Evaluation of pig rearing farmers of North East India as prospective breeder: A retrospective analysis

Abstract

The present study was conducted for objective evaluation of the pig rearing farmers of north east India as breeder. Preliminary survey of persons engaged in pork production and processing were made, and reproductive tracts of slaughtered animals were collected from organized (ORG-) and unorganized (UNORG-) slaughter houses in and around Guwahati for assessing their reproductive status through morphometric examination and maturation potential of oocytes. The survey revealed that male pigs, sourced from organized farms, were mostly slaughtered at 8–12 months of age, whereas female pigs were slaughtered after third or fourth farrowing, at ORG-slaughter houses. Pigs slaughtered at UNORG-slaughter houses were mostly sourced from primary producers and household enterprises, and stage of reproductive life was not an important factor influencing the decision to selling. Organometry of female genital organs showed higher values (P<0.05) for pigs slaughtered in ORGslaughter houses. Further, higher numbers (P<0.05) of corpus luteum were found in ORG-ovaries. However, higher number (P<0.05) of surface follicles, in-vitro matureable oocytes and in-vitro matured oocytes were found in UNORG-ovaries. The results of present study suggest that female pigs of unorganized production system are more likely to be sold and slaughtered before realizing their (re) production potential.