Biological characteristics of Turopolje pig breed as factors in renewing and preservation of population.

Since 1996, Turopolje pig breed, an autochthonous Croatian breed and one of the older European pig breed is in the state of renewal and conservation. The aim of this study was to determine the size of breeding and effective (Ne) population and some of the biological traits which should be of importance in the program of in-situ preservation. According to the FAO standards, this breed is in the status of critical/endangerment although the obtained results showed the increase of breeding (12 vs. 130 sows and 3 vs. 15 boars) and effective population (9.6 vs. 53.8) from 1996 to 2008, respectively. The average litter size (number of born piglets in total and live were 7.7 and 6.3, respectively) and piglets weights at 1st (1.25 kg) and 42nd (4.4 kg) day of age were within the standards for this breed. The average survival of piglets from 1st to 42nd day of age was 73.5%. The composition of carcass and carcass parts estimated as a ratio of muscle:fat tissues was 1.1:1.0 and 0.8-1.5:1.0, respectively. In addition, fatty acid composition of M. longissimus dorsi (MLD) and back fat as well as MLD histochemical and histomorphological characteristics (diameter and proportion of red slow-twitch oxidative (SO), white fast-twitch glycolytic (FG) and intermediate fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG) fibre types) were specific. The characteristics of carcass and tissues traits are consequences of specific historical conditions, breeding, selection and production in specific environment. The biological traits of Turopolje pig breed are not limiting factors in the increasing of breeding population and changing of the present endangerment status.