The challenge to China's breeds

摘要

Over recent years, China probably has created more new breeds than any other country, because of the widespread development of synthetic lines based on local genetics. Western pure-breds also now feature strongly in Chinese pig production. But even without taking these introductions into account, there are certainly at least 60 local breeds in the country and most probably double that number. New forecasts 'describe this massive genetic resource as standing on the edge of a precipice. Within just a short time, they suggest, out of the 121 or so pig breeds to be found in the People's Republic of China it is possible the genes of only 5-10 breed types will remain. The variety inherited from many centuries of pork production could conceivably disappear in little more than a year.