Genomic characterisation of endangered pig breeds as the basis for sustainable breeding schemes in organic farming – FLI

Livestock production is undergoing a profound transformation. Changing societal demands for the agricultural production of high-quality food, new housing conditions, and environmental changes, particularly those driven by climate change, are causing a significant paradigm shift. Aspects of regional production, ensuring higher animal welfare standards, high animal health, and low-emission production methods are central concerns of organic agriculture. The potential to respond to these changes lies in the genetic diversity of our livestock breeds, making their preservation one of the greatest opportunities for transforming livestock production. This project aims to bridge the gap between conservation measures in field populations and the stored material in the German Gene Bank (DGB) for endangered native pig breeds, to ensure the genomic prerequisites for breeding livestock with improved robustness and animal health. Genetic resources of documented breeding herds as well as gene bank stocks of both animal species will be comprehensively characterized at the genomic level to achieve the following main objectives: Genomic analysis of the diversity and structure of field populations of endangered native pig breeds listed in the Red List. Genomic characterization of the current content of the German Gene Bank, comparison with existing information, and identification of potential improvements. Development of concepts and tools to improve future conservation breeding efforts based on the simulation of various scenarios using genomic data and analysis results of animal welfare-relevant traits from field and gene bank stocks. Providing these insights and tools for use by breeding associations/operations and for animal breeding science.