Prevalence of congenital abnormalities in pigs

The prevalence of congenital defects in piglets in a large intensive piggery was determined by autopsy examination of piglets dying in the first week of life and from records kept by the farm staff. A total of 1908 piglets was examined at autopsy and 14,535 were born over the period of the survey. The prevalence of defects on this farm was estimated to be 2.9% of all piglets born, and at least one piglet with a congenital defect was found in 17.4% of litters. Of the piglets dying in the first week 9.5% had a defect and of these 8% had multiple anomalies. The mean litter size at birth for litters with a malformed piglet was 10.9 compared with 9.9 for litters without a malformed piglet. The total preweaning loss in litters containing a malformed pig was higher (29.8%) than that in litters without malformations (17.4%). The antepartum and parturient deaths in litters with a malformed piglet were 35% higher than normal litters. Parturient and anteparturient deaths amounted to 7.5% of piglets born and the total preweaning mortality was 19.9%. Sixty-six per cent of these mortalities occurred within the first week of life. The litter size at birth increased with parity as did the prevalence of litters containing malformed piglets. Neonatal loss was about 2 pigs per litter for all parities. Litter size at birth in litters containing a malformed pig was consistently higher by one pig per litter from all parities, but parturient (7.1%) and anteparturient (1.4%) deaths were also higher in these litters than in litters without malformations (5.1% and 1.2% respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

深县猪mtDNA CytB基因的遗传多样性与母系起源研究

为探讨深县猪群体内的遗传多样性及母系起源分化,采用PCR直接测序法测定了40头深县猪的mtDNA CytB基因长1 140 bp片段的全序列,并结合GenBank已公布的15个猪种mtDNA CytB基因全序列,采用邻接法构建深县猪、部分其他地方猪种和引进猪种的系统发育树。结果显示,在1 140 bp长的序列中A、T、G、C的含量分别为25.93%、31.72%、28.90%及13.45%,其中A+T的含量(57.65%)高于G+C的含量(42.35%);共发现2个变异位点,无插入和缺失突变,全部为转换位点,其中简约信息位点2个,未发现单一信息位点。40条序列共定义了3种单倍型,单倍型多样性(HD)为0.312,核苷酸多样性(Pi)为0.00026,平均核苷酸差异数(K)为0.327。在深县猪mtDNA CytB基因全序列NJ进化树中,三种单倍型聚为同一分支,母系来源单一,与莱芜猪、大蒲莲猪等山东品种遗传距离较近。结果表明,深县猪群体内遗传多样性比较贫乏,与山东地区的华北型黑猪种群有更近的亲缘关系。     

不同猪种肉质相关基因Hal、RN和FTO的多态性研究

为了明确肉质相关基因氟烷基因(Hal)、酸肉基因(RN)和脂肪肥胖相关基因(FTO)在国内外不同猪种群体间的遗传变异特性,本研究以大约克、长白、杜洛克和金华猪等猪种群体为研究对象,应用PCR-RFLP技术分别检测了Hal、RN和FTO基因的多态性,并分析了FTO基因上2个多态位点g.276G＞T和c.594C＞G的遗传变异情况.结果表明:(1)在杜洛克猪中发现了Hal的基因型HalN Haln,其频率为0.166,但未发现基因型Haln Haln,其它猪种群体中仅检测到了基因型HalN HalN;(2)在已检测的所有猪种群体中只检测到RN基因的rn/rn基因型,未发现rn/RN和RN/RN基因型;(3)在FTO的g.276G＞T位点上,金华猪呈现单态,其它猪种群体均呈现多态.在FTO的c.594C＞G位点上,4个猪种群体均呈现多态,3个外来猪种群体均以CC基因型频率较高,而金华猪则以GG基因型频率较高.研究结果提示,由于Hal基因在养猪生产中的利弊双重性,因此在某些猪种群体中仍然存在较高频率的HalN Haln基因型.此外,结合FTO基因的生理功能和已有的研究结果,可在特定的猪群中将其作为影响猪肉质性状的候选基因.本研究发现FTO的基因型分布在我国优良地方猪种金华猪与国外3个种猪群间存在较大差异,为深入研究不同品种猪的肉质形成机理提供了基础数据.     

