Characterization as experimental animals on mini-pigs in China

为发展小型猪作为实验动物，对中国和越南发现的小型猪的体尺、繁殖力等进行了调查。去年，对中国东南沿海海南岛的小猪进行了调查，但这些动物都是杂交的，没有发现适合用作实验动物的小猪。今年，将在越南老挝边境的山区进行调查。访问了每个地区的几个部落团体，并检查了当地的猪。结果，在越南中部发现了一头小黑猪(有时是黑白相间的)，在越南南部发现了一头灰色条纹小猪，这两头猪都比中国的其他猪小，但也没有想象中的那么小。然而，它们比日本目前饲养的哥廷根小型猪或皇冠小型猪要小，因此可以作为生产新微型猪的基础。在越南，由于杂交，小型猪正在迅速变大，而小型猪品系正在迅速消失。我们确信有必要尽快将这些小型猪发展为实验动物，但调查结果显示，该地区的疾病仍在流行，目前将难以将这些猪引入日本。通过3年的调查，可以清楚地看到，中国和越南都有小型猪，可以指定品系作为实验动物发展。

A survey was undertaken on the body sizes, reproductivity, etc. of the smallest pigs found in China and Vietnam for development of miniature pigs as laboratory animals. Last year, a survey of small pigs on Hainan Island of the southeast coast of China was performed, but these animals were all cross bred and no small pigs suitable for use as laboratory animals were found. This year, surveys will be performed in mountainous areas along the Laotian border in Vietnam.Small tribal groups in each region were visited and the indigenous pigs were examined. As a result, a small black pig (both black and white in some cases) was found in the central part and a small gray striped pig was located in the southern part of Vietnam.These pigs were both smaller than other pigs from China, but they were not as small as expected. However, they are smaller than the Gottingen minipig or the Crown minipig currently maintained in Japan, and it was concluded that they could serve as a basis for production of new miniature pigs. In Vietnam, the smallpigs are quickly becoming larger due to cross-breeding, and the small strains of pigs are rapidly disappearing. We are convinced that it is essential to develop these small pigs as laboratory animals as soon as pdssible, but the survey results showed that diseases in the region are still epidemic and it will be difficult to import these pigs into Japan at present. From a 3-year survey, it was clear that small pigs are present in China and Vietnam, and strains can be designated for development as laboratory animals.