Indigenous Pig Genetic Resources and Breeding Strategies in India: A Narrative Review
Shraddha Dwivedi *
Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Diksha Upreti
Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Amritanshu Upadhyay
Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Megha Bhandari
Division of Veterinary Microbiology, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Sunita Rawat
Division of Animal Physiology, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Renu Sharma
Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Meiaishan Eliezer Lyngdoh
Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Shruti Dehru
Division of Veterinary Medicine, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Neelam Kalasua
Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Manish Solanki
Animal Reproduction Division, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Amit Kumar
Division of Animal Genetics, ICAR Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
India harbours considerable diversity among its indigenous pig populations, with distinct breeds distributed across the north-eastern hill states, the Gangetic plains, coastal western India, and island territories. These populations represent the product of long-term co-evolution with local environments, agricultural practices, and cultural systems, and contain alleles associated with thermal tolerance, feed-use efficiency under low-input conditions, disease resistance, and reproductive resilience that are not readily found in the commercial exotic breeds that dominate global industrial pork production. Despite this intrinsic and strategic value, India's indigenous pig breeds remain incompletely characterised, unevenly documented, and subject to progressive genetic erosion driven by uncontrolled crossbreeding with introduced exotic stocks. This narrative review synthesises the contemporary body of knowledge concerning India's registered indigenous pig breeds — principally Ghungroo, Doom, Niang Megha, Manipuri, Tenyi Vo, Agonda Goan, and Nicobari — with respect to their phenotypic attributes, productive characteristics, population status, and molecular diversity. It further examines the smallholder and tribal production systems within which these breeds are embedded, evaluates conservation and genetic improvement strategies, and considers the emerging role of genomic tools in accelerating breed characterisation and conservation management. The review critically engages with the national and international policy frameworks governing animal genetic resource management in India, identifying structural gaps and proposing directions for improved coordination between research institutions, government agencies, and farming communities. Major knowledge gaps identified include the absence of validated genomic reference panels for Indian indigenous pig breeds, a paucity of genetic parameter estimates for most breeds, and insufficient integration of community-based conservation approaches into formal breed management programmes. The review concludes with recommendations for a more integrated and community-responsive approach to the conservation and genetic improvement of India's indigenous pig heritage.
Keywords: Indigenous pig breeds, animal genetic resources, genetic diversity, conservation breeding, molecular characterisation, pig genomics, biodiversity conservation