Opportunities and challenges for smallholder pig production systems in a mountainous region of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China

Anne Schiborra,Mao Huanming,Simon Riedel,Eva Schlecht,Christian Huelsebusch

doi:10.1007/s11250-012-0166-5

Abstract

China’s small-scale pig keepers are the largest community of pork producers worldwide. About 56 % of the world's pigs originate from such systems, each producing 2–5 head per year. This study analyzes pig smallholders in Xishuangbanna, a prefecture of Yunnan Province. Categorical principal component analysis and two-step cluster analysis were used to identify three main production systems: livestock-corn-based (LB; 41 %), rubber based (RB; 39 %), and pig based (PB; 20 %) systems. RB farms earn high income from rubber and fatten cross-bred pigs, often using purchased feeds. PB farms own similar-sized rubber plantations and raise pigs, with fodder mainly being cultivated and collected in the forest. LB farms grow corn, rice, and tea while also raising pigs, fed with collected and cultivated fodder as well. About one third of pigs were marketed (LB, 20 %; RB, 42 %; PB, 25 %), and local pig meat is highly appreciated in the nearby town. High mortality, low reproductive performance, and widespread malnourishment are the systems' main constraints. Basic training in hygiene and reproduction management could significantly increase production; most effective measures would be counterbalancing seasonal malnourishment and exploration of locally available protein feeds. Through support by external expertise, farmers could more effectively trade their pigs at lucrative town markets.

Highlights

Triggered by China’s tremendous economic development, the country’s livestock sector currently undergoes a massive restructuring
About 50–80 % of all pigs produced in China originate from smallholder farms (Somwaru et al 2003; Neo and Chen 2009; State Statistical Bureau 2009) while a smaller, but steadily growing number of pigs are produced in factorylike production systems, often supported by foreign companies and capital (Telegraph 2008; AgFeed 2010; Somwaru et al 2003)
The combination of Categorical Principal Component Analysis (CatPCA) with SPSS two-step clustering proved to create meaningful classes and reliably allot farms to these; the three farm types were significantly different in their setup and management

Summary

Introduction

Triggered by China’s tremendous economic development, the country’s livestock sector currently undergoes a massive restructuring. While economic transition of very poor rural inhabitants to poor ones produces new livestock keepers and substitutes emigrating farmers, the ongoing trend towards improved productivity (Delgado et al 1999) and higher earnings from pig farming keeps the market attractive even for small producers. To contribute to this task, the present study analyzed the general characteristics and pig management of smallholder pig farms in mountainous areas of southern Yunnan Province so as to identify support strategies that could assist their economic and ecologically sustainable development.

Results

Conclusion