The Lithuanian Native or is a traditional Lithuanian
breed
A breed is a specific group of breedable domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist seve ...
of
domestic pig
The pig (''Sus domesticus''), also called swine (: swine) or hog, is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is named the domestic pig when distinguishing it from other members of the genus '' Sus''. Some authorities cons ...
. In the twenty-first century it is an
endangered breed
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, invasiv ...
, kept principally for
conservation reasons. The principal herd is kept at the Centre for Farm Animal Genetic Resources of
Baisogala
Baisogala is a small town in Lithuania. It is situated on the crossroads of Kėdainiai–Šeduva and Raseiniai–Šeduva roads. According to the 2011 census, it had 2,034 residents.
History
Baisogala is first mentioned in written sources in 1 ...
, in the
Radviliškis District Municipality
Radviliškis District Municipality () is one of the seven List of municipalities of Lithuania, municipalities of Šiauliai County (''Šiaulių apskritis'') in Lithuania. Radviliškis town has been its center since 1950.
Radviliškis district has ...
of central Lithuania.
History
The Lithuanian Native is a traditional breed of rural Lithuania. In the
Soviet era
The history of the Soviet Union (USSR) (1922–91) began with the ideals of the Russian Bolshevik Revolution and ended in dissolution amidst economic collapse and political disintegration. Established in 1922 following the Russian Civil War, ...
in the twentieth century, it was extensively
cross-bred
A crossbreed is an organism with purebred parents of two different breeds, varieties, or populations. A domestic animal of unknown ancestry, where the breed status of only one parent or grandparent is known, may also be called a crossbreed though ...
with more productive modern pigs to create the
Lithuanian White.
In 1993 a herd of about 200 of the original pigs was established at the Institute of Animal Sciences. In 2003 a total population of was reported to
DAD-IS
DAD-IS is the acronym for the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System, a tool developed and maintained by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as a part of its programme for management of animal genetic resources for ...
, and the breed was calculated to constitute of the total pig population of the country; in 2007 its
conservation status
The conservation status of a group of organisms (for instance, a species) indicates whether the group still exists and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing conservation ...
was listed by the
FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; . (FAO) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition ...
as 'not at risk'. A
herd book
A breed registry, also known as a herdbook, studbook or register, in animal husbandry, the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders wh ...
for the breed was established in 2008. In 2024 its conservation status was listed as 'at risk/critical', based on a reported total population for 2023 of , of which were breeding sows.
Characteristics
Typical features include
wattles on the
neck
The neck is the part of the body in many vertebrates that connects the head to the torso. It supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that transmit sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body. Addition ...
, and usually large black spots on the body, but colour variations include black-and-white, ginger, black, and tri-coloured. They have a friendly
temperament
In psychology, temperament broadly refers to consistent individual differences in behavior that are biologically based and are relatively independent of learning, system of values and attitudes.
Some researchers point to association of tempera ...
. Being insensitive to the sun, these pigs are suitable for grazing.
Use
The Lithuanian Native's characteristics were used in producing the
Lithuanian White and many Russian breeds.
References
External links
Lithuanian Native Flickr photo
Lithuanian Native zum.lt photo
Lithuanian Native pinigukarta.lt photo
Pig breeds
Pig breeds originating in Lithuania
{{Pig-stub