RAÇAS SUÍNAS NACIONAIS: LEVANTAMENTO, CARACTERIZAÇÃO FENOTÍPICA E SUA IMPORTÂNCIA PARA OS PRODUTORES DE GUARAPUAVA/PR E REGIÃO

Abstract

The pigs of national breeds, characterized by rusticity, high adaptability to our country and resistance to diseases had great importance until the middle of the 20th century. However, currently, these are in the phase of decline due to the model of agriculture adopted from the 70's and the importation of foreign swine lines. This study aimed to characterize phenotypically the remaining native swine breeds of the municipalities of Guarapuava, Boa Ventura de São Roque, Palmital, Pitanga, Prudentópolis, Turvo and Santa Maria do Oeste in the State of Paraná / Brazil in order to know and contribute to conservation of these lineages. We selected 20 properties indicated by students enrolled in the State Center of Professional Education Arlindo Ribeiro located in Guarapuava that already knew the producers previously. They agreed to participate in the survey and signed the consent form. Locations have also been mapped using GPS to co-operate with future research. Based on the descriptors used to characterize the pigs as head profile, size and positioning of the ears and coat, they were found in two visited properties, swine of the Moorish breed and pigs very close to the Caruncho lineage. In the others, a great miscegenation of breeds was observed that although they have traces of some native swine lines, are probably, fruit in the great majority, of disordered crosses. Therefore, the national swine breeds are very few in these municipalities. In a second step, informal conversations were held with the pig producers found in order to know what breeds of the animals they have and what the purpose of the breeding is. In this sense it was noted that pigs are designated with various terminologies and are generally created for the production of lard and meat for the self-consumption and sale of surplus animals. In addition, information was also collected on the practice of food, sanitary and reproductive management performed by pig owners, with breeding systems and diversified forms of production being observed. A large part of the producers also reported wanting to continue with the breeding of pigs of national lineages also known as pork lard because of their rusticity and low requirement in the food.