Appraisal Of Indigenous Pig Procution And Management Practices In Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to obtained baseline data on pig production and management practices in Rivers State. The study used structural questionnaire administered to 300 household pig farmers, randomly selected from five communities in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Rivers State Nigeria. Data generated included socio-economic characteristics of respondents and pig production Parameters. The data collected were analysed by descriptive statistics such as means standard deviation and percentages. The result showed that the influence of some socio-economic variable on pig production. Over 85% of the respondents acquired their foundation stock from the open markets while some got from neighbours\' herds. Grains, agro-industrial and household wastes were the major sources of animal feed. There was a very low awareness level for the use of commercial feeds. Survey results indicated that the main disease problems reported by the
respondents were helminthiasis, cough, diarrhoea, skin disease mainly sarcoptic mange and lice infestation. The number of weaned piglet/sow/year was highest for intensive followed by semiintensive and extensive having the least number of piglets per year. The pig producers were confronted with major production constraints such as disease incidence, high cost of feeds, high cost of conventional drugs and poor housing. The need for and means of improving pig production were highlighted.

Keywords: indigenous pig production, management systems, disease profile, pig production constraints.

Journal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 1-7