The Yi family black pig is a local black pig breed traditionally raised free-range in the mountainous areas of the Yi people.

The Yi family black pig is a local black-haired pig breed kept over the long term in the mountainous areas where the Yi people live in concentrated communities, mainly distributed in Yi villages in the high-altitude mountainous areas of southwest China such as Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou. Pigs of this type are mostly self-bred and self-raised by farming households, adapted to the local mountain climate, and are an important part of the traditional livestock-raising and dietary culture of the Yi people.

In appearance, the Yi family black pig usually has a whole body covered in black hair, with thick skin and dense hair, a medium and rather compact body type, and sturdy, powerful limbs. They are cold-tolerant and tolerant of coarse feed, with strong foraging ability, and can feed on natural foods such as green grass and wild vegetables while moving about on slopes and among the woods. They have low requirements for raising conditions, and their disease resistance and adaptability are both fairly outstanding.

In terms of raising methods, Yi family black pigs are mostly free-range or semi-free-range, and farming households often supplement their feed with local ingredients such as corn, potatoes, melons and vegetables, without seeking rapid fattening, so their growth cycle is relatively long. It is precisely because of this slow raising that their meat is firm, with relatively rich intramuscular fat and a strong aroma, and a mellow mouthfeel after stewing, which has won the affection of many consumers.

Yi family black pork is often used to make traditional foods such as tuotuo meat, cured meat and ham, and is also an important ingredient on the Yi family's tables when entertaining guests. In recent years, as people's attention to local pig breeds and high-quality native pork has increased, the Yi family black pig has gradually come out of the mountains and become a distinctive breeding project that helps farming households in Yi areas increase their income, while also carrying the significance of protecting local pig breed resources.