Nowadays, the MBP Producers Association promotes its production and controls the herd book. Nevertheless, the MBP lived on as a source of protein and fat, because of its adaptation to the local environment and its ability to exploit the scarce natural resources of the Island. Several circumstances promoted the reduction of pig numbers, such as the effect of diseases, and, more recently, the introduction of leaner pig breeds, the migration from farms to cities because of the tourism growth and the reduced generational renewal. This breed had a great importance in the economy as well as in the Majorcan lifestyle until the middle twentieth century, contributing to the cultural heritage of the Island. found that this breed lacks for Asian haplotypes and halothane sensitivity gene, indicating a long-lasting geographical and genetic isolation. Very few studies exist about MBP genomics, but Clop et al. The MBP reared nowadays is the sum of the genetic origins and the equilibrium between selection pressure by different civilisations, and the natural adaptation of the breed in the territory. It is uncertain to assure the origin of this breed but the existence of pig livestock and pork consumption in Mallorca dates from the period of the first settlers, approximately 3500 BC. The MBP is the only native pig breed in state of conservation in the Balearic Islands, declared as in danger of extinction. The Porc Negre Mallorquí, Cerdo Negro Mallorquín in Spanish and Majorcan Black Pig (MBP) in English, is a native breed from Mallorca, characterized by its high rusticity and adaptation to the Mediterranean climatic conditions. History and current status of the breed (census)
The current chapter defines a first review about this local pig breed.ġ. Meat quality traits were evaluated by means of pH at 45 min and 24 h after slaughter, objective colour, intramuscular fat content and fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat and back fat. Carcass traits were evaluated by means of age and weight at slaughter, hot carcass weight, carcass yield and back fat thickness in several points. Growth performance was estimated by means of average daily gain and daily feed intake in several production periods. Reproductive performance was estimated by means of sow age at first parturition, litters per sow per year, piglets alive per litter, piglets birth and weaning weights, percentage of stillborn per litter, death rate percentage from birth to weaning, duration of lactation and farrowing interval. Data come from the scarce literature about Porc Negre Mallorquí breed, adding non-published data obtained during the TREASURE project.
The present chapter presents the history and current status of this breed, its phenotypic characteristics, the particularities of its production system and main products from this Mediterranean native pig breed. Negre Mallorquí pig is a native breed from Mallorca, characterized by its high rusticity and adaptation to the Mediterranean climatic conditions.
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