Substantial hybridisation between wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) and East Balkan pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica) in natural environment as a result of semi-wild rearing in Bulgaria

The East Balkan pig (EBP) is a traditional domestic pig breed in Bulgaria managed in semi-wild conditions and well-adapted to the continental climate and rearing on pastures. From the genetical and historical point of view it is important to preserve this ancient breed. However, over the last severa...

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Main Authors: Ivan Stojanov Nikolov, Bernhard Christian Stoeckle, Georgi Markov, Ralph Kuehn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2017-01-01
Series:Czech Journal of Animal Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-201701-0001_substantial-hybridisation-between-wild-boars-sus-scrofa-scrofa-and-east-balkan-pigs-sus-scrofa-f-domestica.php
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author Ivan Stojanov Nikolov
Bernhard Christian Stoeckle
Georgi Markov
Ralph Kuehn
author_facet Ivan Stojanov Nikolov
Bernhard Christian Stoeckle
Georgi Markov
Ralph Kuehn
author_sort Ivan Stojanov Nikolov
collection DOAJ
description The East Balkan pig (EBP) is a traditional domestic pig breed in Bulgaria managed in semi-wild conditions and well-adapted to the continental climate and rearing on pastures. From the genetical and historical point of view it is important to preserve this ancient breed. However, over the last several years, a dramatic decline of EBP herds has been observed. Moreover, introgression between EBP and wild boar in Bulgaria (WBB) is very likely to have occurred. In this study we used a set of 10 microsatellites and the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method on melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) polymorphisms to study the degree of hybridisation between WBB, EBP, and a commercial pig breed (CPB). MC1R results identified WBB-EBP hybrids and the analysis of the microsatellite data with a Bayesian assignment approach and the Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components revealed a low genetic differentiation between WBB and EBP and a high amount of introgression of WBB into EBP. A mentionable introgression of CPB into EBP was also revealed. It is apparent that the traditional rearing system of EBP, which is hundreds of years old, has led to a permanent hybridisation between WBB and EBP. In our opinion, the preservation of the semi-wild rearing system is a prerequisite for the conservation of this old, indigenous pig breed and its genetic composition, as the semi-wild rearing system allows the continuous introgression with WBB. Moreover, the introgression of commercial breeds into EBP or WBB should be prevented. Due to the bidirectional gene flow these hybridisation events would have negative consequences (i.e. loss of viability and adaptation) for the wild boars as well as for the indigenous pig breed.
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spelling doaj.art-70d327652ca746ea846d78f18e7298ea2023-02-23T03:33:30ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesCzech Journal of Animal Science1212-18191805-93092017-01-016211810.17221/49/2015-CJAScjs-201701-0001Substantial hybridisation between wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) and East Balkan pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica) in natural environment as a result of semi-wild rearing in BulgariaIvan Stojanov Nikolov0Bernhard Christian Stoeckle1Georgi Markov2Ralph Kuehn3Molecular Zoology Unit, Chair of Zoology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, GermanyAquatic Systems Biology Unit, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Technical University of Munich, Freising, GermanyInstitute of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, BulgariaMolecular Zoology Unit, Chair of Zoology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, GermanyThe East Balkan pig (EBP) is a traditional domestic pig breed in Bulgaria managed in semi-wild conditions and well-adapted to the continental climate and rearing on pastures. From the genetical and historical point of view it is important to preserve this ancient breed. However, over the last several years, a dramatic decline of EBP herds has been observed. Moreover, introgression between EBP and wild boar in Bulgaria (WBB) is very likely to have occurred. In this study we used a set of 10 microsatellites and the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method on melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) polymorphisms to study the degree of hybridisation between WBB, EBP, and a commercial pig breed (CPB). MC1R results identified WBB-EBP hybrids and the analysis of the microsatellite data with a Bayesian assignment approach and the Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components revealed a low genetic differentiation between WBB and EBP and a high amount of introgression of WBB into EBP. A mentionable introgression of CPB into EBP was also revealed. It is apparent that the traditional rearing system of EBP, which is hundreds of years old, has led to a permanent hybridisation between WBB and EBP. In our opinion, the preservation of the semi-wild rearing system is a prerequisite for the conservation of this old, indigenous pig breed and its genetic composition, as the semi-wild rearing system allows the continuous introgression with WBB. Moreover, the introgression of commercial breeds into EBP or WBB should be prevented. Due to the bidirectional gene flow these hybridisation events would have negative consequences (i.e. loss of viability and adaptation) for the wild boars as well as for the indigenous pig breed.https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-201701-0001_substantial-hybridisation-between-wild-boars-sus-scrofa-scrofa-and-east-balkan-pigs-sus-scrofa-f-domestica.phpmicrosatellitespcr-rflpmelanocortin-1 receptorintrogressionlocal pig breedcommercial pig breed
spellingShingle Ivan Stojanov Nikolov
Bernhard Christian Stoeckle
Georgi Markov
Ralph Kuehn
Substantial hybridisation between wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) and East Balkan pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica) in natural environment as a result of semi-wild rearing in Bulgaria
Czech Journal of Animal Science
microsatellites
pcr-rflp
melanocortin-1 receptor
introgression
local pig breed
commercial pig breed
title Substantial hybridisation between wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) and East Balkan pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica) in natural environment as a result of semi-wild rearing in Bulgaria
title_full Substantial hybridisation between wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) and East Balkan pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica) in natural environment as a result of semi-wild rearing in Bulgaria
title_fullStr Substantial hybridisation between wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) and East Balkan pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica) in natural environment as a result of semi-wild rearing in Bulgaria
title_full_unstemmed Substantial hybridisation between wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) and East Balkan pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica) in natural environment as a result of semi-wild rearing in Bulgaria
title_short Substantial hybridisation between wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) and East Balkan pigs (Sus scrofa f. domestica) in natural environment as a result of semi-wild rearing in Bulgaria
title_sort substantial hybridisation between wild boars sus scrofa scrofa and east balkan pigs sus scrofa f domestica in natural environment as a result of semi wild rearing in bulgaria
topic microsatellites
pcr-rflp
melanocortin-1 receptor
introgression
local pig breed
commercial pig breed
url https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-201701-0001_substantial-hybridisation-between-wild-boars-sus-scrofa-scrofa-and-east-balkan-pigs-sus-scrofa-f-domestica.php
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