of tested technologies developed by ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region has conducted as one programme on the development of technology for pig production by cross breeding improved Hampshire with the indigenous pigs. Improved Hampshire pig in their production and reproduction performance having over advantage than indigenous pig for traits like age at first furrowing, inter-farrowing intervals, body weight and litter size etc. The production economics of these groups of pigs were computed based on the present input components in integrated farming system.
Growth Performance of Piggery
Role of piggery is synergetic rather than primary producer in Integrated farming system.
Data on growth performance of different categories of piggery have been collected and compared with growth performance of the same in traditional husbandry practices. The data indicated that the growth of pig was higher in Integrated farming system (0.32kg/day) compared to traditional farming system where the growth of pig was (0.22kg/day). The average slaughtering weight of pig was recorded 80 kg in Integrated farming system and 60 kg in traditional animal husbandry practices.
Fig.1: Growth of Pig in Integrated and traditional farming system (Vertical bars representing S.D.)
Impact of Improved Hampshire Pig
During 2008-09, a total of 18 farm families of three cluster villages viz. (Noney) Longmai, Raengkhong and Awangkhul has been selected for Scientific Pig Rearing under NAIP project and they were imparted training on improved package of practices and
management of improved breed of pig and the adopted farmers started rearing with cross- bred Hampshire piglets with initial body weight of 7 to 8 ± 1.5 kg (10 beneficiary farmers with unit of 3 piglets of one male and two female piglets each and other 8 beneficiary farmers with unit of 2 piglets of one male and one female each ). In the initial growth stages, they were fed with balanced concentrate feed supplemented with vitamins and minerals according to their body weights and during the flattening stage fed with feeds gathered from common-properties or produced by the household on their smallholder farms and in their backyards and locally available feeds like Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta) or taro and tapioca (cassava). Total 28 reared sows gave birth to 140 piglets in the first farrowing and out of these, 74 piglets were kept as replacement stocks and remaining 66 piglets were sold to 33 other neighbouring non-beneficiary farmers @ Rs.2,000/piglet in the year 2009- 10. During 2010-11, a total of 518 piglets were produced, 168 piglets from the second farrowing of 28 parental female stocks, 185 piglets from the first farrowing of 37 female replacement stocks of 18 beneficiary farm families and 165 nos. of piglets were produced from the first furrowing of other 33 farm families. Out of 518 piglets, 299 piglets were sold to 149 other non beneficiary farm families (one male and one female each) @ Rs 2500/
piglet and the remaining 54 piglets were kept as replacement stocks by 18 beneficiary farmers maintaining 3 piglets (1 male and 2 female) for further production programme in the year 2010-11and 164 piglets from 33 non beneficiary farm families were sold to neighbouring 84 farm families. Till date 272 farm families have started rearing the improved breed Hampshire in the adopted cluster villages. A net return of Rs 38,094.00 per farm family could earn from improved Hampshire pig rearing and thus improved the livelihood of poor farmers. During 2011-12,a total of new 21 farm families of four cluster villages viz Marangching, Noney, Reangkhong and Awangkhul villages were started rearing with improved Hampshire piglets under the programme of piggery.
Table 2 Adopted farmers, number of piglets, body weight and mortality rate under the programme “Scientific Pig Rearing”, 2008-09
Sl Cluster village Adopted No.of Breed Body weight Mortality Rate (%)
No farmers piglets (Kg)
Adopted Check
1 Noney 8 24 (M8:F16) Cross breed 55±3.0 kg at 8.33 15
Hampshire 6 months
2 Reangkhong 5 15 (M5:F10) Cross breed 85± 3.0 kg 6.66 16
Hampshire at 9 months
3 Awangkhul 5 15 (M5:F10) Cross breed 75± 3.0Kg 6.66 18
Hampshire at 9 months
Total 18 54 (M18:F26)
Table 3 Adoption of improved pig breed of Hampshire in the cluster area
Year 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Farm families 18 51 251 272
Fig 2 Adoption of improved pig breed of Hampshire in the cluster area
Table 4 Return per farm family for rearing a unit of 2 females and 1 male improved breed Hampshire (2 years rearing period)
Particulars Quantity Return (Rs)
1.Sale of adult pigs @ Rs 8000/ pig 3 nos. 24,000.00
2.Sale of piglets @ Rs 2000/ piglet from 1st furrowing 10 nos. 20,000.00 3.Sale of piglets @Rs 2500/ piglet from 2nd furrowing 12 nos. 30,000.00
Total Return (Rs) 74,000.00
Cost Involved ( Rs) 35906.00
Net Return ( Rs) 38094.00
Conclusion
It is observed that crop-piggery in integrated farming system is very necessary for long term sustainable production in the region where shifting cultivation has already caused severe environmental degradation. The animal husbandry system of tribal society is organized on the basis of resource cycling within and between the forest and agricultural practices. If reared of piggery in an integrated fashion with judicious combination of piggery with other elements of agriculture, the overall productivity could increase many folds as evident from the present investigation.
References
Bujarbaruah, K.M. and Bhatt, B.P. 2005. Complementarily of livestock and Agro forestry for surtainable agriculture in North East. In Agrorestry in North East India opportunities and Challengeas (Edn. Bhatt, B.P. and Bujar baruah, K.M.) pp 601 – 612 ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya.