Characterizing practices and the sanitary status of farms of Creole and Creole-like pigs in Martinique

Abstract

The study aimed at characterizing the management of 27 pig farms in the framework of a conservation program of the Creole pig of Martinique. Blood samples were collected on 67 pigs for serological analysis. A multivariate analysis discriminated six groups of farms: group 1 (n = 9) consisted of family farms with fewer than three boars and a higher age of replacement of reproducers than the other farms (6.2 vs 5.0 years, p < 0.01); group 2 (n = 5) consisted of small farms with two matings per sow per year and with more than two livestock species; group 3 (n = 5) consisted of farms with more than four boars and more than four sows, with batch management and a feeding diet mainly based on industrial concentrates; group 4 (n = 4) consisted of family farms with pigs reared outdoors and a feeding diet mainly based on local resources (50 to 100% of the total diet content); group 5 (n = 3) consisted of mixed farming systems with more than three boars and more than 10 sows; and group 6 consisted of a farm with a high number of females without batch management. The analysis of serological data showed that, regardless of the farming system (outdoor, semi outdoor, indoor), the sanitary status of pig farms in Martinique was good, with no identified contagious disease. The typology obtained and the results on the sanitary status of farms are encouraging signs to pursue the project aiming at the conservation of Creole pigs by exchange of healthy reproducers between farmers and the development of a niche market around heritage values.