Pig Breeding

Do you know that pigs have one of the highest rates of reproduction in animals?

Pigs can birth up to 15 offspring at once and that is just one of the things that make pig farming attractive to investors.

Pigs also grow very fast and pork meat is in huge demand in most countries where there is a minority of people practicing religions that forbid consumption of pork meat.

Pure Breeding

Mating purebred individuals of the same breed. The progeny has the same genetic makeup.

The major objective of pure-breeding is to identify and propagate superior genes for use in commercial production primarily in crossbreeding programs as well as to propagate and identify superior females for maintaining valuable genetic material.

Out breeding

Mating individuals of the same breed but who are less closely related than the average of the breed. There should not be a common ancestor for at least four generation back in the pedigree of the boar and the females with which he is mated.

In breeding

Mating between individuals of the same breed but which are more closely related than the average of the breed.

Cross breeding

Mating two individuals from different breeds thus introducing into the progeny a gene combination that is different from that existing in either parent or in the breed of either parent. Cross breeding can involve two or more breeds, depending on

the desired result.

The sole purpose of cross breeding is to take advantage of the observed improvement in performance of the progeny above that of either parent

- hybrid vigour or heterosis.

Feeding

Good feed is necessary for growth, body maintenance and the production of meat and milk. You can use locally available feeds that are less expensive, but can be nutritionally complete when properly prepared.

Age of breeding stock

Well developed gilts may as a general rule bred to farrow when 12-14 months old. This depends more on development than on age. Gilts should weigh at least 100 kg before breeding. Ovulation rate increases during successive oestrous periods (up to fifth) following puberty.

Separation of piglets from mother (Weaning)

Normal weaning age of piglets is at 8 weeks age. The sow should be separated from the piglets for a few hours each day to prevent stress of weaning and feed is reduced gradually.

The piglets should be dewormed after 2 weeks of weaning. The piglets should be gradually shifted from 18 percent protein creep feed to 16 percent grower ration over a period of two weeks. Group of 20 piglets of more or less the same age should be housed in each pen.

Prevention and control of pig diseases:

All pigs should be vaccinated against swine fever at the age of 2-4 weeks. Breeding pigs should be tested for brucellosis and leptospirosis.

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