Since the first edition, held in 1989 in Ajaccio (Corsica), the International Symposia on

the Mediterranean Pig have been held in Badajoz (Spain) in 1992, Benevento (Italy) in

1995, and Evora (Portugal) in 1998. The 5th International Symposium on the

Mediterranean Pig was held in Tarbes (France) from 16 to 19 November 2004. The

choice of the Symposium venue rested on the South-West of France, where two

production sectors working with local breeds for typical products are in full

development: the Basque pig of the Valley of Aldudes and the Gasconne pig of Bigorre.

The Symposium was organised in three sessions, corresponding to the driving factors

that accompany the key points of the theme of interest:

(i) The genetic choices compatible with a quality and typificity specific to the traditions

of Southern Europe. They include both the cosmopolitan genotypes selected for this

objective and the local breeds, revisited due to their appropriate aptitudes and now

recognised in their contribution to the biodiversity of farm animals.

(ii) Feed resources linking farming systems to specific biotopes, where pig farming

contributes directly to their constitution, valorisation and associated landscapes and

where the responsibility of the farmers and the production sectors lies in ensuring the

continuation of such biotopes and their environmental role.

(iii) Processing know-how in order to be able to take advantage of the carcass, meat and

fat potential coherent with the technical and gastronomical cultures associated with

these specialised productions of high added value in the target markets.

To these three pillars we could add other important elements such as health aspects or

the challenges of animal welfare which arise as a result of the extensive nature of many

situations, or even the need to develop control strategies for products adapted to

production standards. Furthermore, with every step forward identified through our

regular exchanges, we make progress in our capacity to formulate and address the

challenges for the generation of knowledge.

These Proceedings publish 58 communications that were distributed in the three

sessions of the Symposium, both as main conferences, oral and poster presentations.