Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T12:12:17.026Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Farming and biodiversity of pigs in Bhutan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2011

K. Nidup ,
D. Tshering ,
S. Wangdi ,
C. Gyeltshen ,
T. Phuntsho  and
C. Moran
K. Nidup*
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Technologies in Animal Genetics and Reproduction (REPROGEN), Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Australia College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa, Bhutan
D. Tshering
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock, National Pig Breeding Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Thimphu, Bhutan
S. Wangdi
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock, Regional Pig and Poultry Breeding Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Lingmithang, Bhutan
C. Gyeltshen
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock, Regional Pig and Poultry Breeding Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Gelephu, Bhutan
T. Phuntsho
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock, Regional Pig and Poultry Breeding Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Gelephu, Bhutan
C. Moran
Affiliation:
Centre for Advanced Technologies in Animal Genetics and Reproduction (REPROGEN), Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Australia
*
Correspondence to: K. Nidup, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Australia. email: k_nidup@yahoo.com; knidup@gmail.com
Get access

Summary

Pigs have socio-economic and cultural importance to the livelihood of many Bhutanese rural communities. While there is evidence of increased religious disapproval of pig raising, the consumption of pork, which is mainly met from imports, is increasing every year. Pig development activities are mainly focused on introduction of exotic germplasm. There is an evidence of a slow but steady increase in the population of improved pigs in the country. On the other hand, indigenous pigs still comprise 68 percent of the total pig population but their numbers are rapidly declining. If this trend continues, indigenous pigs will become extinct within the next 10 years. Once lost, this important genetic resource is largely irreplaceable. Therefore, Government of Bhutan must make an effort to protect, promote and utilize indigenous pig resources in a sustainable manner. In addition to the current ex situ conservation programme based on cryopreservation of semen, which needs strengthening, in situ conservation and a nucleus farm is required to combat the enormous decline of the population of indigenous pigs and to ensure a sustainable source of swine genetic resources in the country.

Résumé

Les porcs ont une importance socio-économique et culturelle pour les moyens d'existence de nombreuses communautés rurales du Bhoutan. Bien qu'il existe des preuves de la désapprobation croissante de la religion pour ce qui est de l'élevage des porcs, la consommation de leur viande, principalement satisfaite par l'importation, augmente chaque année. Les activités de mise en valeur des porcs sont surtout concentrées sur l'introduction de matériel génétique exotique. Certaines indications montrent un accroissement lent mais régulier de la population de porcs améliorés dans le pays. D'autre part, les porcs indigènes représentent encore 68 pour cent du total de la population porcine, mais ils sont en baisse rapide. Si cette tendance se poursuit, les porcs indigènes seront disparus d'ici dix ans. Une fois perdue, cette ressource génétique importante est en grande partie irremplaçable. Par conséquent, le Gouvernement du Bhoutan doit faire des efforts pour protéger, promouvoir et utiliser de façon durable les ressources des porcs indigènes. Pour lutter contre la baisse considérable de la population de porcs indigènes et pour assurer dans le pays une source durable de ressources génétiques porcines, il est nécessaire d'organiser, en plus du renforcement du programme en cours de conservation ex situ basé sur la cryoconservation du sperme, la conservation in situ et une exploitation de base.

Resumen

Los cerdos tienen importancia socio-económica y cultural para el sustento de muchas comunidades rurales de Bután. Si bien existen evidencias de que ha aumentado la desaprobación religiosa de la cría de cerdos, el consumo de su carne, que es principalmente conocido por las importaciones, crece cada año. El desarrollo de actividades relacionadas con el cerdo se centra principalmente en la introducción de germoplasma exótico. Se ha constatado un aumento lento pero constante de la población de cerdos mejorados en el país. Por otra parte, los cerdos autóctonos siguen constituyendo el 68 percent de la población porcina total, pero su número está disminuyendo rápidamente. Si esta tendencia continúa, los cerdos pertenecientes a poblaciones locales se extinguirán en los próximos diez años. Una vez perdido, este importante recurso genético es en gran parte insustituible. Por lo tanto, el Gobierno de Bután debe hacer un esfuerzo para proteger, promover y utilizar los recursos porcinos autóctonos de manera sostenible. Además del actual programa de conservación ex situ, basado en la crioconservación de semen que es preciso reforzar la conservación in situ y el establecimiento de un núcleo de producción, necesario para combatir la enorme disminución de la población de cerdos autóctonos y para asegurar una fuente sostenible de recursos genéticos en la especie porcina en el país.

