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Lithuanian Native pig

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lithuanian Native
Conservation status
Other names
  • Lietuvos Vietinė
  • Lithuanian Indigenous Wattle
  • Native Lithuanian
Country of originLithuania
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    180 kg[2]
  • Female:
    150 kg[2]
Height
  • Male:
    79 cm[2]
  • Female:
    71 cm[2]
  • Pig
  • Sus domesticus

The Lithuanian Native or Lithuanian: Lietuvos Vietinė is a traditional Lithuanian breed of domestic pig. In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed, kept principally for conservation reasons. The principal herd is kept at the Centre for Farm Animal Genetic Resources of Baisogala, in the Radviliškis District Municipality of central Lithuania.[citation needed]

History

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The Lithuanian Native is a traditional breed of rural Lithuania. In the Soviet era in the twentieth century, it was extensively cross-bred with more productive modern pigs to create the Lithuanian White.[3]: 121 

In 1993 a herd of about 200 of the original pigs was established at the Institute of Animal Sciences.[4] In 2003 a total population of 6259 was reported to DAD-IS, and the breed was calculated to constitute 0.59% of the total pig population of the country;[2][5]: 22  in 2007 its conservation status was listed by the FAO as 'not at risk'.[1]: 75  A herd book for the breed was established in 2008.[citation needed] In 2024 its conservation status was listed as 'at risk/critical', based on a reported total population for 2023 of 111, of which 74 were breeding sows.[2]

Characteristics

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Typical features include wattles on the neck, and usually large black spots on the body, but colour variations include black-and-white, ginger, black, and tri-coloured. They have a friendly temperament. Being insensitive to the sun, these pigs are suitable for grazing.

Use

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The Lithuanian Native's characteristics were used in producing the Lithuanian White and many Russian breeds.

References

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  1. ^ a b Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Breed data sheet: Native Lithuanian / Lithuania (Pig). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed April 2024.
  3. ^ N.G. Dmitriev, L.K. Ernst (1989). Animal genetic resources of the USSR. FAO animal production and health paper 65. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251025827. Archived 13 November 2009. Also available here, archived 29 September 2017.
  4. ^ Arca del Gusto: Maiale lituano (in Italian). Bra, Cuneo: Fondazione Slow Food per la Biodiversità Onlus/Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity. Accessed April 2024.
  5. ^ L. Baltrėnaitė (editor) (2003). Lithuanian Domestic Animal Genetic Resources – Nowadays and Future Perspectives. Kaunas: Lithuanian Veterinary Academy. Archived 13 November 2023. Annex to: Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 10 January 2017.
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