DOI: n/a
Abstract
The analysis of the development of the pig industry and the pig breeding shows that in the period after 1989 a persistent recession occurred, which led to a sevenfold decrease in the population of pigs. Especially negative was the influence on the autochthonous and local Bulgarian breeds. During the first years of the transition period the organization of the pig breeding process was disrupted and the pyramidal structure of the selection and the reproduction of herds was broken. Since the end of 2009 the breeding activities in the country are provided by non-governmental breeding organizations under the control of the Executive agency for selection and reproduction in animal breeding. During the last three years an increasing tendency of the number of industrially kept pigs under selection control and a decreasing tendency for East Balkan pig are observed. Main pig breeds kept in Bulgaria are Landrace and Large White. They have good production traits, a sow has 2,15-2,23 litters per year, 11,63-12,50 pigs per litter, 10,91-11,53 weaned. The pigs reach 90 kg weight for 157,8-170,3 days, bacon thickness is 15,6-39,4 mm, corpse lean meat – 49,0-62,2%. On the basis of the analysis a conclusion is made that for a successful pig breeding development it is necessary to increase the number of the animals under control, to maintain an optimum animal number in the nucleuses and the multiplier herds, and to expand the use of AI.