Lietuvos Baltosios Senojo Tipo (Lithuanian White) Pig

*Violeta Razmaitė, Rūta Šveistienė, Virginija Jatkauskienė, Raimondas Leikus, Remigijus Juška and Nina Batorek-Lukač*

#### **Abstract**

Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pigs are remaining purebred pigs of local Lithuanian pig breed (Lietuvos Baltosios) adapted to the specific local environment and locally available feedstuffs. Although previously Lietuvos Baltosios was the main dam pig breed in Lithuania, regarding scientific substantiation, their performances and products are, as in the case of Lietuvos Baltosios remains (senojo tipo-old type) pigs, practically untapped. Thus, the present chapter aims to present history and current status of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed, its exterior phenotypic characteristics, geographical location, production system and main products from this Lithuanian breed of pigs, one of the local pig breeds investigated in the project TREASURE. Moreover, a collection and review of available literature data, available until August 2017, on reproductive and productive traits of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed were carried out. Reproductive and growth performance, and feed intake in different stages was estimated. Lean meat content was measured by ultrasonic equipment Piglog on the side of live pigs at the position of 12 ribs. Measurements of backfat thickness were taken with a ruler on the left side of carcasses at dorsal line of the mid-back at the last rib and loin area at the 1/2 lumbar vertebra by digital camera EX-Z110 and, afterwards, were planimetrically measured by means of the "SCAN-STAR K" planimetrical system. Meat quality traits of the longissimus muscle were evaluated using pH at 45 min and 24 h after slaughter, objective colour (CIE L\*, a\*, b\*) and intramuscular fat content.

**Keywords:** traditional European breed, TREASURE, productive traits, phenotype, Lithuania

#### **1. History and the current status of the breed (census)**

The Lithuanian White old genotype (Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo) is a domestic pig native to Lithuania. This breed was developed by the process of improving old Lietuvos vietinės pigs with Large White, Middle White, Edelsweine, Berkshire and local Danish pigs. Until the twenty-first century, Lietuvos Baltosios pig breed was one of the main pig breeds used as dam breed in commercial crossing combinations. Since 2003, all purebred boars in breeding farms were castrated, and this caused a fast decline in pig numbers of original Lietuvos Baltosios breed and conservation of the old genotype of the Lithuanian White pig breed. Census of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed is presented in **Figure 1**. Presently,

#### **Figure 1.**

there are three registered farms of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pigs with about 93 breeding sows and 19 boars in the latest available status (December 2017).

#### **2. Exterior phenotypic characteristics**

The Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed morphology information is summarised in **Table 1**. It is a middle-sized, unicoloured white breed of pigs (**Figures 2** and **3**). The breed is well adapted to the local conditions. The animals are known for their strong constitution but low stress susceptibility.

#### **3. Geographical location and production system**

Lietuvos Baltosios pigs are conserved at the Centre for Farm Animal Genetic Resources, Coordination of Animal Science Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, where the nucleus herd with full genealogical structure is maintained. Most of the Lietuvos Baltosios pigs are concentrated in this nucleus


**167**

of 55<sup>o</sup>

**Figure 3.**

**Figure 2.**

*Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo sow.*

*Lietuvos Baltosios Senojo Tipo (Lithuanian White) Pig DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83771*

herd, which is located in Baisogala, Radviliškis district, in the central part of

recorded representatives of Lietuvos Baltosios pigs and their crosses with other breeds are in two farms located in Algimantai, Raseiniai district (in the latitude

in Lithuania, outdoor keeping or free access of outdoor enclosures during warm season for breeding pigs was recommended. The experiments showed that at average 13.7°C air temperature daily gain of outdoor pigs was 143 g higher and their daily feed intake (kg/day) was 3.5% lower than analogous indoor pigs [8]. However, nowadays due to the African swine fever in wild boars and high veterinary standards for biosecurity, all domestic pigs in Lithuania should be kept strictly indoors. Consequently, only conventional indoor pig rearing is possible, although Lietuvos Baltosios pigs are adapted to local conditions and suitable for

The activities for conservation of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed were launched in 1999 when a minimal herd of Lietuvos Baltosios pigs was formed at the

**4. Organisations for breeding, monitoring and conservation**

64′N and the longitude of 23<sup>o</sup>

42′N and in the longitude of 23<sup>o</sup>

70′E). Other

31′E). Previously

50′E), and in Ažuolų Būda, Kazlų Rūda

Lithuania (in the latitude of 55<sup>o</sup>

*Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo boar.*

district (in the latitude of 54<sup>o</sup>

ecological production.

