pig
Pig breeds part 2: Southern African pig breeds
Pigs are popular as a source of food and income due to their rapid growth rates, high feed-to-meat conversion ratios, low area requirements, high reproductive capacity, and calm temperament. This is why it is thought that humans already domesticated pigs 9 000 years ago. Breeds available in Southern Africa:[...]
Pig breeds part 1: Southern African pig breeds
A crucial factor in any farming operation is the market. If you cannot sell your product, all your efforts are to no avail. It is important to think about whether or not you have a reliable customer base before starting a pig breeding business. It is also important to[...]
Pig farming Part 7: Marketing – the final test for success
by Tapuwa Mashangwa A crucial element of the piggery business chain is the market. Thoroughly compiled market information and linkages determine piggery production objectives and profitability due to the corresponding buyer and customer’s requisites which can aid them to access domestic, regional and global markets. According to the Food[...]
Pig farming part 6: Understand the products your pigs can produce
Global meat consumption is increasing steadily with the concurrent rise in human population. Among meat products, pork has been maintaining its position in the top two of meats consumed. According to a report by The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2022, pork was the second most consumed[...]
Pig farming Part 1: Where did it start, and how to begin
by Tapuwa Mashangwa The history of pig production begins with humans domesticating pigs from wild boars independently in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) and East Asia around 9 000 years ago. A team led by Laurent Frantz at the University of Oxford, UK, analysed the genomes of more than 600 modern[...]