Ukrainian White Steppe

The Ukrainian White Steppe (Ukrainian: Українська степова біла порода, romanizedUkrayinsʹka stepova bila poroda) is Ukrainian breed of general-purpose pig. It was developed in the early twentieth century by M.F. Ivanov at the experimental farm of Askania Nova, in Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine, at that time in the Soviet Union; it was the first Soviet pig breed to be developed. It derived from cross-breeding of pigs native to southern Ukraine with imported Large White boars. It was officially recognised in 1932.[3]: 133 

Ukrainian White Steppe
Conservation status
  • FAO (2007): not at risk (international)[1]: 149 
  • DAD-IS (2022): endangered (local)[2]
Other names
  • Ukrainian: Українська степова біла порода
  • Ukrajinska stepowa bila poroda
Country of originUkraine, Soviet Union
Distribution
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    322 kg[2]
  • Female:
    238 kg[2]
  • Pig
  • Sus domesticus

History

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The Ukrainian White Steppe was developed in the early twentieth century by M.F. Ivanov at the experimental farm of Askania Nova, in Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine, at that time in the Soviet Union; it was the first Soviet pig breed to be developed.[3]: 133  It derived from cross-breeding of pigs native to southern Ukraine with imported Large White boars. It was officially recognised in 1932.[3]: 133  It became one of the most numerous pig breeds of the Soviet Union: there were over 800 000 in 1964, and about 640 000 in 1980.[3]: 133  In 2007 the population was reported to be 6 584;[2] the FAO listed its international conservation status as "not at risk".[1]: 149  In 2022 the reported population was 596, and the local conservation status was "endangered".[2]

It was among the breeds used in the development of the Ukrainian Meat Pig, which was recognised in 1993.[4]: 705 

Characteristics

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The Ukrainian White Steppe is closely similar to the Large White. It is rather more robust, and is better adapted to the climatic conditions of southern Ukraine than is the Large White.[3]: 134 

References

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  1. ^ a b Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Breed data sheet: Ukrainian Steppe White / Ukraine (Pig). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed January 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f N.G. Dmitriev, L.K. Ernst (1989). Animal genetic resources of the USSR. FAO animal production and health paper 65. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9251025827. Archived 13 November 2009. Also available here, archived 29 September 2017.
  4. ^ Valerie Porter, Lawrence Alderson, Stephen J.G. Hall, D. Phillip Sponenberg (2016). Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding (sixth edition). Wallingford: CABI. ISBN 9781780647944.

Further reading

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  • Українська степова біла порода свиней. // Українська радянська енциклопедія: [у 12-ти т.] / гол. ред. М. П. Бажан; редкол.: О. К. Антонов та ін. — 2-ге вид. — К. : Головна редакція УРЕ, 1974–1985. (in Ukrainian)