Genetic resources of the Turopolje pig

The Turopolje pig breed in Austria comprises about 70 animals. Therefore its conservation status is assumed to be highly critical. Recent studies (thesis at BOKU) revealed a genetic diversity of the Austrian Turopolje pig breed which can be expressed by the relationship of two unrelated individuals. This results, derived from pedigree analysis, highlight the need for further investigation of the genetic structure in this pig breed by means of DNA and marker analysis. As the existing Austrian Turopolje population was based only on 6 individuals, there is no doubt that importing new unrelated breeding animals from the original breeding area (Save delta, Posavina) will be essential for the future breeding work. But even in Croatia the population has become small and no information about diversity, genetic relationships or population structure is available. If there are existing herds of reasonable size it has to be ensured that only purebred animals should be used for the future Austrian breeding program. The best way to manage this situation is to perform a comprehensive characterization of the Turopolje breed and closely related breeds in the Balkan region round the Save Delta. In this project it is planned to use morphometric methods to characterize the phenotypes of the animals under study. The main question, genetic structure and diversity, is solved by the analysis of a FAO certified set of microsatellite markers. For this purpose it is planned to sample hair probes from the several populations. Furtheron the situation and the future of Turopolje breeding in the single countries (Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia) should be documented by interviews with key persons (breeders, scientists, official representants). Finally this project will focus also on several autochthonous pig breeds related to the Turopolje breed.