Genetic Lines and Breeds

The TN70 is a unique female, balancing prolificity, efficiency and productivity. It is a commercial hybrid strain F1, formed by the cross breed between Landrace (line L, originated from Norsvin) × Large White (line Z), which has a unique combination between high reproductive efficiency and excellent efficiency in the production of grown pigs.​ For more information: https://topigsnorsvin.com.br/

Large White originates from the north of England and is also known for its prolific potential. Has a white skin, large size and has high daily body weight gain. It presents good formation of loin, with full and deep legs. It is very common to use for hybrids productions, such as the crossing of boars with landrace females for large-scale industrial production. The pure Large White female, known for its high fertility and robustness which, combined with its excellent maternal ability, provides the production of a large number of weaned piglets of high vitality. Large White's robustness gives greater vitality and lower mortality rates to its progeny, resulting in the production of commercial females with high longevity. This characteristic, together with its maternal ability and ease of management, lead to less need for the use of labor in the management of commercial females. For more information: https://topigsnorsvin.com.br/

Landrace originates from Denmark; this breed is the most produced in Brazil. Its skin is white and thin and its lean content, resulting in excellent hams. The best age for slaughter is between 5 and 6 months, when they reach 115 kg. They are animals with excellent reproductive capacity, being widely used as reproductive females and breeding males, which can reach 300 kg.

The Piau breed is considered one of the best and most important national naturalized breeds (Cavalcanti, 1984). There are indications that this breed originated in the central region of Brazil, which includes Goiás, Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Piau comes from the tupi which means "what has spots", due to the breed being spotted/painted. It is a breed that has great economic and food importance for small farmers. The selection of piau pig started at the Experimental Farm of São Carlos, SP in 1939. Other studies with this breed have also been developed since 1998 at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa (MG), where they are crossed with commercial breeds aiming at the production and evaluation of segregating strains (Guimarães et al., 2002). Since 2014, research and extension projects with Piau breed are being developed in our research unit here at UFMG in partnership with cooperatives of small regional farmers aiming at the rescue and dissemination of the breed in the north of Minas Gerais.

Duroc pig is one of the oldest domestic swine breeds. The breed was developed in the United States and served as the basis for many commercial pigs Mixed-Breeds. Duroc animals are reddish-brown, large in structure, medium in length and muscular, with partially drooping ears. The animal comes from females and males of red color, from New York. The first record of the existence of this type of animal was in 1875. Breed much appreciated due to high meat marbling.