Characterizing practices and the sanitary status of farms of Creole and Creole-like pigs in Martinique

Notice à reprendre pas de clé UT au 27 juin 2019The study aimed at characterizing the management of 27 pig farms in the frame-work of a conservation program of the Creole pig of Martinique. Blood samples were collected on 67 pigs for serological analysis. A multivariate analysis dis-criminated six groups of farms: group 1 (n = 9) consisted of family farms with fewer than three boars and a higher age of replacement of reproducers than the other farms (6.2 vs 5.0 years, p < 0.01); group 2 (n = 5) consisted of small farms with two matings per sow per yearand with more than two livestock species; group 3 (n = 5) consisted of farms with more than four boars and more than four sows, with batch management and a feeding diet mainly based on industrial concentrates; group 4 (n = 4) consisted of family farms with pigs reared outdoors and a feeding diet mainly based on local resources (50 to 100% of the total diet content); group 5 (n = 3) consisted of mixed farming systems with more than three boars and more than 10 sows; and group 6 consisted of a farm with a high number of females without batch management. The analysis of serological data showed that, regardless of the farming system (outdoor, semi outdoor, indoor), the sanitary status of pig farms in Martinique was good, with no identified con-tagious disease. The typology obtained and the results on the sanitary status of farms are encouraging signs to pursue the project aiming at the conservation of Creole pigs by exchange of healthy reproducers between farmers and the devel-opment of a niche market around heritage values

Structure génétique de la population porcine férale de Martinique

Structure génétique de la population porcine férale de Martinique. 51. Journées de la Recherche Porcin

Structure génétique de la population porcine férale de Martinique

Structure génétique de la population porcine férale de Martinique. 51. Journées de la Recherche Porcin

Characterizing practices and the sanitary status of farms of Creole and Creole-like pigs in Martinique

Notice à reprendre pas de clé UT au 27 juin 2019The study aimed at characterizing the management of 27 pig farms in the frame-work of a conservation program of the Creole pig of Martinique. Blood samples were collected on 67 pigs for serological analysis. A multivariate analysis dis-criminated six groups of farms: group 1 (n = 9) consisted of family farms with fewer than three boars and a higher age of replacement of reproducers than the other farms (6.2 vs 5.0 years, p < 0.01); group 2 (n = 5) consisted of small farms with two matings per sow per yearand with more than two livestock species; group 3 (n = 5) consisted of farms with more than four boars and more than four sows, with batch management and a feeding diet mainly based on industrial concentrates; group 4 (n = 4) consisted of family farms with pigs reared outdoors and a feeding diet mainly based on local resources (50 to 100% of the total diet content); group 5 (n = 3) consisted of mixed farming systems with more than three boars and more than 10 sows; and group 6 consisted of a farm with a high number of females without batch management. The analysis of serological data showed that, regardless of the farming system (outdoor, semi outdoor, indoor), the sanitary status of pig farms in Martinique was good, with no identified con-tagious disease. The typology obtained and the results on the sanitary status of farms are encouraging signs to pursue the project aiming at the conservation of Creole pigs by exchange of healthy reproducers between farmers and the devel-opment of a niche market around heritage values

Research framework for the development of Creole pig's niche market in Martinique: a holistic approach

The Creole pig has always been part of the rural and suburban landscape of Martinique. Currently, this breed is not integrated into a research and conservation program. The Natural Park of Martinique Region (PNRM) has the objective to maintain and valorize the genetic heritage of Martinique’s Creole pig and develop a niche business. Based on PNRM knowledge, some Creole pigs live freely in the mountains in the North, in the South coast and in a few disparate traditional breeders located in the countryside. It is essential to carry out an inventory of the local pig population to propose a scheme for conservation and economic development. In order to favour the appropriation of the Creole pig niche, the PNRM, as a decision maker, acts in a systemic and holistic way by considering the whole Martinican territory and the pig sub-sector: producers involved in the COOPMAR pig farmers’ cooperative, researchers of INRA (FWI), the food chain and at least (in a second phase) the consumers and the Martinican society. First of all, the pig farmers are involved (private family farms and specialised pig producers). Researchers and technicians from PNRM and INRA-URZ (Animal production research unit) and INRA-PTEA (Tropical platform in animal experimentation) are performing experimental studies both in controlled conditions and in farms, in order to: i) determine phenotypic and genetic characteristics of Martinique’s Creole pigs in comparison with other pig breeds from the Caribbean area; ii) help at designing genetic management to maintain the population and avoiding inbreeding; iii) help at defining feeding management by a) establishing, at the whole territorial food chain, an inventory of co or by-products available for pig feeding; b) implementing experimental studies in technology for conservation; c) implementing feeding and growing experiments and finally iv) help at defining eco-friendly production systems a) aiming at generate an adequate revenue and b) focusing on ecosystem services such as meat quality, socio-cultural services and circular economy