Piétrain

Piétrain is a Belgian breed of domestic pig. It is native to Wallonia, and takes its name from the village of Piétrain in the municipality of Jodoigne in Walloon Brabant, in northern Wallonia. It first appeared in about 1920, and received recognition as a breed in 1950.[1]^:431 Its origins are not clear; it has been suggested that the farmers of Piétrain may have recognised, and selectively bred for, a genetic mutation causing muscular hypertrophy.[1]^:431

Piétrain

Piétrain pigs at the Libramont agricultural fair
Country of origin	Wallonia
Traits
Pig Sus scrofa domesticus

From about 1960, the Piétrain was also reared in Germany, principally in Baden-Württemberg, Nordrhein-Westfalen and Schleswig-Holstein; it is used as a sire for cross-breeding.[2]

The breed was improved by researchers at the Université de Liège in 2004.[3]

References

1. L. Ollivier (1982). Genetic Determination of Muscular Hypertrophy in the Pig. In: J.W. King, F. Ménissier (editors) (1982). Muscle Hypertrophy of Genetic Origin and its use to Improve Beef Production: A Seminar in the CEC Programme of Coordination of Research on Beef Production held in Toulouse, France, June 1–12, 1980. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. ISBN 9789400975507.
2. Hilton M. Briggs (1983). International Pig Breed Encyclopedia. Indianapolis, Indiana: Elanco Products.
3. "The new stress negative Piétrain line developed at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Liège" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-23.