tibetan pigs. It is certain that the Linzhi pig is a mixture of domestic pigs and wild boars in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River basin and the Yalong area.

In addition to the origin of bloodlines, the unique local ecological environment, feeding methods, and breeding methods are also two important factors that shape Tibetan pigs.

(2) Population size and changes

In 2007, there were 30,000 Tibetan pigs on hand. Due to its long growth cycle and low reproductive rate, the number of Tibetan pigs has decreased for a period of time. However, in recent years, due to the attention and support of the government and relevant departments, reasonable livestock and poultry structure, and its own product advantages and value advantages, the number of Tibetan pigs has been on an upward trend.