This document discusses pig breeding in Zimbabwe. It outlines the main pig breeds raised in the country, including the native Mukota breed and imported breeds like Duroc, Large White, and Landrace. Traits of economic importance are growth rate, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics. The Pig Industry Board leads performance testing and artificial insemination programs to improve genetics. Record keeping programs include the Zimbabwe Herd Book. Factors limiting progress include climate and lack of technical knowledge. The future prospects include addressing inbreeding and importing new breeds.

1. PIG BREEDING IN
ZIMBABWE
L.K. NYABADZA

2. Introduction
Breeding of pigs in the country have been mainly done by the Pig Industry Board
in Zimbabwe.
 There are also few private breeders mainly in Mashonaland and part of
Manicaland provinces.
Most of the pig breeders have been concentrating on crossing different exotic
breeds and there only local breed Mukota have not been fully utilized
Common Breeds in the country

3. Mukota breed

4. Mukota
 Black, hardy and long nosed pigs.
 Survives and reproduce on low pane of nutrition.
 It has enlarged caecum
 Mature males weigh up to 110kgwhile females are around 60kg.
 They have large shoulders that are undesirable.
 Excellent mothering ability and feed conversion ratio the same as that of
exotic breeds.
 The flesh is firm and dark and fat deposition is largely subcutaneous.

5. Duroc breed

6.  Originated in America
 Colours range from light golden to dark red
 Tremendous growth potential
 It excels all other breeds in muscles that are tender and soft
 Has the lowest incidence of stress and mortality
 Mothering ability and litter size are average about 10 piglets.
 Has good (FCR) and has fairly strong legs.
 The progeny is superior in performance.

7. Large white breed

8. LARGE WHITE
 A large breed capable of fast growth.
 Has good feed conversion ratio
 Has good length and are prolific breeders with 12-18 piglets.
 Has good lean carcass
 Mature weight around 500kg.
 Has heavy shoulders hence increased fat thickness.

9. LANDRACE BREED

10. LANDRACE
 Landrace is a breed native to Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
 Crossbreds between large white and local sows in Denmark.
 It was developed for bacon.
 It is a white breed with straight face and hanging ears.
 It has a long body that and has light shoulders.
 It is a meat type pig. It has more eye muscle, It has good growth rate and
fertility of 10 to 13 piglets per litter.
 It has good Feed Conversion Ratio and mothering ability.

11. Traits of economic importance
• Hardiness -resistance, tolerance and immunity to certain diseases.
• Reproductive traits -length of the gestation, pre-pubertal period in females, The
ovulation rate (20 to 25 eggs), The pre-natal mortality (30 to 40 %),conception
rate, Litter size, mass at birth per piglet
• Fattening traits Growth rate-350 to 1000g per day however Zimbabwean average
is 650g per day.
• feed conversion ratio (FCR) , varies from 2.5 to 10,
• Carcass traits. mass of the warm (hot) and cold carcass, dressing out %. The fat %
, meat % and bone % in the carcass colour, texture, tenderness, juiciness, the
flavour, the intra-muscular and inter-muscular fat, the back fat thickness

12. Genetic parameters
 Trait Heritability
 Conception rate .30
 Litter size .10
 Litter birth weight .30
 21-day litter weight .17
 Number weaned . 07
 Survival to weaning .05
 Rebreeding interval .35
 Sperm quantity . 37
 Sperm motility .17
 Average daily gain .30
 Feed conversion .25
 Backfat thickness .50
 Loin eye area .45
 Carcass length .55
 Lean percentage .48
 Color .28
 Tenderness .26

13. Improvement programs
Pig Performance Testing
• Conducted by PIB
• Farmers send their animals for testing soon after weaning.
• At 35kg live weight, they are put on test until 86kg.
• The animals are ranked on an index consisting of average daily gain, feed
• conversion ratio and ultrasonic back fat thickness.
• PIB also conducts on-farm performance testing in which promising young boars
and gilts are recorded on-farm by visiting PIB staff.
• They are assessed on an index comprising weight for day of birth and back fat
thickness

14. Artificial insemination

15. Artificial inserminations

16. Artificial insemination
Detection of estrus
Timing of AI mattings
Collecting semen
Processing semen
Insemination
Equipment cleaning and maintenance

17. Recording programs
Zimbabwe Herd Book
Livestock and meat advisory council
Established by an Act of Parliament in 1980 to oversee the registration of pedigree
livestock.
 Stud breeders record the fertility, survival and growth performance of livestock
species in the herd book.
ZHB has recently implemented Breed-Plan, the leading performance evaluation
software from Australia
Recording of all abattoirs

18. Individual farmer records
• Individuals make their own calf and cow records and analyse them using their
own computing facilities

19. Factors limiting genetic progress
Climatic conditions
Lack of technical knowledge
Poor record keeping
Lack of different breeds reduced selectin intensity
Loss of local genetic breeds

20. Future prospects

21. Fertility level…
Solve problems of inbreeding.
Local Semen testing facilities –breeding soundness evaluation.
Importing new pure breeds for cross breeding with the available
breeds and the breeds which are not yet in the country which
include:

22. Meishan

23. Cherster pig breed