Breeding and Performance Potential of Puławska Pigs – A Review

Abstract

The aim of the study was to discuss breeding of pigs of the Puławska breed, which is included in a Genetic Resources Conservation Programme, and to analyse performance parameters that are useful in domestic pig production. The Puławska breed is the oldest native breed of pig in Poland. Since 1996 it has been protected by a genetic resources conservation programme, owing to breeding traditions and the production traits characteristic of the breed. The use value of these pigs is currently at the level of maternal breeds: number of live piglets born per litter – 10.54; number of piglets reared per litter – 9.37; daily weight gains – 569 g for breeding boars and 562 g for breeding gilts; meat content – 54.6% for breeding boars and 54.9% for breeding gilts. An important element in favour of the use of this breed in domestic production of fresh pork and pork products is its meat quality parameters. The mean values for physical traits (WHC 22.42%, pH45 6.47, pH24 5.63) and chemical parameters (protein 22.70%, fat 2.65%) are characteristic of meat of normal quality. The Puławska breed can be used to produce high-quality fresh meat and meat products, including traditional and regional ones. Puławska pigs are bred and reared according to the principles of sustainable agriculture, which reduces the negative impact of pig production on the natural environment.

Analysis of Technological and Consumption Quality of Offal and Offal Products Obtained from Pulawska and Polish Landrace Pigs

“…In the 1980s and 1990s, Pulawska breeding suffered a setback due to lower muscling parameters, compared to those of imported meat-type breeds (Pietrain, Hampshire, Duroc). In 1996 the breed was included in the genetic resources conservation programme [11]. Today, the population shows slaughter traits, characteristic of the fatty-meat type, and is used to produce high quality meat and superior cured meats.…”

Ex Situ Conservation and Genetic Rescue of Endangered Polish Cattle and Pig Breeds with the Aid of Modern Reproductive Biotechnology – A Review

“…Furthermore, the effective population size estimated for native pig breeds undergoing in situ protection fluctuates between approximately 80 (Złotnicka Spotted) to more than 144 (Puławska). Therefore, this finding predicts that these pigs will become endangered, and this is reflected in their relatively high rate of inbreeding (Szulc et al, 2011;Babicz et al, 2020;Polak et al, 2021). It is noteworthy that the NRIAP collected native bull semen early and stored it at the Central Semen Bank (CSB), now called Bank of Biological Material.…”

Effect of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Supplementation on Pork Offal Quality

“…The quality of pork raw material: meat, fat and offal depend on genetic and environmental factors. The most important of these are diet and breed [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”