Pig breeding in the world. China

Currently, the pig market in China is monopolized by imported breeds. At the same time, according to statistics, there are about 48 local pig breeds in the country.

Chinese breeds are perfectly adapted to the use of roughage and local climatic conditions, are distinguished by early puberty.

However, the slow growth rate and the low percentage of meat in the carcass significantly reduce the possibility of profit from breeding local pigs, although the quality and taste of pork are good.

To improve the growth energy and meat qualities of Chinese pig breeds, a gene editing method has recently been used. Gene editing is a technology that enables accurate genomic modifications of a target gene.

Compared to traditional breeding methods, gene editing technology has advantages: a very short propagation time of the desired traits within the population, stable transmission of traits, and saving labor and material resources.

Currently, three gene editing technologies have been studied in China. Chinese biotechnology has chosen ZFN technology as the most advanced method, and is used for widespread use.

It has been experimentally established that mutations in the MSTN gene lead to muscle hypertrophy or the double muscle phenotype (DM) in cattle, sheep, dogs, and humans. But there was no information on significant muscle phenotypes associated with mutations in the MCN gene in pigs.

For the experiment was chosen to breed Meishan (Ms), which is characterized by high fertility, but has a high percentage of fat in the carcass and high feed conversion. The mutant was derived piglets using cloning mutant cells manually.

In the result of comparative analysis of animal carriers of mutant MSTN gene and not the mutant animals breed Meishan found that the square muscle of the eye from the representatives of the carriers of the mutant gene – 56,4 cm, and the animals breed Meishan - 26,3 cm; the percentage of meat in the carcass 61,2% and 44.6%, respectively.

in addition, about 20% of the mutant pigs had one additional thoracic vertebra, which allowed to increase the length of the body of animals. The results of the analysis of meat quality showed that there are no differences between mutant and not mutant pigs.

Currently, the method of obtaining mutant pigs by genomic modifications of the gene target MSTN patented and has good prospects for use in industrial pig farming China, as a way to improve meat quality of Chinese domestic breeds in bold type.

According to Chinese scientists edit the gene is an inevitable trend of livestock of the future.

According to the Institute of animal husbandry (IAS), Academy of agricultural Sciences of China (CAAS), associate Professor of Venta Kui.