Pig Introduction

Introduction:

• Among different livestock species, piggery is the most potential source of meat production and has more efficient feed conversion after the broilers. Pig farming is a promising source of meat production in India with their inherent characteristics of faster multiplicity, higher growth rate and feed conversion ability.
• In India, an estimated half a million people are involved in pig farming. It is more concentrated in certain states of the country, including Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram. These states have favourable agro-climatic conditions and cultural acceptance of pork consumption.
• There has recently been a noticeable increase in piggery farms in states like West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• There are about 9.06 million pigs as per 20th Livestock Census in the country and the population has decreased by 12.03 percent as compared to previous census.
• The contribution seems to be small, but the potential of this sector yet to be explored in country like India. Here It is predominantly small-scale enterprise practiced in the form of backyard farming by marginal and small farmers.
• Apart from providing meat, it also provides bristles, a valuable export commodity. Though pigs are maintained for production of pork, their role in progressive agriculture is not fully recognized.
• Pig farming is adapted to both diversified and intensified agriculture.
• Pigs convert inedible feeds, forages, and certain grain byproducts obtained from mills, meat by products, damaged feeds and garbage into valuable nutrition.
• While India is a major exporter of various agricultural products, pork exports from India is currently limited. However, the country has the potential to increase pork exports by improving infrastructure, implementing quality control measures, and complying with international standards.

Importance and Advantages of pig farming:

• Pigs have inherited capacity to acclimatize with varying climatic conditions.
• The pig has got highest feed conversion efficiency as they produce more live weight gain from a given weight of feed than any other class of meat producing animals except broilers.
• It can utilize wide variety of available waste grains in market and feed on waste food and grow well. They convert inedible forages, feed and grains byproducts obtained from mills, meat by products, damaged feeds and garbage into valuable nutritious meat.
• Pigs are adjusted to varied rearing practices and consume different types of food (Omnivorous) to attain higher growth and meat production.
• The pig grows fast and is prolific with shorter generation interval. A sow can be bred as early as 8-9 months of age and can give birth twice in a year. Adult sows when bred during right time after attaining maturity will farrow 8-12 piglets in 112-118 days of gestation period (i.e., about 4 months of gestation).
• Pigs will attain 60-70kg body weight in 6-8 months period.
• Pig farming requires small investment on buildings and equipments. Further, proper feeding and sound disease control program can make the farmer to utilize his time and labour in this subsidiary occupation.
• It is capable of producing two litters per year under good management conditions.
• The carcass yield is high: 65-80% of live body weight. Pigs are known for their meat yield, which in terms of dressing percentage ranges from 65 - 80 in comparison to other livestock species whose dressing yields may not exceed 65%.
• The faeces of pigs are useful in maintaining soil fertility. The manure droppings and urine are good fertilizers which enhance the soil fertility and improve grain production.
• Pork is available at a cheaper price with nutritious and highly palatable tasty meat of higher quality animal protein. It is rich in vitamins like thiamin, Niacin and riboflavin.
• Pig bones are used for producing bone meal and also used for purification of sugar in sugar industry. Pig hairs (Bristles) are used for making brushes and ropes, hooves are used for shirt button making and preparation of gum. Hence, pigs are called as “multi utility domestic animals”.
• Pigs store fat rapidly for which there is an increasing demand from poultry feed, soap, paints and other chemical industries.

Pig industry remains under developed compared to other livestock enterprises mainly due to religious taboos and prejudices and also due to unhygienic practices prevailing in pig production and marketing. Most meat consumers tend to avoid pork consumption. However, the animal protein requirements for the growing human population cannot be met by mutton, chicken and beef alone. In this connection, the pig which is a quick growing animal comes handy to augment the pig production potential through modern management and profitable farming practices. In this context, the extension activities initiated by the Government and the introduction of exotic breeds like Large White Yorkshire have paved the way for adoption of Pig farming as livelihood source by many small and marginal farmers. As a result of these efforts, number of small scale piggeries are coming up in different parts of the state and the consumption of pork has considerably increased in the recent years.

Challenges of Swine Production in India

• Absence of sufficient number of breeder farmers throughout the country is a major constraint leading to lesser availability of quality pigs for fattener farmers and market.
• Tendency of the pig grower to raise pig to marketable age on zero to negligible inputs and lesser preference of the consumers for pork from the local pigs etc.
• Religious taboo attached with pork consumption is also a weakness for which marketing of pork has to be confined to a selective group.
• Over 20% of the pigs kept in India are crossed with exotic breeds, but with a large amount of inbreeding because of non-systematic breeding and selection.
• In nutshell, the pig rearing is still unorganized venture that requires science and technology driven support to make it a vibrant enterprise. Various stakeholders require promotion at various levels such as technology, entrepreneurship development, and financial support to bring Indian pig farming at global level.
• Shrinking of resources in terms of land availability, water as well as threats from the changing environment being conducive for emergence of new diseases are gradually expected to limit the capacity for pork production optimization.