Cryptorchidism and sex ratio are associated in dogs and pigs

The objective of this study was to investigate whether the occurrence of cryptorchidism in a litter is associated with the sex ratio in this litter. The analysis included for dog 1,339 litters of 4 different breeds, of which 12.8% had 1 and 3.1% had 2 cryptorchids, and for pig 119,920 litters of 14 different populations, of which 2.2% had 1 and 0.2% had 2 cryptorchids. The data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. In dog, the presence of cryptorchids in a litter does not affect litter size or the stillborn rate. In pig, litter size increases significantly with an increasing number of cryptorchids in a litter. The stillborn rate in pig is larger in litters with cryptorchids than in litters without cryptorchids. To characterize the imbalance of the sexes in a litter, the sex ratio, defined as the number of live males divided by the number of live offspring, and the sex difference, defined as the number of live males minus the number of live females, were used as dependent variables in the analyses. In both dog and pig, the presence of 1 or 2 cryptorchids in a litter clearly goes together with a shift in both the sex ratio and the sex difference in a litter, in favor of male offspring. Our results in dog and pig suggest a common underlying mechanism affecting both cryptorchidism and sex ratio, which may hold true in other mammals as well.     

Infertile Boars with Knobbed and Immotile Short‐tail Sperm Defects in the Finnish Yorkshire Breed

In the period 1996–2006 two specific sperm defects, the knobbed acrosome (KA) defect and the immotile short‐tail sperm (ISTS) defect, showed a strong negative association with fertility in Finnish breeding boars. In this study, we examined the incidence of these two sperm defects in two pig breeds, their effects on fertility and their associations with sperm morphology and testicular histology. Semen samples from 2048 (1097 Yorkshire, 951 Landrace) boars were collected. None of the Landrace boars revealed either the KA defect or the ISTS defect. Of the Yorkshire boars, 0.8% were afflicted with the KA defect and 7.6% with the ISTS defect. Boars diagnosed with the ISTS defect produced no litters. Fertility data were available from two artificially inseminated (AI) boars and six farm breeding boars affected with the KA defect. Breeding boars with 45–81% knobbed spermatozoa (n = 6) did not produce any litters out of 71 sows bred. AI boars with 25–30% knobbed spermatozoa had a poor non‐return rate (on average 47% compared with 85% for normal control boars) and produced small litters, on average 2.5 piglets less than other boars of the same breed. Morphometry of testicular tissue and distribution of different cells in the seminiferous tubules were examined in nine boars. Boars with the KA defect had a smaller diameter of the seminiferous tubules (p < 0.05) and a lower number of Sertoli cells (p < 0.05) than controls. ISTS boars, in turn, had a significantly lower number of elongated spermatids (p < 0.05), and they also produced on average only 12% of the spermatozoa of normal boars. The ISTS defect is a manifestation of an autosomal recessive disease caused by an insertion in the KPL2 gene in porcine chromosome 16. Although we tried to map the KA defect, its aetiology remains unclear.     

Characteristics of pedigree cat breeding in the Netherlands: breeds, population increase and litter size

A survey of the Dutch Cat Fancy was carried out to determine reproductive, patterns of pedigree cats. The data of the present study were obtained by questioning the pedigree registers of the cat clubs participating in the foundation 'Overleg Platform van de Nederlandse Cat Fancy'. The Dutch Cat Fancy registers 34 different cat breeds. From 1992 up to 1996 a total of 25.985 litters were registered. Over this period the number of litters increased from 4989 to 5313. Litters from Longhair and Exotic Shorthair cats comprised the biggest group and accounted for 55% of the total number of litters. However, over this period, the number of Longhair and Exotic Shorthair litters decreased by 9%. Litters from British Shorthair, Birman, Maine Coon and Norwegian Forrest Cat increased in number as did litters from small breeds such as Ragdoll, Bengal and Sphynx. Litters from Abyssinian, Siamese, Oriental Shorthair cats remained relatively the same. The average litter size of the total cat population, based on pedigree certificates, was calculated at 3.3 kittens per litter. For different breeds litter size varied from 2.7 (Longhair and Exotic Shorthair) to 4.3 (Burmese and Maine Coon). Taking into account an average age of 14 years, the total Dutch pedigree cat population was estimated at 240,000 viz. about 10% of the total cat population.     

Novel insight into the control of litter size in pigs, using placental efficiency as a selection tool.

