Choosing The Right Pig Breed For Your Farm

Dr Danie Visser, an agricultural adviser and strategic analyst, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the factors that a farmer should consider when choosing which pig breed to farm.

- Glenneis Kriel

If you intend to farm pigs, it makes financial sense to buy the best genetic material you can afford right from the start. “Although this might be more expensive initially, the use of superior genetics to form the foundation of a herd will produce huge dividends in the long run,” says Dr Danie Visser, agricultural adviser and strategic analyst at Juventis Consulting.

Farmers who are already in the game should analyse the strengths and weaknesses of their herds and look for genetics to compliment or strengthen them.

Whether new or established, however, a producer should always source this genetic material from a reputable breeding company, stud breeder or multiplier herd.

Visser advises farmers to consider the breeding objectives of the supplier, the size of its gene pool, and the availability of the breed nationally and internationally when choosing genetics.

“The breeder should be registered with the Pig Breeders’ Society of South Africa and have thorough records of the genetic performance of the specific lines offered. Also consider aftersales care, as many companies these days supply farmers with crossbreeding replacement gilts and genetic agreements to help them make the most of their genetic lines,” explains Visser.

Farmers should also familiarise themselves with the disease status and biosecurity measures of the breeder or company selling the animals, and discuss the best way to bring new genetic material onto the farm, and the quarantine measures, with their veterinarian.

“Great care should be taken to ensure that the genetic material is disease-free, as contagious diseases will spread like wildfire, especially under intensive production conditions,” says Visser.

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