This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
A Preliminary Study on Productive Performance and Environmental Requirements of a Newly Established Breed: Nero di Lomellina Pig
by
, , , , and
Annamaria Costa
1,*
,
Eleonora Buoio
1
,
Margherita Pallaoro
2,
Edda Mainardi
1,
Giorgio Mirra
2,
Alessia Di Giancamillo
2,
Silvia Michela Mazzola
1 and
Raffaella Rossi
1 1
Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (DIVAS), University of Milan (UNIMI), Via dell’Università, 6, 26900 Lodi, LO, Italy
2
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health (SCIBIS), University of Milan (UNIMI), Via Mangiagalli, 31, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(18), 2655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15182655
Submission received: 5 August 2025
/
Revised: 1 September 2025
/
Accepted: 8 September 2025
/
Published: 10 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Pigs)
Simple Summary
This study investigates the productive parameters and stress resistance of the Nero di Lomellina pig breed, which was officially added to the Herdbook in 2020, compared with commercial hybrid pigs (Large White × Duroc) raised under the same conditions in a traditional farm located in the province of Pavia. The farm operates with traditional systems and lacks advanced microclimate control technologies. The aim of the present study is to define the thermoneutral zone of this newly established breed throughout two production cycles. Throughout the study period, environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and pollutant concentrations were continuously monitored. The pigs were weighed at the end of each production cycle and hair cortisol from 5% of the animals was examined to define the chronic stress status in the different phases. The Nero di Lomellina pigs showed a higher tolerance to climatic fluctuations, with a better resilience at low environmental temperatures, especially in comparison with the commercial crosses. The hair cortisol confirmed the higher adaptation capacity of these pigs in a barren environment. The lower critical temperature is the ambient temperature below which pigs must increase heat production to maintain a heat balance. The upper critical temperature is the ambient temperature above which pigs must increase their heat loss rate to achieve a heat balance.
Abstract
The Nero di Lomellina (NL) pig, a newly established breed from the cross of the Poland China with the Berkshire breed, which was created to reconstitute a local breed called Nero di Cavour, was recognized by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture in 2020 (DM 12222/2020). The objective of this study is to investigate, for the first time, the zootechnical performance and environmental response of the NL breed in comparison with a commercial crossbreed (CH; Large White × Duroc). An evaluation was conducted of a traditional closed-cycle farming system rearing NL and CH mixed in the same units. Pigs were observed for two cycles of 10 months each, one with piglets born in winter and the other in summer, to evaluate the productive performance and stress response through hair cortisol (HCC) levels of the pigs according to environmental conditions. For this purpose, the temperature–humidity index (THI) was calculated for each phase of the two cycles, and the values were compared with the comfort zone values indicated by the Italian Classyfarm values. The NL pigs showed slower growth performance in the first phase, with a high THI (p < 0.05). In the R2 phase, the backfat thickness was higher in the NL than CH pigs (p < 0.001). The CH had consistently higher HCC compared with the NL pigs across the production phases, showing a potential higher response to chronic stress. It is worth noting that the NL weaners and growers seemed to better face a cold environment, referring to their growth performance in comparison with the commercial breed, although the local breeds usually show a slower growth rate and hair cortisol levels during the second cycle, which was characterized by prolonged low temperatures far from the comfort zones. More studies are needed to deepen the influence of the environment, as well as consider the outdoor conditions on the physiological status, productivity, and meat quality of this new breed.
