It is an indisputable fact that although China is the world’s largest pork consumer, our indigenous pig breeds are in steep decline.

At present, the dominant breed in China is the imported foreign pigs with fast slaughter and high profit, accounting for 98% of the market share, while the market share of Chinese native pigs is only 2%. This not only means that the biodiversity of local pig breeds in China is drastically reduced, but also leads to more and more homogeneous germplasm resources, resulting in a continuous decline of breed resistance to diseases, and in case of major epidemics, such as African swine fever, the whole breed will be hit hard.

Fujian has a relatively rich local livestock and poultry breed resources, each with unique excellent traits, which can ensure the sustainable development of animal husbandry. In the 1980s, there were eight local good pig breeds in the province. While by the beginning of this century, only about 120 Guanzhuang Flower Pig breeds existed in Shanghang, Longyan, which were also on the verge of extinction.

In early September 2021, Zhang Weibin, who has been concerned about and promoting the conservation of the Shangguan Flower Pig breeding stock, applied to China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) for the establishment of “Community Conservation Area for Guanzhuang Flower Pig at Fujian”, which was approved, and the Research Department of CBCGDF will fully support the construction of the conservation area and promote the conservation of the flower pig population.

The government of Guanzhuang has always attached great importance to its ecological and environmental protection. Native to Guanzhuang Town, Shanghang County, Fujian Province, Guanzhuang Flower Pig is famous for its good disease resistance, strong fertility, rough feeding resistance, docile character, early maturity and easy fattening, as well as tender meat. Included in the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Breeds List (2021 Edition), it is one of the eight local excellent pig breeds in Fujian. In October 2002, Guanzhuang Flower Pig was listed as an “endangered breed”.

From the current situation of breed conservation, the core herd is too small to meet the minimum number of breed conservation requirements, which is very unfavorable to the breed conservation in the long term, and Guanzhuang Flower Pig could be endangered under the African swine fever epidemic.

Taking various measures to effectively ensure the recovery and prosperity of Guanzhuang Flower Pig population is the primary task after the establishment of the conservation area. The focus is to jointly carry out research and provide industrial support for the conservation of native pig germplasm resources with the relevant local departments, to help rural revitalization and biodiversity conservation. 

Original Chinese article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/JWBXqk6u405HCZ4XI-Sxtg 

Translator/Samantha

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