The Malhado de Alcobaça is a dual purpose pig breed that originates from the region of Alcobaça in Portugal. The breed is closely related to the well-known Iberian pig, which is a Spanish breed of pig. The Malhado de Alcobaça is also known as the ‘black pig of Alcobaça’ due to its black coat.

The Malhado de Alcobaça is a medium-sized breed and has fairly slender proportions. They have a long body with a deep chest, long legs and a small head. Their coat is a deep black and they have short bristles and long, wavy hair. They typically have white markings on their face and legs.

The Malhado de Alcobaça is known for its excellent meat quality. The breed is prized for its lean, marbled meat with a strong flavor and very low fat content. It is an excellent pig for charcuterie and ham production as its meat has a distinctive flavor.

The breed is also known for its prolific nature. Malhado de Alcobaça prigs can have litters of around 11 piglets and they are known for being excellent mothers. The breed is also quite hardy and can tolerate poor conditions and hot weather.

The Malhado de Alcobaça is a critically endangered breed. In recent years there has been a push to conserve the breed and ensure that it does not become extinct. Currently there are only a few hundred registered purebred Malhado de Alcobaça pigs in Portugal.

The Malhado de Alcobaça is a unique and special breed of pig. It is an excellent pig for meat production and has a unique flavor and low fat content. It is a critically endangered breed, so efforts should be made to conserve and protect it.