Chinese Meishan pigs produce three to five more pigs per litter than less-prolific U.S. or European pig breeds as a result of a markedly decreased placental size and an increased pig weight: placental weight ratio (placental efficiency). We hypothesized that as a result of their intense selection for prolificacy, the Chinese had indirectly selected for a smaller, more efficient placenta in the Meishan breed. The goals of this study were to determine whether 1) significant variation in placental size and efficiency existed within our population of purebred Yorkshire pigs and 2) selection of pigs (boars and gilts) based on clear differences in placental size and efficiency would affect litter size. There was significant (approximately threefold) variation in placental efficiency in our herd of Yorkshire pigs, and marked (approximately twofold) variation existed within individual litters. We then selected pigs (boars and gilts) that had either a higher (A Group) or lower (B Group) than average placental efficiency. Although the birth weights of selected A Group pigs were similar to those of the B Group pigs, they had markedly smaller placentae. Males from each group (A or B) were bred to the females of the same group, and farrowing data were collected from parities 1 and 2. In both parities, A Group females farrowed more live pigs per litter than did B Group females (12.5 +/- .7 vs 9.6 +/- .5, P < .05). Although A Group pigs were on average approximately 20% lighter than B group pigs (1.2 +/- .1 vs 1.5 +/- .1 kg, P < .05), their placentae were approximately 40% lighter (250 +/- 10 vs 347 +/- 15 g, P < .01), resulting in a marked increase in placental efficiency. The results of this study suggest that selection on placental size and efficiency may provide a valuable tool for optimizing litter size in commercially important pig breeds.     

Characterization of MC1R and KIT Genotypes in Luchuan Pig Population

In order to assess the purity of Luchuan pig populations, four South Chinese local pig breeds including Putian Black pig, Yuedong Black pig, Dahuabai pig, Bama miniature pig and three foreign pig breeds including Duroc pig, Yorkshire pig and Landrace pig were studied as controls by sequencing of PCR products, MC1R and KIT genotypes in 56 Luchuan pigs were analyzed in this study. Sequencing results indicated that a splicing mutation (G>A) was presented in the first base in intron 17 of KIT gene in both Yorkshire pig and Landrace pig, in contrast, the wildtype GG of KIT gene was presented in Luchuan pig, four south Chinese local pig breeds and Duroc pig.Compared with Hainan wild boar, South Chinese local pig breeds had two missense mutations 95Val > Met and 102Leu > Pro in the coding region of MC1R gene;Compared with Yorkshire pig, Landrace pig and Duroc pig, South Chinese local pig breeds had 5 to 6 SNPs in MC1R gene 5'UTR, and in addtion, an A base deletion in MC1R gene 3'UTR. Furthermore, we found one litter of Luchuan pig with abnormal coat color.The results showed that the presentation of two distinct MC1R genotypes E^D1 and E^p in both litters and the sow,but only E^D1 in the boar. Considering E^p was derived from Pietrain pig, we preliminarily considered that the genome of the sow might be infiltrated with foreign pig breeds. In summary, we detected the genotypes of the coat color genes KIT and MC1R in eight pig breeds, confirmed the molecular differences of coat color between Chinese local pig breeds and foreign pig breeds, which could be useful for the further investigation of the molecular mechanism of pig coat color.     

陆川猪MC1R和KIT基因型鉴定

为了检测陆川猪种群的纯度,本研究以4个华南地方猪种（莆田黑猪、粤东黑猪、大花白猪、巴马香猪）和3个外来猪种（杜洛克猪、大白猪、长白猪）作为对照,利用PCR测序法对陆川猪群体56个样本的MC1R和KIT基因进行基因型鉴定。测序结果表明,大白猪和长白猪KIT基因内含子17的第1个碱基发生G>A剪接突变,而陆川猪和4个华南地方猪种,以及杜洛克猪中KIT基因型一样,均为野生型的GG基因型;MC1R基因编码区分析表明,以海南野猪MC1R基因型作为参考序列,陆川猪和4个华南地方猪种在MC1R基因编码区存在95Val > Met和102Leu > Pro两个错义突变;MC1R基因非编码区分析表明,与大白猪、长白猪和杜洛克猪相比,陆川猪和4个华南地方猪种MC1R基因的5'UTR分别存在5~6个SNPs,3'UTR存在1个A碱基的缺失。另外,试验对一窝毛色异常的陆川猪仔猪及其亲本的KIT和MC1R基因进行测序分析,结果表明,仔猪及其亲本的KIT基因型均为GG野生型,仔猪和母本的MC1R基因均存在E^D1和E^p两种不同的基因型,父本的MC1R基因型为E^D1,因E^p对应于皮特兰猪的斑块表型,所以初步判定母本渗入了外来猪种的血统。本研究通过检测陆川猪等8个猪种的毛色相关基因KIT和MC1R基因的基因型,证实了中外猪种间在毛色遗传上的分子差异,为今后深入研究猪毛色遗传的分子调控机理提供参考。     

