Pedigree relatedness and pseudo-phenotypes as a first approach to assess and maintain genetic diversity of the Walloon Piétrain pig population

peer reviewed ; The breeding of pure Piétrain animals is currently performed in two different contexts: industrial lines and individual breeders. As one of the four main pig breeds worldwide, the Piétrain breed might not be considered to be endangered. However, in Wallonia (southern Belgium), even though the Belgian Piétrain programme aims to preserve the Walloon Piétrain population through cryopreservation of semen of relevant boars, only 10 pure Piétrain breeders remain and produce traditional breeding stock. Current breeders are retiring and no new breeders are replacing them. Moreover, the... Mehr ...