26′N and in the longitude of 23<sup>o</sup>

#### **Table 1.**

*Summary of morphology information on Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

*Lietuvos Baltosios Senojo Tipo (Lithuanian White) Pig DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83771*

**Figure 2.** *Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo sow.*

*European Local Pig Breeds - Diversity and Performance. A Study of Project TREASURE*

there are three registered farms of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pigs with about 93 breeding sows and 19 boars in the latest available status (December 2017).

*Census of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed, presenting number of sows and boars per year, starting with* 

The Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed morphology information is summarised in **Table 1**. It is a middle-sized, unicoloured white breed of pigs (**Figures 2** and **3**). The breed is well adapted to the local conditions. The animals

Lietuvos Baltosios pigs are conserved at the Centre for Farm Animal Genetic Resources, Coordination of Animal Science Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, where the nucleus herd with full genealogical structure is maintained. Most of the Lietuvos Baltosios pigs are concentrated in this nucleus

**Measurement (average) Adult male Adult female** Body weight (kg) 299 212

Head length (cm) 32.4 30.6 Tail length (cm) 44.1 39.2 Ear length 20.9 21.3 Chest girth (cm) 158.8 136.7 Height at withers (cm) 92.1 80.0 Number of teats 14 14

(cm) 170.4 159.7

are known for their strong constitution but low stress susceptibility.

**3. Geographical location and production system**

*Measured from the back of the head to the starting point of the tail.*

*Summary of morphology information on Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

**2. Exterior phenotypic characteristics**

*the year of heard-book establishment.*

**166**

*1*

**Table 1.**

Body length1

**Figure 1.**

**Figure 3.** *Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo boar.*

herd, which is located in Baisogala, Radviliškis district, in the central part of Lithuania (in the latitude of 55<sup>o</sup> 64′N and the longitude of 23<sup>o</sup> 70′E). Other recorded representatives of Lietuvos Baltosios pigs and their crosses with other breeds are in two farms located in Algimantai, Raseiniai district (in the latitude of 55<sup>o</sup> 26′N and in the longitude of 23<sup>o</sup> 50′E), and in Ažuolų Būda, Kazlų Rūda district (in the latitude of 54<sup>o</sup> 42′N and in the longitude of 23<sup>o</sup> 31′E). Previously in Lithuania, outdoor keeping or free access of outdoor enclosures during warm season for breeding pigs was recommended. The experiments showed that at average 13.7°C air temperature daily gain of outdoor pigs was 143 g higher and their daily feed intake (kg/day) was 3.5% lower than analogous indoor pigs [8]. However, nowadays due to the African swine fever in wild boars and high veterinary standards for biosecurity, all domestic pigs in Lithuania should be kept strictly indoors. Consequently, only conventional indoor pig rearing is possible, although Lietuvos Baltosios pigs are adapted to local conditions and suitable for ecological production.

#### **4. Organisations for breeding, monitoring and conservation**

The activities for conservation of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed were launched in 1999 when a minimal herd of Lietuvos Baltosios pigs was formed at the

Institute of Animal Science, and thus their complete extinction has been prevented. Due to a small number of owners of Lithuanian pig breeds, it is not possible to establish a separate association. Lithuanian Pig Producers Association is responsible for organisation of pig breeding. Also, there is a joint company AB Kiaulių veislininkystė which is responsible for control of pig productivity, control of fattening and slaughter, carcass evaluation and data recording. Researches of Animal Science Institute of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences prepared the "National programme for the conservation of native farm animal genetic resources". The last version of consevation programme was adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania in 2008. The main purpose of this programme is collection, monitoring, investigation and conservation of Lithuanian national breeds in situ and ex situ. To achieve these goals, the National Farm Animal Genetic Resources Coordinating Centre was established at the Institute of Animal Science at the end of 2008. Lithuanian Endangered Farm Animal Breeders Association (LEFABA) was established at 2010 (**Table 2**).


