Projektsuche

FixMyPig - targeted reduction of genetic defects

Authority

Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz

Federal State

Lower Saxony and Hamburg

Contact

Calenberger Straße 2
30169 Hannover

Website: External link to the authority

Project Title

FixMyPig - targeted reduction of genetic defects

Project description

German pig breeding requires innovative methods to select for complex traits. Genetic defects such as scrotal, inguinal, and umbilical hernias, cryptorchidism, splay legs, anal atresia, or intersexuality represent a major challenge in pig farming. They impair animal health and welfare and cause substantial economic losses. These anomalies occur regardless of the farming system in both conventional and organic farms. In the "FixMyPig" project, these defects will be precisely recorded and selected against at an early stage by combining modern genetic methods with targeted data collection on two commercial farms. The goal is to better understand the causes of these defects and to create completely new approaches for effective genetic reduction. For this purpose, the method of "reverse phenotyping" is being tested. This innovative approach reverses the classical procedure: instead of searching for genomic associations based on recorded traits, specific mutations in the genome are identified first and then systematically compared with the collected farm data, which accelerates selection.

Final report

Results and the Final report will be found here, as soon as the project is completed.

Keywords

Animal husbandry
animal welfare

Main funding source

Rural development 2023-2027 for Operational Groups (in the sense of Art 127 of Reg. 2021/2115)

OG contact information

ISN Projekt GmbH
Kirchplatz 2
49401 Damme

Phone: 05491 96650

Email: toelle@schweine.net

Type of OG partners

Farmer
Advisor
Researcher
business in rural areas

Begin of project

2026

Project status

ongoing

Total budget applied for in EUR

462,995

NUTS3 CODE

DE94F