Search

Chinese smallholder pig producers, only outputting few pigs per year, still supply the major portion of pork consumed in the country. Research and policy focusing on this sector may therefore contribute to reducing rural poverty. This study analyzed factor productivity and reproductive performance of 162 traditional smallholder pig producers in a 50km2 area of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, southern P.R. China, by using the PRY Herd Life Model and comparing the actual to two simulated improved pig management scenarios. A progeny history survey covering 184 sows and 437 farrows, combined with an analysis of the quantity and quality of feed given and of live weight development of 114 pigs during a 16 months' time period supplied the base data. Feed energy content averaged 14.9MJMEkg−1 DM, age at first farrowing was 14.5±4.34 months and farrowing interval was 11.4±2.73 months. A litter comprised 5.8 piglets and was weaned after 4.3±0.99 months. Monetary return on inputs (ROI) was negative for the current management (0.93:1), but improved (1.7:1) when culling of sows and fatteners was optimized for highest output per feed input. If in addition better feeding and higher sales prices at fixed ages were simulated, ROI substantially improved to 3.1:1 and beyond for four different grower groups. Results point to the potential of the regional smallholder pork production if simple measures of improvement in feeding, culling and breeding are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Vietnam, pig production and pork demand are developing rapidly. Still, 80% of the national pig herd is kept on smallholder farms while policy mainly focuses on intensification of pig production. The aim of this study is to evaluate possibilities to organize pig breeding and marketing channels in remote areas in the uplands of Northern Vietnam. The study compiles three parts: (1) Evaluation of farmers breeding management and breed and trait preferences for pigs; (2) Evaluation of different crossbreeding schemes for leaner meat production; and (3) Design of appropriate organizational settings for pig breeding and marketing. Ban pigs are the second most predominant breed next to the Mong Cai. Ban pigs are valued by farmers for their feed intake spectrum, feed intake capacity, disease tolerance, health/strength, growth rate and carcass quality. For all modelled crossbreeding schemes, genetic gain is low; the Yorkshire×Ban crossbreeding scheme shows the highest overall genetic gain. The traditional production and fattening of Exotic boar×Local dam F1 crosses does not require particular organizational setups. This system already exists in an improvised way. The advantage of an organized scheme would be the controlled maintenance of the local breed. For the latter, a stratified pig breeding system seems promising, requiring innovative organizational setups. A short food supply chain is proposed. This system builds links between remote and close-to-market villages and populations. Critical organizational aspects like poorly developed infrastructure, poor access to input and output markets and information can be overcome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Village breeding programmes are being developed by an integrated long-term project for smallholders in Northwest Vietnam to improve pig production in different production systems. In total, 120 smallholders with 169 sows in 5 of the 9 project villages were approached in single person interviews, using a structured questionnaire. Frequency analysis of data on breeding management and ranking of smallholders'' trait preferences and selection criteria used for pigs were performed with SAS 9.1, using the FREQ procedure. Survey results indicate that both improved local breeds and exotic genotypes should be incorporated in future village breeding programmes for market-oriented smallholder pig production, improving the reproductive and growth performance as well as the carcass quality. In a next step, a model reflecting the status quo at farms with market-oriented pig production was developed integrating data from farmers'' survey and information from the project''s current recording scheme. A deterministic approach was used to assess the profitability and genetic merit of the current recording scheme. Modelling results show that the current recording scheme is unprofitable (−33.90 € sow−1). As continued success of village breeding programmes depends on the profitability of breeding measures, the long-term sustainability of the current recording scheme seems unlikely. Genetic gains are achieved in production and carcass quality traits, while a small reduction in reproduction traits can be observed. In a last step, possible effects of increased pig performances on the profitability and genetic merit of the current recording scheme were evaluated. Effects of increased pig performances on the genetic and economic success of the recording scheme are generally limited. Further model calculations are necessary for finding possibilities to improve smallholder pig breeding in a profitable way. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study analyses developmental trends, and the driving forces behind them, in smallholder pig production systems in the marginalized mountainous areas of North-west Vietnam. Fieldwork was conducted from 2001 to 2002 in a total of 64 households in four villages in North Vietnam of varying remoteness. Data on developments in pig production were derived from structured household interviews and analysed by loglinear models. The findings of Rapid Rural Appraisal on historical developments are also presented. Spreadsheet models were developed simulating four production alternatives: demand-driven pig production with higher-yielding Vietnamese Mong Cai sows or resource-driven production with lower-yielding local Ban sows, generating offspring either through purebred boars of the respective breed or with higher-yielding Large White boars. Starting from the base models of the four genotype/production system combinations, the following scenarios were tested: (1) increased performance through improved management, (2) modification of end products, and variation of (3) input costs and (4) end-product prices. Evaluation variables were gross margin (GM) and net benefit (NB) of pig production. Results show a rapid transition process from subsistence to increasingly market-oriented production, beginning even before the reforms of 1986 (Doi Moi) but gaining considerable momentum afterwards. Differentiation of production systems was observed in regions that differed in remoteness and environmental conditions. In the base model, improved Large White×Mong Cai pigs yielded the highest GM and local Ban pigs the lowest; Large White×Ban pigs yielded the highest NB and Mong Cai pigs the lowest. Under a scenario of considerably increasing feed costs, Large White×Ban pigs became more beneficial than Large White×Mong Cai pigs based on GM as the decision criterion. Modelling results are compared with current conditions in the Vietnamese pig sector. The probability of local Ban pigs becoming a beneficial production alternative is critically discussed, as is the methodological approach of the study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigated the productive adaptability of pig breeds under different smallholder production conditions in Vietnam, comparing an indigenous with a Vietnamese improved breed. Fieldwork was conducted in four villages with different remoteness in North Vietnam from 2001 to 2002, in 64 households keeping the improved Mong Cai or indigenous Ban as sow breeds and progeny for fattening. Four visits per farm yielded 234 structured interviews. Reproductive performances were derived from 135 litters. Individual weights of pigs (n =755) were obtained. Data were analysed by regression, linear and generalised linear, especially loglinear models. Two distinct pig production systems were identified, that differed in remoteness, market access, resource availability, distribution of pig breeds and pig production intensity. Higher performances of 1.4 and 1.5 litters year−1, 8.4 and 8.4 piglets weaned litter−1, 66.6 and 93.0 kg piglets weaned sow−1 year−1, and 136 and 177 g day−1 ADG were found in two villages near town with semi-intensive production conditions and a high rate of improved Mong Cai sows and MC and LW×MC offspring in the observed population. Lower performances of 1.1 and 1.1 litters year−1, 4.6 and 5.5 piglets weaned litter−1, 20.5 and 30.9 kg piglets weaned sow−1 year−1, and 66 and 85 g day−1 ADG were observed in parallel to higher incidences of indigenous Ban pigs away from town under extensive conditions. Total live weight offtake per household per year was higher near town and in one village distant to town. MC and LW×MC remained even under demand-driven conditions below the performance potential reported for improved genotypes. Under resource-driven conditions with a saving-oriented production pattern, the higher-yielding but more demanding Mong Cai might not be an efficient production alternative as a further performance reduction can be assumed. A considerable live weight output was observed under resource-driven conditions and with a higher percentage of crossbred LW×Ban offspring in the population, possibly representing a promising production alternative. Factors influencing the performance expression of pigs, and the suitability of different methods for the assessment of performance parameters on-farm are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]