**Table 2.**

*Contact details of breeding organisation for Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

#### **5. Productive performance**

#### **5.1 Reproductive traits**

The basic data obtained on reproductive traits in this review are presented in **Table 3**. The age of sows of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed at the first parturition is 14 [3]. They have 9.6–10.4 piglets per litter [1, 3, 4] of approximately 1.3 kg live body weight [2, 3, 5]. Stillborn percentage of piglets is in between 7 and 8% [1, 4], whereas piglet mortality rate until weaning in the considered studies was 10.8 and 19.7% [3, 4]. Duration of lactation is prolonged in comparison to modern intensive systems (to 58 days on average [2, 4]), which also leads to a higher piglet weaning weight (app. 12 kg [2, 4]).

#### **5.2 Growth performance**

The basic data on growth performance obtained in this review are presented in **Tables 4** and **5**. Due to big differences between studies with regard to the live weight range covered, we defined the stages for growth performance as lactation (regardless of how long it was), growing stage (from weaning to approximately 30 kg live body weight) and early and middle fattening stages estimated between approximately 30–60 kg and 60–100 kg live body weight, respectively. Sometimes, the source provided only the overall growth rate for the whole fattening stage (defined as overall) or even from birth to slaughter (defined as birth-slaughter, which is often calculated from the data given on live weight and age of pigs). It

**169**

*Lietuvos Baltosios Senojo Tipo (Lithuanian White) Pig DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83771*

> **No. of piglets alive per litter**

**Piglet live weight (kg)**

[1] – 10.4 – 8.1 – – – [2] – – 1.3 – – 12.0 60 [3] 14.0 9.6 1.3 – 19.7 – – [4] – 10.2 – 7.1 10.8 11.9 56 [5] – – 1.3 – – – –

*Summary of collected literature data on reproduction traits in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

**Reference Feeding No. of animals ADG lactation1 ADG fattening2 ADG**

[5] – – – – – 683 – [6] – – – – – – 500

[7] Ad Lib 28 275 846 746 777 541

*Summary of collected literature data on growth performance in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

**CP content of feed (%)**

[7] Ad Lib 12 16 28 2.22 2.94 2.65

*No. = number, ADFI = average daily feed intake in kg/day, ME = metabolisable energy, CP = crude protein, Ad* 

*ADFI in a period of fattening is reported for early and middle fattening stages estimated between approximately 30–60 kg and 60–100 kg body weight, respectively. Sometimes, the source provided only the overall daily feed intake* 

Rest 12 16 28 2.2 2.45 2.35

**No. of animals**

*No. = number, ADG = average daily gain in g, Ad Lib = ad libitum feeding regime, Rest = restrictive feeding regime.*

*ADG in a period of fattening is reported for early and middle fattening stages estimated between approximately 30–60 kg and 60–100 kg live body weight, respectively. Sometimes, the source provided only the overall growth rate for* 

– – – – – – 525

Rest 28 275 864 632 709 508

**Stillborn per litter (%)**

**Mortality at weaning (%)**

**Early Middle Overall**

**Piglet weaning weight (kg)**

**Duration of lactation (d)**

**birth-slaughter**

**ADFI fattening1**

**Early Middle Overall**

**Reference Sow age** 

**at first parturition (mth)**

*No. = number, mth = month, d = days.*

*ADG in a period of lactation regardless of how long it was.*

*the whole studied period (in that case defined as overall).*

**(MJ/kg)**

*Lib = ad libitum feeding regime, Rest = restrictive feeding regime.*

*for the whole studied period (in that case defined as overall).*

**Reference Feeding ME content of feed** 

**Table 3.**

*1*

*2*

*1*

**Table 5.**

**Table 4.**

should also be noted that a big part of the collected studies simulated practical conditions of the production systems used and that only a smaller part of the studies aimed at evaluating the breed potential for growth. In the considered studies, daily gain in lactation was 275 g/day [7], whereas average daily gain in early, middle and overall fattening stages was around 855, 689 and 723 g/day [5, 7] and 513 g/day from birth to slaughter [6, 7]. In the context of the evaluation of growth performance, it is also of interest to observe the extreme values, because it can be assumed that the maximum figures exhibit the growth potentials of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pigs in ad libitum conditions of feeding (≈777 g/day in overall fattening stage [7]).

