Investigation Report on Linzhi Native Pig as a New Genetic Resource

Linzhi Native Pig is an unique local breed recently discovered in the hinterland of Tibet. Its geological distribution, natural environment and ecological conditions have been explored. Using random sampling in typical colony of classification and standard animal-scientific and biogenetic techniques, we examined its contour features, size and weight, reproductive performances, carcass characters, meat quality, fresh-keeping features and the frequency distribution in the 19 structural gene loci encoding enzymes and proteins; according to folklores and Tibetan, Chinese and English history books, the materials and literature of Tibetan Studies, we have analyzed its origin; by visiting and requesting eminent Lamaists, practitioners of Tibetan medicine, farmers and herdsmen who self or relatives once treated with products from Linzhi Native Pigs, we recorded and summarized its application as a Tibetan medicinal material. Our findings make certain that Linzhi Native Pig holds great potential value in economy and culture.

Genetic Screening of Halothane Gene on Selected Philippine Native Pig Herds

The establishment of nucleus herds (NHs) of Native Pigs (NPs) at various R&D stations in the Philippines is currently being undertaken for food security and genetic conservation advocacy. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) is being utilized to identify individuals carrying favorable alleles of genes associated with production traits and screen out genetic defects (GD) for breeding purposes. Porcine Stress Syndrome (PSS) caused by a mutation in Halothane (HAL) gene is a GD frequently found in commercial breeds that when expressed, causes pale, soft, exudative (PSE) meat. PSE is inferior quality meat undesirable in the market causing economic losses to the swine industry. Thus, this study was conducted to screen the HAL gene through mutagenically separated-polymerase chain reaction (MSPCR) in selected NP herds and assessed its repeatability in local breeds. Results showed that out of 577 screened individuals, 543 (94.11%) were normal (NN), 0 (0%) were homozygous mutant (nn) and 34 (5.89%) were heterozygous carriers (Nn). Therefore, the optimized PSS screening protocol using MSPCR is also applicable to local breeds. As such, the availability of genetic tests for PSS could be useful in improving the Philippine NPs breeding selection and inhibiting or eliminating PSS mutant incidence within its nucleus herd.

Polymorphic Analysis of TLR2 Gene in Native Hainan Pig Breeds Based on Sequencing Technology

[Objective]The paper was to understand the polymorphism of TLR2 gene in native Hainan pig breeds.[Method]TLR2 gene were cloned from blood samples of Wuzhishan pigs,Lingao pigs and Tunchang pigs by PCR and sequenced.[Result]The DNA sequence of TLR2 gene in native Hainan pig breeds was 2649 bp and its CDS was 2358 bp.The intra-specific alignment of TLR2 gene sequences of the three pigs showed that there were seven nucleotide polymorphisms in Wuzhishan pigs(two of which located in the coding region),five nucleotide polymorphisms in Tunchang pigs(all of which were outside the coding region)and four nucleotide polymorphisms in Lingao pigs(one of which was located in the coding region).The results of inter-specific comparison showed that there were 12 nucleotide polymorphisms in three pig breeds,three of polymorphisms were missense mutations,resulting in changes in amino acids.The results of homologous analysis showed that the TLR2 gene sequences of the three pig breeds were highly conservative,with the homology ranging from 99.6% to 99.9%.Prediction and analysis of protein structure showed that AG mutation at 876 and 1454 sites of TLR2 gene in native Hainan pigs caused changes in secondary and tertiary structure of the protein,suggesting there might be possible changes in the function of TLR2.[Conclusion]The study provided reference for further research on the relationship between polymorphism of TLR2 gene and epidemic susceptibility of pigs.

Assessment of the Quality of Frozen-Thawed Semen or Epididymal Sperm in Three Native Vietnamese Pig Breeds

Our aim was to evaluate the quality of ejaculated and epididymal frozen-thawed pig sperm of endangered Vietnam native pig breeds. Ejaculated sperm was collected from live boars and epididymal sperm was collected from slaughtered boars of the MuongTe, Kieng Sat and Co BinhThuan breeds and frozen in 0.25 ml straws using a protocol established earlier for modern pig breeds. We evaluated the sperm quality after thawing in terms of motility and rates of viable and abnormal spermatozoa. Our results revealed that the sperm motility and rates of viable and abnormal frozen-thawed sperm were >30%, >44%, and <14%, respectively. The origin of sperm had an effect on the production of pig embryos in vitro. In the Co BinhThuan breed, ejaculated sperm generated higher cleavage, blastocyst and hatching rates than did the epididymal sperm (60.11% vs 56.02%, 17.23% vs 14.31%, 3.78% vs 2.34%, respectively, P < 0.05). Although no difference in cleavage rate, blastocyst formation rate and the average number of cells/blastocysts, the hatching blastocyst rate was different between the breeds (P > 0.05). In the Co BinhThuan breed, the rate of pregnancy of ejaculated groups was similar to that of the epididymal group. In conclusion, the ejaculated and epididymal sperm of native Vietnamese pigs were successfully frozen. We succeeded in creating embryos in vitro and pregnant pigs after artificial insemination from frozen-thawed semen in three native Vietnamese pig breeds for the first time. The use of the ejaculated sperm improved the production of native pig embryos in vitro efficiency.