Keywords

Bhutanbiodiversityconservationexotic breedsfarmingindigenous pigsbiodiversitéBhoutanconservationélevageporcs indigènesraces exotiquesbiodiversidadButáncerdos autóctonosconservacióncrianzarazas exóticas
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 48 , April 2011 , pp. 47 - 61
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

DoL. 2007. Livestock population and production bulletin: data pertaining to year 2005 and earlier periods. Thimphu, Bhutan, Department of Livestock, MoA.Google Scholar
DoL. 2008a. Brief history of exotic pig pig introduction in Bhutan and livestock trend from 1987–2007. Thimphu, Bhutan, Information Management System, DoL, MoA.Google Scholar
DoL. 2008b. Livestock statistics 2007. Thimphu, Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture.Google Scholar
DoL. 2009. Livestock statistics 2008. Thimphu, Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan.Google Scholar
Dorji, T. 2004. The spider and the piglet. In Proc. First Int. Seminar on Bhutan Studies. TThimphu, Bhutan, Centre for Bhutan Studies.Google Scholar
Dorji, T. 2010a. Maps of Bhutan. Created using ArcGIS 9.3. Gelephu, Bhutan, Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, RGoB.Google Scholar
Dorji, T. 2010b. Images of exotic breeds of pigs in Gelephu nuclelus farm. Gelephu, Bhutan, Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, RGoB.Google Scholar
FAO. 2007a. Global plan of action for animal genetic resources and the Interlaken Declaration. Rome, Italy, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (available at ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1404e/a1404e00.pdf)Google Scholar
FAO. 2007b. The global strategy for the management of farm animal genetic resources. Rome, Italy, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (available at ftp://ftp.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/cgrfa11/r11w9e.pdf)Google Scholar
FAO. 2010. Domestic animal diversity information system (DAD-IS). Food and Agriculture Organization (available at http://www.fao.org/dad-is), accessed on 28 April 2010.Google Scholar
MoA/ISNAR. 1992. National research programme., Bhutan, Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan.Google Scholar
MoA. 1999. A study report on crossbreeding of native pigs. Thimphu, Bhutan, National Pig Breeding Centre, Serbithang.Google Scholar
Nidup, K. 2008. Poultry can alleviate poverty: must be protected from bird flu. RNR J. Bhutan, 4(1): 175–178.Google Scholar
Nidup, K. & Tshering, P. 2007. Status of the family poultry production and HPAI in Bhutan. In Proc. 8th Asian Pacific Poultry Conf. of the World's Poultry Science Association, March 2007, Bangkok, Thailand, pp. 78–83.Google Scholar
Nidup, K. & Moran, C. 2010. Biodiversity and rapid loss of indigenous pig population in the Himalayas. In 11th APRU Doctoral Student Conf., 12–16 July 2010. Jakarta, Indonesia, Universitas Indonesia.Google Scholar
Nidup, K., Silva, G.L.L.P., Joshi, D.D., Pem, R., Gongora, J. & Moran, C. 2009. Population structure of South Asian Indigenous pigs determined by microsatellite markers. In Proc. Genetic Society of AustralAsia, 7–10th July 2009, Brisbane, Australia, p. 63.Google Scholar
Nidup, K., Silva, G.L.L.P., Joshi, D.D., Pem, R., Gongora, J. & Moran, C. 2010. Genetic diversity of pigs (Sus scrofa) in the Himalayas and Sri Lanka. 32nd Conference for the International Society for Animal Genetics. Edinburgh, Scotland (UK), 26–30 July 2010.Google Scholar
Pattison, J. 2002. Characterizing backyard pig keeping households of rural Mexico and their willingness to accept compensation for maintaining the indigenous Creole breed: a study of incentive measures and conservation options. London, University of London.Google Scholar
Pattison, J., Drucker, A.G. & Anderson, S. 2007. The cost of conserving livestock diversity? Incentive measures and conservation options for maintaining indigenous Pelon pigs in Yucatan, Mexico. Trop. Anim. Health Prod., 39: 339–353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
PCS. 1999. Bhutan 2020: a vision for peace, prosperity and happiness. Thailand, Planning Commission, RGoB; Thimphu, Keen Publishing Co., Ltd.Google Scholar
Penjor. 2008. The marriage system in lower Kheng. Bhutan: Ways of knowing. London, IAP.Google Scholar
Peter, C., Bruford, M., Perez, T., Dalamitra, S., Hewitt, G., Erhardt, G., & the ECONOGENE Consortium. 2007. Genetic diversity and subdivision of 57 European and Middle-Eastern sheep breeds. Anim. Genet., 38(1): 37–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
RGoB. 2009. Bhutan Portal (available at http://www.bhutan.gov.bt).Google Scholar
Subalini, E., Silva, G.L.L.P. & Demetawewa, C.M.B. 2010. Phenotypic characterization and production performance of village pigs in Sri Lanka. Trop. Agric. Res., 21: 198–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tanaka, K., Iwaki, Y., Takizawa, T., Dorji, T., Tshering, G., Kurosawa, Y., Maeda, Y., Mannen, H., Nomura, K., Dang, V.B., Chhum-Phith, L., Bouahom, B., Yamamoto, Y., Daing, T. & Namikawa, T. 2008. Mitochondrial diversity of native pigs in the mainland South and South-east Asian countries and its relationships between local wild boars. Anim. Sci. J.l, 79: 417–434.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Timsina, M.P. & Sherpa, D.L. 2005. Characterization of Bhutan's indigenous pig genetic resources and production systems. Bajo, Bhutan, Renewable Natural Resources Research Centre, Council of RNR Research of Bhutan, The Ministry of Agriculture.Google Scholar
Wangchuk, R. 2005. In Kuensel, ed. Bonism and Shamanism: an integral part of Bongop culture. http://www.kuenselonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5318, Kuensel Corporation Ltd. Thimphu, Bhutan. Accessed on 29 April 2009.Google Scholar