*Summary of collected literature data on average daily feed intake (in kg/day) in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

#### *Lietuvos Baltosios Senojo Tipo (Lithuanian White) Pig DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83771*


#### **Table 3.**

*European Local Pig Breeds - Diversity and Performance. A Study of Project TREASURE*

Institute of Animal Science, and thus their complete extinction has been prevented. Due to a small number of owners of Lithuanian pig breeds, it is not possible to establish a separate association. Lithuanian Pig Producers Association is responsible for organisation of pig breeding. Also, there is a joint company AB Kiaulių veislininkystė which is responsible for control of pig productivity, control of fattening and slaughter, carcass evaluation and data recording. Researches of Animal Science Institute of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences prepared the "National programme for the conservation of native farm animal genetic resources". The last version of consevation programme was adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania in 2008. The main purpose of this programme is collection, monitoring, investigation and conservation of Lithuanian national breeds in situ and ex situ. To achieve these goals, the National Farm Animal Genetic Resources Coordinating Centre was established at the Institute of Animal Science at the end of 2008. Lithuanian Endangered Farm Animal Breeders Association (LEFABA) was established at 2010 (**Table 2**).

The basic data obtained on reproductive traits in this review are presented in **Table 3**. The age of sows of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed at the first parturition is 14 [3]. They have 9.6–10.4 piglets per litter [1, 3, 4] of approximately 1.3 kg live body weight [2, 3, 5]. Stillborn percentage of piglets is in between 7 and 8% [1, 4], whereas piglet mortality rate until weaning in the considered studies was 10.8 and 19.7% [3, 4]. Duration of lactation is prolonged in comparison to modern intensive systems (to 58 days on average [2, 4]), which also leads to a higher piglet

**Name of organisation Address Web address**

*Contact details of breeding organisation for Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

R. Žebenkos 12, LT-82317 Baisogala, Radviliškis distr., Lithuania

R. Žebenkos 12, LT-82317 Baisogala, Radviliškis distr., Lithuania

Verkių 5, LT-08218 Vilnius, Lithuania http://www.kiaules.lt

https://luga.lt/

https://gic.lsmuni.lt/

The basic data on growth performance obtained in this review are presented in **Tables 4** and **5**. Due to big differences between studies with regard to the live weight range covered, we defined the stages for growth performance as lactation (regardless of how long it was), growing stage (from weaning to approximately 30 kg live body weight) and early and middle fattening stages estimated between approximately 30–60 kg and 60–100 kg live body weight, respectively. Sometimes, the source provided only the overall growth rate for the whole fattening stage (defined as overall) or even from birth to slaughter (defined as birth-slaughter, which is often calculated from the data given on live weight and age of pigs). It

**168**

**5. Productive performance**

weaning weight (app. 12 kg [2, 4]).

**5.2 Growth performance**

**5.1 Reproductive traits**

Lithuanian Pig Producers

Lithuanian Endangered Farm Animal Breeders Association

National Farm Animal Genetic Resources Coordinating Centre

Association

**Table 2.**

*Summary of collected literature data on reproduction traits in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*


*No. = number, ADG = average daily gain in g, Ad Lib = ad libitum feeding regime, Rest = restrictive feeding regime.*

*1 ADG in a period of lactation regardless of how long it was.*

*2 ADG in a period of fattening is reported for early and middle fattening stages estimated between approximately 30–60 kg and 60–100 kg live body weight, respectively. Sometimes, the source provided only the overall growth rate for the whole studied period (in that case defined as overall).*

#### **Table 4.**

*Summary of collected literature data on growth performance in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*


*No. = number, ADFI = average daily feed intake in kg/day, ME = metabolisable energy, CP = crude protein, Ad Lib = ad libitum feeding regime, Rest = restrictive feeding regime.*

*1 ADFI in a period of fattening is reported for early and middle fattening stages estimated between approximately 30–60 kg and 60–100 kg body weight, respectively. Sometimes, the source provided only the overall daily feed intake for the whole studied period (in that case defined as overall).*

#### **Table 5.**

*Summary of collected literature data on average daily feed intake (in kg/day) in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

should also be noted that a big part of the collected studies simulated practical conditions of the production systems used and that only a smaller part of the studies aimed at evaluating the breed potential for growth. In the considered studies, daily gain in lactation was 275 g/day [7], whereas average daily gain in early, middle and overall fattening stages was around 855, 689 and 723 g/day [5, 7] and 513 g/day from birth to slaughter [6, 7]. In the context of the evaluation of growth performance, it is also of interest to observe the extreme values, because it can be assumed that the maximum figures exhibit the growth potentials of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pigs in ad libitum conditions of feeding (≈777 g/day in overall fattening stage [7]).

