The Kele is located in Southwest China in the Yunnan-Guizhou mountainous areas, where the altitude is between 1700 to 2400 m, the climate is dry and cold during the winter and humid in summer, and characterized by erratic changes in weather. The main crops are potatoes and buckwheat; this area is relatively poor in feed supply, and the pigs are out on the plateau pasture with cattle and sheep. They generally have the following characteristics: arched back and loin, long straight snout, narrow chest, wrinkled hind legs, strong feed, light body. All these may be attributed to the influence of ecological conditions. Kele pigs are also noted for their thick back fat (5.1 to 7.2 cm), and for more visceral fat (15.6% of carcass weight). This extra fat may be considered a result of continuous selection for lard type, since people in mountainous areas have a special demand for fat in their diet. Kele pigs are relatively low in prolificacy, with a litter size about 7 to 8 and 5 to 6 pairs of teats.

 

 

References

Cheng, P. (1984) Livestock breeds of China. Animal Production and Health Paper 46 (E, F, S). Publ. by FAO, Rome, 217 pp.