Fifty years of pig breeding in France: outcomes and perspectives

Abstract

This synthesis reviews the main changes that have occurred in the pig breeding sector in France since the 1966 breeding act. It briefly discusses the first 20 years, which were the subject of a review in 1986. It describes in more detail the subsequent changes. Breeding goals, initially limited to production traits, have then integrated meat quality traits, sow prolificacy and maternal abilities. The implementation of a genetic evaluation using the BLUP animal model methodology in the mid-1990s and the development of artificial insemination, have profoundly changed the breeders’ work. A new major evolution, genomic selection, has recently been implemented. Large genetic gains have been obtained since 1970 for the main components of the breeding goal:  they have exceeded 200 g/d for on-test average daily gain, -0.5 points for feed conversion ratio and 12 points of percentage for carcass lean content, and approached six piglets born alive per litter. These gains have allowed to reduce the environmental footprint of pig production, but also had some detrimental effects: an increase in piglet preweaning mortality and a larger heterogeneity of performances. Issues for future breeding goals (inclusion of traits related to welfare, robustness and adaptation…), methods and tools are then discussed.