Pigs - Lithuanian Local

   Lithuanian local pigs developed in Lithuanian ethnic lands following natural selection and introduction of some imported pigs. Their colour range is quite wide: white, black, brownish, but in most cases – motley, both long- and short-eared. The most striking morphological feature is beads under the neck. Local pigs are fattened, less demanding in terms of feeding and keeping conditions, and insensitive to direct sunlight, thus suitable for grazing. There were quite a lot of pigs after World War II (especially in the Southeast); however, they were rapidly disappearing from large farms as Lithuanian White pigs were being spread. By the end of the XX century, there were only single pigs remaining, which were still interbred with pigs of other breeds. Thus in 1993 a herd of complete genealogical structure was formed of remaining pigs found after expeditions thus recreating a mini population of Lithuanian local pigs at the Lithuanian Institute of Animal Science. Before that no breeding-selective work had been performed. However, starting with first local pig litters farrowed at the Institute, all pigs are identified and registered, and undergo productivity control both at the Institute farm and the pig control fattening station. Based on the data collected at the Institute, in 1998 Lithuanian local pig breeding-selective plan was prepared as well as evaluation rules for Lithuanian local pigs. The local pig herd of the Lithuanian Institute of Animal Science has been recognised Lithuanian local pig breeding nucleus farms with stable amount of 150-200 local pigs; unfortunately, this is the only herd of local pigs. Private people only keep single local pigs. Despite of collection of origin and productivity data on several Lithuanian local pig generations, the herd book has not yet been prepared. Thanks to the number of identified-registered local pigs, as well as regular monitoring, and direct supervision from the Lithuanian Institute of Animal Science, the status of Lithuanian local pigs can be considered critical-supportive with stable minimal number of pigs.