By- : Thounaojam Apisana Chanu
C.V.Sc. AAU
Khanapara, Ghy -22
Pig Farming is the raising and breeding of domestic pigs as livestock, and is a branch of animal husbandry. Pigs are farmed principally to be eaten for e.g. Bacon gammon or sometimes skinned.
Pigs are rear to many different styles of farming; Intensive Commercial units, Commercial free range enterprises or Extensive farming. Historically, farm pigs were kept in small numbers and were closely associated with the residence of the owner, or in the same village or town. They were valued as a source of meat, fat and for the ability to turn inedible food into meat, and often fed household food waste if kept on a homestead. Pigs have been farmed to dispose of municipal Garbage on a large scale. They are profitable for business. Pig farming is now getting popularity. This is mainly because of the recent fast food Restaurants. They are incorporating the Pork (Pig meat) into various food items like as Bacon, sausage and other tasty pork products. But also use their skin, fat and other body parts for cosmetics and medical use. Even their Faecal matter is helpful as good manure for many crops etc.
Pigs grow faster than any other animals. They have higher feed conversion efficiency. Feed conversion ratio is 3.0 to 3.5 kg feed per kg live weight gain. In India, pig farming and pork production are in the hands of traditional pig farmers belonging to lower income group people. They have great feed to meat converting ratio. They can convert all types of inedible feeds, forages certain grains byproduct obtained from mills, damaged feed, meat byproducts, garbage etc. into valuable, nutrition and delicious meat.
One of the best feed converter and prolific amongst the all domesticated livestock. With short generation interval a sow can produce 16 piglets in a year. Dressing percentage is very high (65 to 70%). Pig farming business can be great income opportunities for the small and landless farmers, unemployed educated or uneducated young people and for the rural populated. In a word, commercial pig farming can be a great business idea and income source for the people and it can contribute the national income of country highly