Genetic background

The Göttingen minipig® was bred at the University of Göttingen (Germany), originating from a crossing between the Minnesota minipig, obtained from the Hormel Institute in Austin (United States) by the Institut für Tierzucht und Haustiergenetik in 1961-1962, and the Vietnamese potbelly swine, obtained from German Zoos. In this crossing, a colored miniature swine, was used in a back-crossing with the German Landrace. The offspring of the back-crossing, the white line of the Göttingen minipig® combined the type and temperament of the Minnesota minipig with the fertility of the Vietnamese potbelly pig and the white phenotype of the German Landrace. The population presently consists of 9 family lines.

Originally, the white line of the Göttingen minipig® had a genetic composition of 5% from the Minnesota minipig, 51% from the Vietnamese potbelly pig and 44% from the German Landrace, which developed to 33%, 59% and 8% respectively from 1962 to 1969, as a result of selection on body weight. While selection was mainly concentrated on body weight during this period, later selection was made on number of teats, number and quality of ear veins, visible defects, exterior and temperament, besides body weight.

In 1992 a representative sample of the white Göttingen colony was brought to Denmark for cesarean rederivation. This concerned 38 pregnant sows, which were operated at the laboratory of the Danish Meat Research Institute. A total of 241 piglets from 35 successful operations were intoduced into isolators, where they were hand-reared during the first three weeks. After that, the animals were introduced into portable barrier units, and kept there for nearly a year. From this population, a total of 122 sows and 53 boars were introduced into a new full-barrier breeding facility in Dalmose (Denmark) in 1993, which formed the founder popolation for the multiplier herd.

At present the breeding colony consists of sows and boars, producing  enough minipigs a year to supply the European market. The average litter size is 6.6 and the number of litters is 2.1 a year. The weight development in the multiplier herd is shown in the growth curve.

The selection of breeders at the full-barrier facility in Dalmose is under supervision of the University of Göttingen. A full pedigree of the animals is kept at the University of Göttingen and selection is based on keeping the colony outbred, with an inbreeding coefficient under 10%.