Questionnaire-based assessment of wild boar/domestic pig interactions and implications for disease risk management in Corsica

Wild boars and domestic pigs belong to the same species (Sus scrofa). When sympatric populations of wild boars, feral pigs, and domestic pigs share the same environment, interactions between domestic and wild suids (IDWS) are suspected to facilitate the spread and maintenance of several pig pathogens which can impact on public health and pig production. However, information on the nature and factors facilitating those IDWS are rarely described in the literature. In order to understand the occurrence, nature, and the factors facilitating IDWS, a total of 85 semi-structured interviews were implemented face to face among 25 strict farmers, 20 strict hunters, and 40 hunting farmers in the main traditional pig-farming regions of Corsica, where IDWS are suspected to be common and widespread. Different forms of IDWS were described: those linked with sexual attraction of wild boars by domestic sows (including sexual interactions and fights between wild and domestic boars) were most frequently reported (by 61 and 44% of the respondents, respectively) in the autumn months and early winter. Foraging around common food or water was equally frequent (reported by 60% of the respondents) but spread all along the year except in winter. Spatially, IDWS were more frequent in higher altitude pastures were pig herds remain unattended during summer and autumn months with limited human presence. Abandonment of carcasses and carcass offal in the forest were equally frequent and efficient form of IDWS reported by 70% of the respondents. Certain traditional practices already implemented by hunters and farmers had the potential to mitigate IDWS in the local context. This study provided quantitative evidence of the nature of different IDWS in the context of extensive commercial outdoor pig farming in Corsica and identified their spatial and temporal trends. The identification of those trends is useful to target suitable times and locations to develop further ecological investigations of IDWS at a finer scale in order to better understand diseases transmission patterns between populations and promote adapted management strategies

Introgressive hybridisation between domestic pigs (<i>Sus scrofa domesticus</i>) and endemic Corsican wild boars (<i>S. s. meridionalis</i>):Effects of human-mediated interventions

Owing to the intensified domestication process with artificial trait selection, introgressive hybridisation between domestic and wild species poses a management problem. Traditional free-range livestock husbandry, as practiced in Corsica and Sardinia, is known to facilitate hybridisation between wild boars and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa). Here, we assessed the genetic distinctness and genome-wide domestic pig ancestry levels of the Corsican wild boar subspecies S. s. meridionalis, with reference to its Sardinian conspecifics, employing a genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay and mitochondrial control region (mtCR) haplotypes. We also assessed the reliance of morphological criteria and the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) coat colour gene to identify individuals with domestic introgression. While Corsican wild boars showed closest affinity to Sardinian and Italian wild boars compared to other European populations based on principal component analysis, the observation of previously undescribed mtCR haplotypes and high levels of nuclear divergence (Weir's θ > 0.14) highlighted the genetic distinctness of Corsican S. s. meridionalis. Across three complementary analyses of mixed ancestry (i.e., STRUCTURE, PCADMIX, and ELAI), proportions of domestic pig ancestry were estimated at 9.5% in Corsican wild boars, which was significantly higher than in wild boars in Sardinia, where free-range pig keeping was banned in 2012. Comparison of morphologically pure- and hybrid-looking Corsican wild boars suggested a weak correlation between morphological criteria and genome-wide domestic pig ancestry. The study highlights the usefulness of molecular markers to assess the direct impacts of management practices on gene flow between domestic and wild species

Faecal Escherichia coli as biological indicator of spatial interaction between domestic pigs and wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Corsica

On the Mediterranean island of Corsica, cohabitation between sympatric domestic pigs and Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa) is common and widespread and can facilitate the maintenance and dissemination of several pathogens detrimental for the pig industry or human health. In this study, we monitored a population of free-ranging domestic pigs reared in extensive conditions within a 800-ha property located in Central Corsica which was frequently visited by a sympatric population of wild boar between 2013 and 2015. We used GPS collars to assess evidence of a spatially shared environment. Subsequently, we analysed by PFGE of XbaI-restricted DNA if those populations shared faecal Escherichia coli clones that would indicate contact and compared these results with those collected in a distant (separated by at least 50 km) population of wild boar used as control. Results showed that one of eight wild boars sampled in the study area shed E. coli XbaI clones identical to clones isolated from domestic pig sounders from the farm, while wild boar populations sampled in distant parts of the study area shared no identical clone with the domestic pigs monitored. Interestingly, within the sampled pigs, two identical clones were found in 2013 and in 2015, indicating a long-time persisting colonization type. Although the method of isolation of E. coli and PFGE typing of the isolates requires intensive laboratory work, it is applicable under field conditions to monitor potential infectious contacts. It also provides evidence of exchange of microorganisms between sympatric domestic pigs and wild boar populations. (Résumé d'auteur

Vers une appellation d'origine contrôlée des charcuteries de Corse. Construction du cahier des charges et des moyens de contrôle interne

