Abstract
The aim of this study was to facilitate artificial insemination training to enhance sustainable pig production within the developing smallholder pig production sector in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Eighteen smallholder pig farmers with requisite structures (pig house, pens), pigs (large white, landrace duroc or South African indigenous) and management (feeding, cleaning and record keeping) capacity were trained on routine pig management and artificial insemination procedures in a “learning by doing” on-farm supervised programme administered by Agricultural Research Council, Animal Production pig training team. Following estrus detection, 96 sows were artificially inseminated and 31 naturally served (NS). Farrowing rates (FR), total born (TB) and born alive (BA) piglets were recorded. The occurrence ccurrence of mummified fetuses (0.019 vs. 0.022%) and weak piglets (0.038 vs. 0.049%) did not differ between artificially inseminated sows and naturally mated sows. Born alive, birth weight and weaning weight were higher for artificial inseminated sows. The average litter size was 15± and 13±, birth weight 1.98±0.79 kg and 1.48±0.58 kg and weaning weight 9.89±0.87 kg and 7.23±0.71 kg for the AI and NS litters, respectively. Farmer demographic factors (age, gender and educational level) had no effect on farrowing rate, total born and piglets born alive. Therefore, implementation of artificial insemination techniques and pig production training was feasible under a smallholder pig production system.
Highlights
In South Africa, 20-25% of pigs are in the smallholder production system (Krecek et al, 2004)
The Agricultural Research Council - Animal Production (ARC-AP), pig AI team designed a programme to train smallholder pig farmers on pig production and pig artificial insemination tailored to increase productivity and profitability, considering resource constraints faced by smallholder pig farmers in Gauteng Province, South Africa
Thereafter, farmers were trained on artificial insemination procedures in a “learning by doing” circumstances supervised by ARC-AP, pig artificial insemination team at their own farms
Summary
In South Africa, 20-25% of pigs are in the smallholder production system (Krecek et al, 2004). These pigs are of high economic importance and play a pivotal role in enhancing the livelihood of the unemployed peri-urban communities of Gauteng Province (Antwi & Seahlodi, 2011; Matabane et al, 2018). Smallholder farmers keep exotic breeds (Large White, Landrace, Duroc) and their crosses, and indigenous breeds (Kolbroek, Windsnyer) (Madzimure et al, 2012; Munzhelele et al, 2016). The average pig unit size for smallholder pig producers is 10 sows (Munzhelele et al, 2016). Pigs are largely kept under semi-intensive management in poorly constructed houses (pens), poor feeding system and biosecurity (Munzhelele et al, 2016; Matabane et al, 2018)
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