Coat colour variants of village pigs in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Summary A preliminay description and genetic analysis of coat colour variation in Papua New Guinea village pigs is presented. Data were obtained from a series of deliberate matings and from surveys of coat coloration in two villages. A number of pigmentary variations caused by alleles at the Agouti, Extension and Brown loci were found and are described, including a possible new allele at the Brown locus (Bcausing brown spots on the basic red background colour. The segregations observed in the deliberate matings can be interpreted in terms of two alleles at the Agouti (A and a) and two at the Extension loci (E + and EP). Results from the village surveys show a high incidence of agouti phenotypes [Arelative to black [a], and a very low incidence of white designs (belt or points). These results suggest a still small genetic influence of exotic pigs in the villages, in spite of deliberate distribution, provided that the allele causing black colour (a) is present in the native Papuan stock. The allele E (spotted) giving black patched on red (or secondarily white) background may also be considered as a part of the native stock. The results are consistent with a hypothesis concerning an early arrival of pigs in Papua New Guinea relatively soon after domestication, followed by a period of isolation.