C10: Classification of swine breeds (origin, constitution, size, color, role in crossing)

Question 1

where did domesticated specires originate from?

Answer 1

european wild boar
asian wild boar

domesticated around 13000BC
subspeciues of the wild ancestor: sus scrofa domesticus

Question 2

what are the 4 main breed groups of swine breeds?

Answer 2

● Large White - British, German, Hungarian
● Landraces - Danish, Belgian, German, American
● Colour - Pietrain, Duroc, Tamworth, Hampshire etc
● Asian - Vietnamese, Nianxyiang

Question 3

classification according to colour of pig: white

Answer 3

● Solid white, erect ears: Large white
● Solid white, dropping ears: Landraces

Question 4

classification according to colour of pig: black

Answer 4

Solid black, dropping ears: Large black
Black, white belted, erect ears: Hampshire
Black, white markings, erect ears: Poland China

Question 5

classification according to colour of pig: red

Answer 5

Solid red, dropping ears: Duroc solid red, erect ears: Tamworth

Question 6

classification according to colour of pig: spotted

Answer 6

Spotted, white, erect ears: Piétrain

Question 7

what are the classifications of pig breeds according to their role in commercial pig breeding.

Answer 7

paternal - used as sires
maternal - used as dams

Question 8

classifications of pig breeds according to their role in commercial pig breeding: paternal breed exmaples

Answer 8

● Pietrain
● Duroc
● Berkshire
● Hampshire
● Belgian landrace

Question 9

classifications of pig breeds according to their role in commercial pig breeding: paternal breed reasons for use.

Answer 9

● Pietrain
● Duroc
● Berkshire
● Hampshire
● Belgian landrace

These breeds are used as sires for the following reasons:
● High fertility rate
● High muscling and good quality meat e.g double muscling, marbling
● Good feed efficiency ratio and fast growth rates

Question 10

classifications of pig breeds according to their role in commercial pig breeding: maternal breed examples

Answer 10

● Landrace - Danish
● Large White (Yorkshire)
● Chester White

Question 11

classifications of pig breeds according to their role in commercial pig breeding: maternal breed reasons for use

Answer 11

These breeds are used as dams for the following reasons:
● High fertility and litter size - prolificacy
● Good mothering ability, high milk yield
● Often stress resistant

Question 12

what is the role of breed crossing?

Answer 12

• breed evaluation
• creation of new breed (composite breed)
• introduction of important gene
• upgrading
• avoiding genetic deterioration
• utilization of heterosis (hybrid vigour)

Crossing: 20-30% more efficient production of meat = HETEROSIS, the superiority of crossed individuals against parents in certain qualities.

HETEROSIS
Use of maternal and paternal lines, creating hybrids: eg. Landrace or Yorkshire sow → lean meat production.

Question 13

size of male and female

Answer 13

Size: great variation.
Fully-grown female (~5 years) 135 cm long; 55-70 kg)
Adult males 140-150 cm long; 80-90 kg

Question 14

how many pig breeds are in the world?

Answer 14

Approx. 600 pig breeds worldwide,
classified based on skin & hair color, ear form & position (erect/ drooping) and type (ham, bacon, pork, lard)