藏猪黑素皮质激素受体-4基因TaqI多态性分析

藏猪是我国青藏高原特有的小型原始地方猪种,文中采用PCR-RFLP技术分析了藏猪黑素皮质激素受体-4(MC4R)基因TaqI酶切位点多态性。结果表明:藏猪MC4R基因TaqI酶切位点优势基因型为11,基因型频率达93.56%,与国内梅山猪、二花脸猪、民猪和金华猪等较接近,与汉普夏、大白、杜洛克等外种猪差别较大。     

3个地方猪品种BOLL和STRA8基因结构变异位点的群体分布研究

为了探讨BOLL-I6-sv285（15号染色体BOLL基因第6内含子）和STRA8-I4-sv447（18号染色体STRA8基因第4内含子）这两个结构变异在地方猪与欧洲猪品种中的群体分布差异,试验采用PCR方法对从江香猪、江口萝卜猪、荣昌猪和大白猪4个猪品种进行基因分型,并通过在线软件miRBase、UCSC、RegRNA 2.0对结构变异序列所含的功能元件进行分析。结果显示,BOLL-I6-sv285为一段285 bp的插入,经群体验证,3个地方猪品种以DI和DD基因型为主,I等位基因的频率高于大白猪,插入基因型（Ⅱ）对应较高的产仔数,基因型与从江香猪产仔数之间呈显著相关（P<0.05）;STRA8-I4-sv447为一段447 bp的插入突变,群体中DD基因型占优势,从江香猪、江口萝卜猪和大白猪的I等位基因频率高于荣昌猪,插入基因型（Ⅱ）对应较低的产仔数,基因型与从江香猪产仔数之间呈显著相关（P<0.05）。本试验鉴定的BOLL-I6-sv285和STRA8-I4-sv447两个结构变异可作为从江香猪产仔数的候选分子标记。     

藏猪Mx1基因外显子14的遗传变异分析

为了解藏猪抗病性能分子遗传基础,试验采用PCR-RFLP技术测定112头藏猪的Mx1-Hin6 I多态性。结果表明:藏猪群体中Mx1基因外显子14有长度为11 bp片段的缺失,Hin6Ⅰ酶切位点有AA、AB和BB 3种基因型,基因频率分别为73.21%、23.22%和3.57%,A和B等位基因频率分别为84.82%、15.18%,与报道的野猪和五指山猪基因频率分布相近,但与国外猪种和其他国内地方猪种基因频率分布存在一定差异,这可能与藏猪的抗病和抗逆性能有关。     

猪H-FABP基因第2内含子SNPs分布及连锁不平衡遗传模式研究

本研究以藏猪、鄂西黑猪、大白猪、莱芜黑猪、北京黑猪、野猪、荣昌猪、八眉猪和里岔黑猪等国内外9个品种16头猪为研究对象,应用Primer Premier 5.0软件设计引物对心脏脂肪酸结合蛋白（heart fatty acid binding protein,H-FABP）基因第2内含子进行扩增测序后拼接,获得了长2078 bp的第2内含子全序列,发现了14个位点的SNPs;对所有突变进行Hudson-Kreitman-Aguade测验等遗传分布分析结果发现,西南型、高原型猪核酸分布值（π）、Tajima’s D测验值（DT）、Fu和Li’s D测验值（DFu and Li）分别为0.18％、-0.52和-0.30,华北型猪π、DT和DFu and Li分别为0.25％、0.76和0.72,培育和国外品种猪π值为0.29％;对所有类型的猪进行分析,其π、DT和DFu and Li分别为0.25％、-0.60和-0.17,在不同的猪种中各个位点的SNPs变异很大,对其进行构建进化树等一系列分析,得到相似结论,并最终推断出可能会影响肌内脂肪（intra muscular fat,IMF）含量的突变位点,为研究H-FABP与IMF的关系提供了理论基础。     