In considered studies, the information on feed intake and feed nutritional value were scarce, which limits the evaluation of growth potential. Average daily feed intake increased from 2.2 kg/day in early fattening stage to 2.7 kg/day in the middle fattening stage [7].

#### **5.3 Body composition and carcass traits**

The basic data obtained in this review with some of the most commonly encountered carcass traits that could be compared are presented in **Table 6**. In considered studies, pigs of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo breed were slaughtered at approximately 186 days of age [6], an average 100 kg live weight [6, 7]. Dressing yield was around 76% [7] and lean meat content approximately 50% [6]. The backfat thickness measured at the level of the last rib ranged from 17 to 31 mm [6, 7]. Muscularity measured as loin eye area averaged 28 cm2 [6], and muscle thickness measured at the cranial edge of the gluteus medius muscle was 39 mm [7].

#### **5.4 Meat quality**

The basic data obtained in this review with some of the most commonly encountered meat quality traits measured in the longissimus muscle that could be found are presented in **Table 7**. In the only available study reporting meat quality of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pigs [7], pH measured in the longissimus muscle at 45 min and 24 h post-mortem were in average 6.20 and 5.45, respectively. The


*No. = number, BW = body weight, CW = carcass weight.*

*1 Backfat thickness measured at the thinnest lumbar point according to ZP method (mm).*

*2 M muscle thickness measured by ultrasonic equipment Piglog 105 (7 cm from the midline by ultrasonic equipment Piglog 105 (7 cm from the midline between 10 and 11 ribs (mm) on live pigs)).*

#### **Table 6.**

*Summary of collected literature data on body composition and carcass traits in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*


*No. = number, pH 45 = pH measured approximately 45 min post-mortem, pH 24 = pH measured approximately 24 h post-mortem, IMF = intramuscular fat.*

*1 CIE, objective colour defined by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage; L\* greater value indicates a lighter colour; a\* greater value indicates a redder colour; b\* greater value indicates a more yellow colour.*

**171**

**Author details**

**Acknowledgements**

(44.24 mg/100 g).

Violeta Razmaitė

Remigijus Juška1

Lithuania

1

\*, Rūta Šveistienė

that may be made of the information it contains.

and Nina Batorek-Lukač

2 Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia

\*Address all correspondence to: violeta.razmaite@lsmuni.lt

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. Distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/

licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction for

1

, Virginija Jatkauskienė

2

The research was conducted within the project TREASURE, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 634476. The content of this paper reflects only the author's view, and the European Union Agency is not responsible for any use

1 Institute of Animal Science, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Baisogala,

1

, Raimondas Leikus1

,

non-commercial purposes, provided the original is properly cited.

*Lietuvos Baltosios Senojo Tipo (Lithuanian White) Pig DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83771*

**6. Use of breed and main products**

intramuscular fat content was around 2.1%, and colour measured in CIE L\*, a\* and b\* colour space was 54, 15 and 7.1 for L\*, a\* and b\*, respectively. Additionally, the longissimus muscle from Lietuvos Baltosios pigs has been shown to have lower contents of cholesterol (36.4 mg/100 g [7]) than lean conventional hybrids

In the past Lietuvos Baltosios pigs were used as a main dam breed in commercial crossing combinations; however, currently the use of pigs from such a small population is limited. Their share of the total slaughtered pigs is lower than 0.2%. Most of the Lietuvos Baltosios pigs are used in the common pig production chain. Due to veterinarian restrictions related to the African swine fever, people refuse to keep growing pigs up to bacon condition for self-supply, although this was a common practice in the past among the people of the countryside. As a bacon-type breed, Lietuvos Baltosios are more popular pigs than fatty Lietuvos vietinės pigs. In addition to the pigs used in common pork chain, a part of pigs are used for production of home-made products. The traditional Lithuanian pork products produced are smoked backfat, smoked hams and bellies, loins and different fresh and smoked dry sausages. There is a small amount of unused carcass parts in pig production, because Lithuanian cuisine knows different dishes not only from lean and fat pork but also from the offal, like meat jelly, blood pudding, liver pate and others.