National audienceLa Corse, notamment l’intérieur de l’île, possède une tradition de fabrication de charcuterie sèche originale : Prisuttu (jambon), Coppa (faux filet), Lonzu (filet) .Cette production repose sur une race porcine particulière, la valorisation de ressources montagnardes (châtaignes et glands) et les savoir-faire locaux. Conscient de l’ampleur des dérives qui menacent la notoriété et la renommée des produits de charcuterie corse, un « Syndicat de Défense et de Promotion de la charcuterie corse « Salameria Corsa » a été créé en septembre 2001. Dans ce cadre, le laboratoire de recherche sur le développement de l'élevage (LRDE) de l’Inra à Corte s’est investi au sein comité technique, afin d’apporter un appui à la construction d’un cahier des charges et aujourd’hui pour aider le syndicat à construire des outils de contrôle interne des conditions de production pour l’AOC. Les conditions de productions sont basées sur deux points majeurs : la race et la finition. Nous mettons à l’épreuve deux indicateurs analytiques pour évaluer leur traduction possible des conditions de production. Nous montrons ainsi que la teneur en lipides intramusculaires nous informe sur l’alimentation en finition des animaux, et que la teneur en lipides du gras nous informe sur la race des animaux. Nous déterminons, dans une expérimentation contrôlée des valeurs seuils que nous mettons ensuite à l’épreuve sur le terrain. Nous observons que les échantillons prélevés chez les administrateurs du syndicat et présentés comme étant issus d’animaux de race Corse avec finition châtaigne, sont conformes au référentiel pour le facteur race, mais sont très hétérogènes pour le facteur finition. Cette confrontation entre déclaration d’éleveurs et indicateurs analytiques permet d’ouvrir une réflexion avec les producteurs sur le contenu des cahiers des charges et la sévérité qu’il faut engager pour les points de contrôle

L’affinage long des jambons secs produit-il de la valeur ajoutée? Les apprentissages des producteurs de prisuttu corse

Il s'agit d'un article correspondant à une communication orale en conférence (IX Symposium of the Mediterranean Pig, Portalegre, Portugal, 3-5 Nov 2016)International audienceAmong meat products of Corsican pig production benefiting recently of a PDO, the prisuttu (dry cured ham) leads to the main value production stakes. Such changes imply that the prisuttu can’t be no more sold in the year as a long ageing is able to express its aromatic potential. How producers cope with these new perspectives and what are the main difficulties they are facing? We made an enquiry with a sample of 21 producers of the Corsican mountain area showing a large diversity of situations. Questions concerned the selection of animals, the characteristics of the green hams, the processing and the ageing, the marketing activity. The results obtained show several changes compared to the previous period. Pig rearing is partially in compliance with the code of practices of the PDO. Selection of the carcasses shows a priority for the heavier ones for producing prisuttu. Enlarging the ageing is progressively obtained according to the demand for this type of product. Marketing modalities changed a lot, with less pieces and more cutting sold, together with the search of fairs and local markets, and prices doubled or more. Main difficulties faced in recent years concern the standardization of the plants, implementation of traceability and search for new marketing circuit for ensuring high level of price. The transition toward an up-market orientation is partially observed and the expected dynamics thanks to PDO are not yet real. It lacks a strategic reflection for helping the producers to invest in the chains where their efforts on animals, processing an ageing could be better valorised.Parmi les produits porcins corses bénéficiant récemment d’une AOP, le prisuttu (jambon sec) représente la plus forte valeur ajoutée. L’AOP exige que le prisuttu ait plus d’un an pour exprimer son potentiel. Comment intégrer ces perspectives et quelles difficultés rencontrées? Nous avons mené une enquête auprès d’un échantillon de 21 producteurs représentatif de la diversité des situations. Les questions concernent le choix des animaux, les jambons frais, la transformation et l’affinage, la mise en marché. Les résultats montrent une évolution sensible dans la période récente. Les porcs sont partiellement élevés selon le cahier des charges de l’AOP. La sélection des carcasses privilégie les plus lourdes pour produire le prisuttu. La durée d’affinage augmente pro gressivement selon la demande. Les modalités de mise en marché montrent plus de coupe et de tranchage, et l’exploration des foires et marchés, pour un doublement des prix, voire davantage. Les difficultés rencontrées sont la mise aux normes des ateliers, la traçabilité et la recherche de nouveaux circuits pour hausser les prix de vente. La transition vers le marché du haut de gamme n’est que partielle et les dynamiques espérées du fait de l’AOP se font attendre. Il manque une réflexion stratégique qui aiderait les producteurs à investir afin de mieux valoriser leurs efforts sur les animaux, la transformation et l’affinage

Learning processes for processors in assessing a new product with protected designation of origin: The case of the <em>prisuttu</em> or dry cured ham of Corsica

International audienceIn order to protect Corsica as an origin for their production, some pig producers, generally practicing on-farm processing, created a syndicate for applying a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for the dry cured ham named “prisuttu”. Even if their actual practices are close to the rules included into the specification, some difficulties may appear for being in compliance with the whole code of practices of the future PDO. Anticipating the official registration, we explored the possibility of a “blank” assessment with a sample of 6 producers throughout 43 already registered in the syndicate. On several batches of slaughtered pigs, we implemented a fraction of the control plan foreseen for the future PDO. The controls operated in our work concern the operations around slaughtering, from the finishing pigs to be slaughtered till the end of the salting period of hams. The step from the farm breeding the pigs to the process into typical products must be considered as key in production chain. We present and discuss the results we obtained. They show that on some criteria, producers must conduct learning processes for increase their ability to make sure to be in compliance with the requirements of the future PDO