MyoD基因在不同猪种中的分布及群体遗传结构分析

利用RFLP法检测了MyoD基因在10个中外猪种及部分杂交群体中的分布情况,分析了各群体内MyoD基因的遗传分布、遗传变异、群体杂合性等群体遗传信息,并进一步以各群体基因频率为基础,计算出群体间遗传距离和进化距离,根据进化距离对群体进行聚类,重建了系统发生树。结果表明:MyoD基因内含子1的DdeI酶切位点上不同基因型的分布在多数群体中都服从Hardy-Weinberg平衡,但在杜洛克和DLY群体中发生偏离。总体上讲,各试验群体的遗传多样性较丰富,群体遗传变异性较高,进化过程中受到自然选择压的作用,选择潜力较大。在系统发生树上,10个群体被分为4个分枝。分别是长白猪血缘、原始地方品种、杜洛克血缘和高原藏猪分枝。这一结果与各猪种的育种过程有较高的吻合性。说明部分功能基因的RFLP数据可用于近缘物种间的遗传分化研究。     

太湖流域地方猪种遗传结构评估和体重体尺性状差异相关选择位点鉴定

旨在解析太湖流域地方猪品种内部遗传结构,鉴定梅山猪亚群间、二花脸群体间和米猪群体间体重体尺性状差异的候选基因.试验采集440头猪样本(代表太湖流域地方猪最全面血统)进行基因芯片分型,并使用该基因分型数据集进行多种群体遗传学分析,明确太湖流域地方猪品种内部的遗传结构,并鉴定梅山猪亚群间、以及二花脸和米猪群体间体重体尺性状...     

贵州地方猪品种对氧磷脂酶1基因的多态性研究

本试验以欧洲猪种为参照,研究贵州地方猪对氧磷脂酶1(paraoxonase,PON1)基因的多态性,探讨基因多态性与地方猪的脂肪沉积之间是否存在相关性。研究采用锚定聚合酶链反应技术对香猪、糯谷猪、萝卜猪和可乐猪共138个贵州地方猪品种PON1基因的单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphisms,SNP)进行研究。结果表明,猪群PON1基因的163/165位点出现A/T、G/A变异,515位点检测到C/T突变,均以3种基因型存在。经卡方(χ²)检验,贵州地方猪群PON1基因515位点的基因型频率和基因频率与欧洲猪品种间的差异不显著(P>0.05);163/165位点中,贵州地方猪种A等位基因的频率为83.7%,明显高于欧洲猪品种(25.2%)。贵州地方猪品种PON1基因的163/165位点A等位基因占优势,编码的第55位氨基酸为甲硫氨酸(Met55),与脂代谢异常人群的基因型相同;欧洲猪种以B等位基因为主(P<0.01),编码的第55位是亮氨酸(Leu55),与正常人群的基因型一致。以人PON1蛋白的晶体结构为模板,推导出香猪PON1蛋白的三维结构。地方猪PON1基因变异导致的Met55突变可能影响PON1水解酶活性中心的疏水环境,可能使蛋白的水解酶活性下降,使得地方猪品种的脂肪沉积量和肉质不同于欧洲猪种。由此推测,贵州地方猪品种PON1基因163/165位点存在多态性,可能与地方猪种的脂肪沉积和肉质有一定的相关性。     

Genetic variation and phylogenetics of Lanyu and exotic pig breeds in Taiwan analyzed by nineteen microsatellite markers

The Lanyu pig is an indigenous miniature pig breed on Lanyu Islet near Taiwan, with a mitochondrial DNA genetic lineage remote from Asian and European pig breeds. The unknown population genetic structure and increased inbreeding among the small population of conserved Lanyu pigs is now of great conservation concern. Additionally, the presence for more than a century of exotic pig breeds in Taiwan has made gene introgression from exotic pig breeds into Lanyu pigs very possible. The present study thus aimed to investigate nuclear genetic variation within the conserved Lanyu pigs and the phylogenetic relationship and possible genetic introgression between Lanyu and exotic pig breeds by determining the polymorphism of 19 microsatellite loci. In the neighbor-joining tree constructed from 7 pig breeds based on Cavalli-Sforza and Edward chord genetic distances, 3 major clades were recognized, in which the Asian and European breeds were separately clustered into 2 clades with a 93.0 and 99.9% bootstrap confidence value, respectively. All individuals of the Lanyu breed formed a unique subclade within the Asian clade based on the distance of the proportion of shared alleles, -ln(ps), suggesting that the Lanyu breed possesses a unique nuclear genetic structure and that no nuclear gene introgression from exotic breeds into the conserved Lanyu pigs has occurred in recent history. Fifteen of 19 microsatellite loci deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (by Wright's statistic), suggesting a significant loss of heterozygosity in the conserved population. The valuable nuclear genetic structure and phylogenetic information should assist future conservation and population management of Lanyu pigs.     