#### **Table 7.**

*Summary of collected literature data on meat quality in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

ness measured at the level of the last rib ranged from 17 to 31 mm [6, 7].

measured at the cranial edge of the gluteus medius muscle was 39 mm [7].

The basic data obtained in this review with some of the most commonly encountered meat quality traits measured in the longissimus muscle that could be found are presented in **Table 7**. In the only available study reporting meat quality of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pigs [7], pH measured in the longissimus muscle at 45 min and 24 h post-mortem were in average 6.20 and 5.45, respectively. The

> **Dressing yield (%)**

– 184 96 – – 46.9 23 38 –

19 – 103 78 76.0 – 27 – 32

12 6.25 5.48 53 15.6 6.8 2.0

[5] – – – 90 – – – – – [6] – 188 93 – – 52.8 17 40 –

[7] 19 – 106 80 75.4 – 31 – 23

*M muscle thickness measured by ultrasonic equipment Piglog 105 (7 cm from the midline by ultrasonic equipment* 

*Summary of collected literature data on body composition and carcass traits in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo* 

**Reference No. of animals pH 45 pH 24 CIE1 IMF content (%)**

*No. = number, pH 45 = pH measured approximately 45 min post-mortem, pH 24 = pH measured approximately* 

*CIE, objective colour defined by the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage; L\* greater value indicates a lighter* 

[7] 12 6.15 5.41 55 15.5 7.4 2.2

*colour; a\* greater value indicates a redder colour; b\* greater value indicates a more yellow colour.*

*Summary of collected literature data on meat quality in Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo pig breed.*

**Lean meat content (%)**

**L\* a\* b\***

**Backfat thickness1 (mm)**

**M2 (mm)**

**Loin eye area (cm2 )**

Muscularity measured as loin eye area averaged 28 cm2

fattening stage [7].

**5.4 Meat quality**

**Reference No. of** 

**animals**

**Final age (d)**

*No. = number, BW = body weight, CW = carcass weight.*

*24 h post-mortem, IMF = intramuscular fat.*

**Final BW (kg)**

**Hot CW (kg)**

*Backfat thickness measured at the thinnest lumbar point according to ZP method (mm).*

*Piglog 105 (7 cm from the midline between 10 and 11 ribs (mm) on live pigs)).*

**5.3 Body composition and carcass traits**

In considered studies, the information on feed intake and feed nutritional value were scarce, which limits the evaluation of growth potential. Average daily feed intake increased from 2.2 kg/day in early fattening stage to 2.7 kg/day in the middle

The basic data obtained in this review with some of the most commonly encountered carcass traits that could be compared are presented in **Table 6**. In considered studies, pigs of Lietuvos Baltosios senojo tipo breed were slaughtered at approximately 186 days of age [6], an average 100 kg live weight [6, 7]. Dressing yield was around 76% [7] and lean meat content approximately 50% [6]. The backfat thick-

[6], and muscle thickness

**170**

**Table 7.**

*1*

*1*

*2*

**Table 6.**

*pig breed.*

intramuscular fat content was around 2.1%, and colour measured in CIE L\*, a\* and b\* colour space was 54, 15 and 7.1 for L\*, a\* and b\*, respectively. Additionally, the longissimus muscle from Lietuvos Baltosios pigs has been shown to have lower contents of cholesterol (36.4 mg/100 g [7]) than lean conventional hybrids (44.24 mg/100 g).

#### **6. Use of breed and main products**

In the past Lietuvos Baltosios pigs were used as a main dam breed in commercial crossing combinations; however, currently the use of pigs from such a small population is limited. Their share of the total slaughtered pigs is lower than 0.2%. Most of the Lietuvos Baltosios pigs are used in the common pig production chain. Due to veterinarian restrictions related to the African swine fever, people refuse to keep growing pigs up to bacon condition for self-supply, although this was a common practice in the past among the people of the countryside. As a bacon-type breed, Lietuvos Baltosios are more popular pigs than fatty Lietuvos vietinės pigs. In addition to the pigs used in common pork chain, a part of pigs are used for production of home-made products. The traditional Lithuanian pork products produced are smoked backfat, smoked hams and bellies, loins and different fresh and smoked dry sausages. There is a small amount of unused carcass parts in pig production, because Lithuanian cuisine knows different dishes not only from lean and fat pork but also from the offal, like meat jelly, blood pudding, liver pate and others.

