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Germplasm characteristics and conservation of Tongcheng pig: A case study for preservation and utilization of Chinese indigenous pig breeds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

B. Fan
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
Z.L. Tang
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
S.P. Xu
Affiliation:
Tongcheng County Pig Breeding Farm, Animal Husbandry Bureau of Tongcheng County, Tongcheng 437400, P.R.China
B. Liu
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China
K. Li*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China Department of Gene and Cell Engineering, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100094, P.R. China
*
a Corresponding Author: Dr Kui Li, Lab. of Molecular Biology and Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P.R. China likuihau@yahoo.com, lkxblghi@public.wh.hb.cn
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Summary

The paper describes the breed characteristics, production performance including reproduction, growth, carcass and meat quality traits of the Tongcheng pig, one of the indigenous pig breeds suitable for a hybrid maternal line in central China. Based on the field investigation and data statistics from the farm recordings, the Tongcheng pig has early sexual maturity indicators, and the average litter size is 8.5 for first parity and 9.3 and 11.3 for the second and subsequent parities respectively. In a three-way crossing project launched recently, using the Tongcheng pig as the maternal parent and Landrace or Yorkshire pigs as the paternal parent, the performance testing results showed that Tongcheng pigs had a lower growth and meat production performance than these commercial pigs, but had superior meat quality. The production performance of the two crossing groups Landrace/Yorkshire/Tongcheng pigs) (LYT) and Yorkshire/Landrace/Tongcheng pigs) (YLT) were improved in comparison to their parent lines, and the results further indicated that the LYT cross is a tri-crossing style convenient for farm and village areas in central China. Meanwhile, effective management measures taken towards Tongcheng pig preservation, and a genetic diversity evaluation on the Tongcheng pig were reviewed. This paper offers the Tongcheng pig as a case study for the maintenance and utilization of indigenous pigs in China, which is rich in pig breeds but is also confronting the pig resource crisis.

Resumen

El artículo describe las características de la raza porcina Tongcheng, así como los rendimientos de producción, la reproducción, crecimiento, calidad de la canal y la carne. Se trata de una de las razas indígenas porcinas adecuadas para líneas híbridas maternas de la zona central de China. En base a las investigaciones de terreno y los datos estadísticos obtenidos en granja, la raza Tongcheng presenta síntomas de madurez sexual precoz, gran número de partos y una media de camada de 8,5 al primer parto y entre 9,3 y 11,3 a partir del segundo parto. Como demuestran los resultados de un reciente test llevado a cabo dentro de un proyecto con tres vías de cruce, utilizando como parental materno la raza Tongcheng y la raza Landrace, y la Yorkshire como parental paterno, la raza Tongcheng presenta un crecimiento y rendimiento de producción de carne inferior a las otras razas comerciales, pero la calidad de la carne resultó superior. Los resultados de producción de dos cruces con Landrace x (Yorkshire x Tongcheng) (LYT) y Yorkshire x (Landrace x Tongcheng) (YLT) resultaron mejorados en comparación con sus lineas parentales. Además, resultó que el cruce Landrace x (Yorkshire x Tongcheng) era el ḿs conveniente de todos en granja y para las zonas centrales de China. Mientras tanto se revisaron las medidas efectivas de manejo de la raza y el tipo de conservacián y evaluación genética de la diversidad. Este artículo presenta un estudio de caso de la raza Tongcheng para el mantenimiento e utilización de porcinos indígenas en China, país que posee numerosas razas porcinaspero que al mismo tiempo se enfrenta a una crisis en materia de recursos genéticos.

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 0000

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