Litter size and health management as limiting factors of "In situ" conservation of Turopolje pig.
Since 1996, the Turopolje pig is recognised as a Croatian autochthonous extensive pig breed and was include in program of "in situ" preservation. The purpose of this paper was to analyze the changes in breeding population of Turopolje pig in relation to re productive traits and brucellosis outbreaks. 529 liters from 388 sows were analysed in the period from 2000 to 2 009. In average 1.2 liters/sow/year were observed with 4.21 and 3.90 piglets born alive and weaned per litter, respectively. Mortality rate during the weaning period was close to 20%. In the period from 1996 to 2009 the size of breeding population was increased more than ten times in the number of sows and five times in the number of boars. In 2008, the numbers of sows and boars decreased about 21% in relation to 2 007, primarily due to an outbreak of brucellosis. In average 44.2% and 30.1% of tested pigs during 2008 and 2009 were serologically positive to Brucella suis infection and were excluded from population. These results suggest requirements to increase the number of litters per year and survival of pigs born alive due to changes in Turopolje pig production system and development of a health monitoring program.