#### **Acknowledgements**

The research was conducted within the project TREASURE, which has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 634476. The content of this paper reflects only the author's view, and the European Union Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

#### **Author details**

Violeta Razmaitė 1 \*, Rūta Šveistienė 1 , Virginija Jatkauskienė 1 , Raimondas Leikus1 , Remigijus Juška1 and Nina Batorek-Lukač 2

1 Institute of Animal Science, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Baisogala, Lithuania

2 Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia

\*Address all correspondence to: violeta.razmaite@lsmuni.lt

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. Distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits use, distribution and reproduction for non-commercial purposes, provided the original is properly cited.

Mangalitsa (Swallow-Belly

Čedomir Radović, Radomir Savić, Milica Petrović,

Autochthonous pig breed is adapted to the specific local environment, fed with various locally available feedstuffs and well adapted to extensive conditions of housing. Their genes represent safety in the production of food in future times, in which the greater importance will be attributed to the resistance and adaptability of the breed. In terms of scientific substantiation, their performances and products are, as in the case of Mangalitsa pig, practically untapped. Thus, the aim of the present chapter is to present history and current status of Mangalitsa pig breed, its exterior phenotypic characteristics, geographical distribution, production management and main products from this Serbian autochthonous breed of pigs, one of the local pig breeds investigated in the project TREASURE. Moreover, a collection and review of available literature data, available until August 2017, on reproductive and productive traits of Mangalitsa pig breed were carried out. Mangalitsa is a late and extremely fatty pig breed with low fertility, long suckling period and a very weak-slow growth. Although studies on Mangalitsa pig are scarce, the current review gives the first insight into this

Keywords: autochthonous breeds, traditional European breed, TREASURE,

Mangalitsa is an autochthonous fatty type pig breed, created from the old Serbian Šumadinka breed. During the nineteenth century, pigs were the main export product of Serbia, especially in the northern part of the country (today's Autonomous Province of Vojvodina) and in the region of Šumadija (central part of Serbia). In Šumadija, pigs were mostly fattened in the forests where they were searching for oak and beech acorn and other forest feed resources. The majority of animals were exported to the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy. In that time, the pig farming was based on local indigenous breeds with the dominant breeds Šiška and Šumadinka. Šiška and Šumadinka were the most primitive breed of pigs, created by domestication of wild pigs Sus scrofa ferus [1]. Šiška once had high importance, in the relatively recent past (eighteenth century), not only in Serbia but also in Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. In the nineteenth century, a new breed Šumadinka was created by domestication of wild pigs (Sus scrofa ferus) and reared in slightly

1. History and current status of the breed (census)

Marija Gogić, Miloš Lukić, Dragan Radojković

Mangalitsa) Pig

and Nina Batorek-Lukač

Abstract

local pig breed.

173

productive traits, phenotype, Serbia

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[2] Razmaitė V, Jatkauskienė V. Early growth of old genotype Lithuanian white piglets. Gyvulininkystė (Animal Husbandry: Scientific Articles). 2011;**58**:16-27

[3] Razmaite V. Personal communication, data collected within TREASURE survey WP 1.3; 2017

[4] Razmaitė V. Reproductive performance of Lithuanian indigenous sows in small closed population. In: Saveli O, Kärt O, Pärna E, Viinalass H, Tänavots A, Klimas Rand Grislis Z, editors. Animal Breeding in the Baltics. Tartu, Lithuania: Institute of Animal Science of Estonian Agricultural University; 2004. pp. 140-143

[5] FAO. The Domestic Animal Diversity Information System [Internet]. Available from: http://dad.fao.org/ [Accessed: 19 July 2017]

[6] Razmaitė V. Performance traits of Lithuanian pig genetic resources tested in two different environments. Gyvulininkystė. 2014;**62**:51-61

[7] Razmaite V. Personal communication, data collected within TREASURE survey WP 2.1; 2017

[8] Juška R. Personal communication, data collected within Project "Innovative growth systems for farm animals and representation of animal products to consumers" survey "Rural Developmental Programme 2007-2013 for Lithuania." Action—"Vocational Training and Information Actions" activity— "Dissemination of scientific knowledge and innovative practice in relation to agriculture, forestry and processing of agricultural products on farm". 2013

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