Spotted pigs from Xianju county, Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat account: tzfb001]

Spotted pigs raised in Taizhou's Xianju county were recently designated as a geographical indication (GI) product by the National Intellectual Property Administration.

GI is a label given to products that have a specific geographic origin and possess certain qualities or a reputation related to that origin.

Xianju spotted pigs are a species of pigs native to Xianju which have features that are unique to Chinese pigs, including high re-productivity, excellent meat-fat ratio, and strong resistance to rough feeding.

Mainly raised in the plains on both sides of Yong'an Creek in the county, the animal also has a strong resistance to disease, high temperatures and humidity.

Authorities have in recent years invested more than 5 million yuan ($729,946.81) in promoting the conservation of the endemic pigs, official statistics show.