“Guide to Pig Breeds and Selection for Farming”
India has a population of about 5 million pigs, which is less than 1 percent of the world population. According to an estimate made in 1968 by the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, the annual production of pork and pork products is about 50,000 tonnes, which is less than 10 percent of the total meat produced in the country. Pigs are generally maintained by economically weaker sections of the community and little attention is paid to them.
Even in the present undeveloped state, the value of the stock maintained by pig farmers can be estimated at Rs 250 million, and the annual contribution in the form of pork and pork products even on a conservative basis can be placed at more than Rs 150 million. In addition to pork and pork products, 0-34 million kg of bristles, a valuable export commodity, valued at over Rs 15 million, are produced by the pig industry.
Though pigs are maintained for the production of pork, their role in progressive agriculture is not fully recognized. Pig farming is adapted to both diversified and intensive agriculture. Pigs convert inedible feeds, forages, certain grain byproducts obtained from mills, meat byproducts, damaged feeds, and garbage into valuable nutritious meat. Most of these feeds are either not edible or not very palatable to human beings. The faeces of pigs are useful in maintaining soil fertility as about 80 percent of the fertilizing value of the feed is excreted in the faeces and urine.
The pig grows fast and is a prolific breeder, farrowing 10 to 12 pigs at a time. It is capable of producing two litters per year under good management conditions. The carcass return is quite high-65 to 80 percent of the live weight. With a small investment on building and equipment, proper feeding, and sound disease-control programme the farmer can profitably utilize his time and labour in this subsidiary occupation.
Pigs have a simple stomach unlike the ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) and hence cannot fully utilize coarse fodder. A pig must, therefore, be fed maximum of concentrates and minimum of roughages.
BREEDS
The indigenous (desi) pig has been the basis of pig production all these years. It is small in size. There has hardly been any selection over the years to develop its economic traits, such as the litter size, birth weight, weaning weight, daily gain in body weight and feed-conversion efficiency. Improved breeds are now being used for grading up the indigenous population so that the crossbred pigs would increasingly form the basis for pig production in the rural arcas.
The imported breeds which have been tried so far are: Large White Yorkshire, Middle White Yorkshire, Landrace, Saddleback, Tamworth and Berkshire. Of these, the Large White Yorkshire and Landrace are being used very widely; the other breeds are being used in some small pockets. All the states have set up pig-breeding farms for the production of pure-bred stocks of pigs.
Large White Yorkshire
The Yorkshire breed is a native of England. It is the most extensively used exotic breed in India. It is generally classified as a bacon breed. The body colour is solid white with occasional black-pigmented spots. Other distinguishing characteristics are erect ears, snout of medium length and dished face.
The Yorkshire is a prolific breeder. The sows have good milking and mothering ability. Carcass quality, growth rate and feed-conversion ability are generally good. It is an excellent breed for the purpose of crossbreeding. A mature boar weighs 300 to 400 kg and a sow 230 to 320 kg.
Middle White Yorkshire
This breed is a cross of Large and Small White Yorkshire breeds of England. It is white, with a short head and upturned dished face, wide between ears. In view of its small size this breed has been used in some areas for grading up of the indigenous stock. The breed is hardy, grows rapidly, gives a good dressing percentage, but is not so prolific as the Large White Yorkshire. Boars, when fully grown, weigh 250 to 340 kg, while sows weigh 180 to 270 kg.
Landrace
The Landrace is a breed of Denmark and is a bacon breed. It is white with black skin-spot freckles. Other distinguishing characteristics are long body, large drooping ears and long snout. The breed is noted for prolific breeding and for efficiency in utilizing feed. In carcass quality Landrace is equal to Yorkshire. Landrace is an excellent breed for crossbreeding. Mature boars weigh 270 to 360 kg and mature sows 200 to 320 kg.
Essex Saddleback
The Essex Saddleback, developed in Hampshire in England, is black with white fore-legs and has a continuous belt of white hair over the shoulders.
Tamworth
The breed derives its name from the town of Tamworth in England. The Tamworth is less prolific than the white breeds. It is golden-red and is a good bacon-type breed. Valued for its hardiness and vigour, this breed can contribute usefully to commercial cross breeding operations. Mature boars weigh 200 to 360 kg and mature sows 180 to 320 kg.
Berkshire
It is a medium-size breed. It is black with white on the face, feet and tail. Full-grown boars weigh 270 to 380 kg. Sows weigh 200 to 290 kg.