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.