In central Europe, the Piètrain accounts for up to 80% of all terminal sires used. Research results, especially in Belgium, indicate that the Piètrain breed has a significantly higher percentage of lean meat to fat than any other pig breed (Nicholas, 1999). Some researchers describe the Piètrain as one of the most interesting and controversial pig breeds of the 20th century. The breed owes it's name to the little village of Piètrain – a small village in Belgium where animals with exceptional muscularity, especially hams, were noticed by butchers in the early 1950's. However, the Piètrain breed was on the brink of extinction following the period after post World War II, because of the increased demand for lard during that period. The first consignment of Piètrain pigs destined for the production of terminal sires were imported in 1997 from an SPF herd in Germany by three South African Studbreeders – Mr. Frank Olschewski of Ermelo in Mpumalanga; Mr. André Bodvin near Pomona in Gauteng and Mr. and Mrs. Ewald and Wanda Buhr of Malmesbury in the Western Cape.
The breed is of medium size and is white with black spots. Around the black spots there are characteristic rings of light pigmentation that carries white hair. The black hair is not as deeply pigmented as on black breeds, or the black spots on some spotted breeds.
The type of the breed is quite distinct. They are shorter of leg than most breeds, stockier in build, and quite broad along the back. The hams are extremely bulging and muscular - sometimes double muscled. The Piètrain carries an extremely high proportion of lean to fat and has developed a reputation for improving the meat yield of market pigs when the boars are used on sows of other breeds. While the sows of the breed are prolific, they tend to lack somehow in mothering characteristics, such as milk production. Breeding boars are well muscled and can start mating at eight months of age. Generally the breed has a warm and pleasant temperament.
It is no secret that the increasing popularity of the Piètrain breed, as a terminal sire, can be ascribed to its extreme masculinity, which in turn is linked to the MH gene, but the MH gene is also related to poor meat quality – also known as the Halothane paradox .
The MH gene is irreversibly linked to Pale Soft and Executive pork – hence causing a detrimental effect upon pork quality. Hence the Piètrain in general, was renowned for being a carrier of the stress gene (either in the homozygous or heterozygous form). A stress negative Piètrain genotype, possessing most of the meat quantity and meat quality attributes, is being bred in Belgium and results are indeed promising.
Skin Coloring
Multi-Colored (white skin with black spots), scattered with irregular black patches (around the black spots there are characteristic rings of light pigmentation that carries white hair). The coat sometimes has a reddish-brown tinge. The Piètrain thus has a unique greyish white color with black spots, spread across the body and head of the animal.
Head
Relatively light, short, straight, sometimes lightly flattened. The cheeks are clean and well developed.
Ears
Small, erect, pointing forward.
Neck
Short and light.
Chest
Broad, cylindrical and shallow.
Shoulders
Very muscular.
Back
Sufficiently long, slightly rounded, wide with a small cleft in the middle demarcated by the two strongly developed dorsal muscles.
Withers
(highest part of the back between the shoulders)
Wide and flat.
Loin
Very muscular.
Crotch
(The part of the body where the legs join at the top)
Wide and of medium length, A slight hollow is visible above the implantation of the tail.
Thigh
Strongly developed and heavy, solid, wide and spherical.
Belly
Shallow, well carried. The lines marking bottom and top are practically parallel.
Teats
Evenly placed, well developed, at least six pairs evenly spaced. The boars should have at least three pairs in front of the sheath.
Legs
The legs must be thin but sturdy with “lean” joints. The hoofs are well closed and the clays are even.
Posture
Correct. The gait is easy and correct.
Tail
Moderately thin, implanted low.
Objectionable Points
Disqualifications
