At present, the self-sufficiency rate of pig breeding in China is over 90%

Reporter Ma Aiping from this newspaper

As the saying goes, "Pig food is safe for the world.". In recent years, in China's meat consumption structure, the proportion of pork in livestock and poultry meat has been maintained at over 50%. Recently, there was a heated discussion among Weibo netizens: What is the self-sufficiency rate of pig breeding in China? Is the source of pig breeds controllable? On July 25th, relevant experts stated in an interview with Science and Technology Daily that China's current self-sufficiency rate for breeding pigs is over 90%, and the source of pig breeds is basically controllable.

China has always had a tradition of raising pigs, and pork is one of the main sources of animal protein. Whether the source of pig breeds can be independently controlled is related to national food security and people's livelihood.

"China currently requires approximately 40 million sows per year. In the 'pyramid' breeding system for pigs in China, these 40 million sows are produced by ancestral purebred pigs, GP pigs are produced by great ancestors, and the top GGP pigs require about 150000 sows. In the past five years, China has imported an average of 10000 GGP pigs per year, accounting for only 10% of China's pig renewal needs." Liu Di, a researcher at the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said in an interview with reporters that 90% of China's GGP and GP pigs are renewed through independent breeding, and breeding pigs can basically achieve self-sufficiency.

In order to ensure the independent and controllable breeding of live pigs, China has sounded the "assembly call" for pig breeding.

In 1993, in accordance with the spirit of the Ministry of Agriculture documents, China established a breeding cooperation group for large white pigs, long white pigs, and Duroc pigs, marking the beginning of joint breeding of foreign pigs.

"Subsequently, in 1998, the National Animal Husbandry and Veterinary General Station established the National Genetic Evaluation Working Group for Breeding Pigs. In 2000, the National Animal Husbandry and Veterinary General Station issued a notice on the issuance of the" National Genetic Evaluation Plan for Breeding Pigs ", which standardized the genetic evaluation and determination of traits, quantities, and unified genetic evaluation methods for breeding pigs in China. This laid the foundation for regional and national computer networking and information sharing, establishing genetic connections for breeding pigs, and achieving national joint breeding of pigs." Wang Lixian, a researcher at the Beijing Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, told reporters.

In 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the National Pig Genetic Improvement Plan to accelerate the process of pig genetic improvement, carry out independent breeding and new breed cultivation of breeding pigs, enhance the self-sufficiency of breeding pigs, and improve the sustainable development ability of China's pig industry. On August 30, 2010, the on-site evaluation of the selection of national pig core breeding farms was officially launched.

"Nowadays, there are a total of 94 national core breeding farms for lean meat pigs, 10 local national core breeding farms for pigs, and 8 national core breeding stations for boars in China, which have effectively improved the efficiency of pig breeding in China." Wang Lixian pointed out.

Starting from 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued and implemented the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Improvement Plan to continue promoting pig breeding.

"At present, there is a 10% -30% gap in the main production performance of pig breeding in China compared to foreign countries. At the same time, all countries are improving the meat production performance of lean meat pigs. The essence of international pig breeding competition is the competition for improving meat production efficiency. In order to catch up with the top level of foreign countries, China's improvement speed must be faster than foreign countries. The breeding system of China's top pig breeding enterprises is still not perfect, and the application of new genomic breeding technologies is not large enough. In addition, the complex epidemic environment undoubtedly has a negative impact on China's breeding efficiency." Wang Lixian pointed out.

Liu Di suggests that to truly achieve independent and controllable pig breeding, the first step is to do a good job in basic work, such as performance testing and breeding, which is the foundation of breeding. Secondly, in terms of intelligent measurement technology and equipment, efficient and precise breeding design, intelligent collection of big data across the entire industry chain, application of whole genome selection and gene editing technology, major disease clearance technology, and protection, research, and utilization of local pig breeding resources in China, we also need to focus on tackling key issues.

Reporter Ma Aiping from this newspaper

As the saying goes, "Pig food is safe for the world.". In recent years, in China's meat consumption structure, the proportion of pork in livestock and poultry meat has been maintained at over 50%. Recently, there was a heated discussion among Weibo netizens: What is the self-sufficiency rate of pig breeding in China? Is the source of pig breeds controllable? On July 25th, relevant experts stated in an interview with Science and Technology Daily that China's current self-sufficiency rate for breeding pigs is over 90%, and the source of pig breeds is basically controllable.

China has always had a tradition of raising pigs, and pork is one of the main sources of animal protein. Whether the source of pig breeds can be independently controlled is related to national food security and people's livelihood.

"China currently requires approximately 40 million sows per year. In the 'pyramid' breeding system for pigs in China, these 40 million sows are produced by ancestral purebred pigs, GP pigs are produced by great ancestors, and the top GGP pigs require about 150000 sows. In the past five years, China has imported an average of 10000 GGP pigs per year, accounting for only 10% of China's pig renewal needs." Liu Di, a researcher at the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said in an interview with reporters that 90% of China's GGP and GP pigs are renewed through independent breeding, and breeding pigs can basically achieve self-sufficiency.

In order to ensure the independent and controllable breeding of live pigs, China has sounded the "assembly call" for pig breeding.

In 1993, in accordance with the spirit of the Ministry of Agriculture documents, China established a breeding cooperation group for large white pigs, long white pigs, and Duroc pigs, marking the beginning of joint breeding of foreign pigs.

"Subsequently, in 1998, the National Animal Husbandry and Veterinary General Station established the National Genetic Evaluation Working Group for Breeding Pigs. In 2000, the National Animal Husbandry and Veterinary General Station issued a notice on the issuance of the" National Genetic Evaluation Plan for Breeding Pigs ", which standardized the genetic evaluation and determination of traits, quantities, and unified genetic evaluation methods for breeding pigs in China. This laid the foundation for regional and national computer networking and information sharing, establishing genetic connections for breeding pigs, and achieving national joint breeding of pigs." Wang Lixian, a researcher at the Beijing Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, told reporters.

In 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the National Pig Genetic Improvement Plan to accelerate the process of pig genetic improvement, carry out independent breeding and new breed cultivation of breeding pigs, enhance the self-sufficiency of breeding pigs, and improve the sustainable development ability of China's pig industry. On August 30, 2010, the on-site evaluation of the selection of national pig core breeding farms was officially launched.

"Nowadays, there are a total of 94 national core breeding farms for lean meat pigs, 10 local national core breeding farms for pigs, and 8 national core breeding stations for boars in China, which have effectively improved the efficiency of pig breeding in China." Wang Lixian pointed out.

Starting from 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued and implemented the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Improvement Plan to continue promoting pig breeding.

"At present, there is a 10% -30% gap in the main production performance of pig breeding in China compared to foreign countries. At the same time, all countries are improving the meat production performance of lean meat pigs. The essence of international pig breeding competition is the competition for improving meat production efficiency. In order to catch up with the top level of foreign countries, China's improvement speed must be faster than foreign countries. The breeding system of China's top pig breeding enterprises is still not perfect, and the application of new genomic breeding technologies is not large enough. In addition, the complex epidemic environment undoubtedly has a negative impact on China's breeding efficiency." Wang Lixian pointed out.

Liu Di suggests that to truly achieve independent and controllable pig breeding, the first step is to do a good job in basic work, such as performance testing and breeding, which is the foundation of breeding. Secondly, in terms of intelligent measurement technology and equipment, efficient and precise breeding design, intelligent collection of big data across the entire industry chain, application of whole genome selection and gene editing technology, major disease clearance technology, and protection, research, and utilization of local pig breeding resources in China, we also need to focus on tackling key issues.