浦东白猪遗传多样性及繁殖性能的变化分析

试验旨在研究浦东白猪现存群体的遗传多样性及其繁殖性能变化的原因。利用全基因组范围内的遗传标记（SNPs）,对比6个太湖流域地方品种及3个西方引进品种,对浦东白猪的遗传多样性进行了分析。同时利用落入繁殖候选基因内的SNPs,分析了群体的多样性及结构。结果显示,相较于本研究中所选择的太湖流域地方品种及西方引进品种,浦东白猪的遗传多样性较太湖流域地方品种低;除枫泾猪外,浦东白猪繁殖相关SNPs的多态性标记的比例、期望杂合度最低,等位基因丰度仅高于杜洛克猪;主成分分析（PCA）结果揭示浦东白猪繁殖相关SNPs位点仍具有其群体独特性。研究结果揭示了浦东白猪现存群体遗传多样性较低,繁殖性能的退化可能是由于一些有利等位基因的灭绝、繁殖相关基因多态性及个体杂合性的降低所致。但是浦东白猪仍然携带一定数量的有利等位基因且依旧具有其群体独特性,暗示浦东白猪仍具有较高的保种价值。本研究为浦东白猪后期的选育、保种和开发利用提供了一定的参考。     

Genetic Diversity and Degradation Analysis of Reproductive Performance of Pudong White Pig

This study was aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and the reason for the degradation of the reproductive performance of Pudong White pig. The genetic diversity of Pudong White pig, six Taihu pig breeds and three Western pig breeds were analyzed based on the genome-wide SNPs.The genetic diversity and population structure of these pig breeds were also explored based on the SNPs related to reproductive traits. The results showed that Pudong White pig displayed a lower level of the genetic diversity than the Taihu area pig breeds. For the reproductive-related loci, except for Fengjing pig, Pudong White pig displayed the lowest propotion of polymorphic markers, expected heterozygosities and allelic richness (excluded Duroc pig). The result of PCA showed that Pudong White pig displayed its uniqueness in the reproductive-related SNPs. With the comparsion of Taihu pigs and Western populations, Pudong White pig displayed a lower level of the genetic diversity and more homozygous reproductive-related loci. Nevertheless, a certain number of favorable alleles were still harbored in Pudong White pig, which might result high heterosis in the offsprings. In conclusion, the results of this study might provide some valuable information for the breeding, conservation and utilization of this breed.     

Genetic structure of pig breeds from Korea and China using microsatellite loci analysis

To understand molecular genetic characteristics of Korean pigs, the genetic relationships of nine pig breeds including two Korean pigs (Korean native pig and Korean wild pig), three Chinese pigs (Min pig, Xiang pig, and Wuzhishan pig), and four European breeds (Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire) were characterized from a 16-microsatellite loci analysis. The mean heterozygosity within breeds ranged from 0.494 to 0.703. Across multiple loci, significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in most pig breeds, except for two Chinese pigs (Min pig and Wuzhishan pig). This deviation was in the direction of heterozygote deficit. Across population loci, 36 of 144 significantly deviated (P < 0.05) from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The mean FST, a measure of genetic divergence among subpopulations, of all loci indicated that 26.1% of total variation could be attributed to the breed difference. Relationship trees based on the Nei's DA genetic distance and scatter diagram from principal component analysis consistently displayed pronounced genetic differentiation among the Korean wild pig, Xiang pig, and Wuzhishan pig. Individual assignment test using a Bayesian method showed 100% success in assigning Korean and Chinese individual pigs into their correct breeds of origin and 100% exclusion success from all alternative reference populations at P < 0.001. These findings indicate that the Korean native pig has been experiencing progressive interbreeding with Western pig breeds after originating from a North China pig breed with a black coat color. Considering the close genetic relationship of Korean pigs to the Western breeds such as Berkshire and Landrace, our findings can be used as valuable genetic information for the preservation and further genetic improvement of the Korean native pig.