Pigs are adaptable and are a rapidly growing species that is good for small and beginning farmers seeking to incorporate livestock into farm.
Most common pig breeds for commercial production include: Yorkshire, Landrace, Hampshire, Duroc, Tibetan, Tamworth and their crosses. These breeds produce lean meat combined with efficient feed conversion. They are however not resilient to diseases as the local breeds and suffer more from hot weather and low feed quality.
Duroc, Hampshire and Yorkshire Pig Breed
Duroc are reddish brown in colour and fairly agreeable in temperament. The meat is tender with a great flavour. They also have good mothering tendancies, their piglets wean easily and forage at an early age.
Hampshire are black with a white strip of belting around the shoulder and body which can reach down the front legs. Yorkshire is a good meat producer and farrows large litters of piglets.
Landrace, Hereford and Berkshire Pig Breed
Landrace has ears that droop and fall forward from the top edges nearly parallel to the bridge of the nose. They are known for crossing well with other breeds and produce a large and flavourful ham and loin.
Hereford is a breed derived fro Duroc and Chester white. The nature weight of its boars is 360 kg and soars 270 kg.
Berkshire is a popular choice for meat production, are hardy and poses an easy going personality hence are easy keepers.
Tamworth and Chester White Pig Breed
Tamworth have the ability to forage well and is usually red in colour. Chester white make great mothers and live long lives. The colour should be all white with only small spots of colour.
Tibetan and Large Black Pig Breed
Specially adopted to the high hills and cold climate all year round, has light body weight and a black hair coat. It has the ability to deposit fat in the body. It also has low proficiency with an average size of 5 litters, a weaning percent of 69 and 5 pairs of teeth.
Large black is a hardy and adaptable. It is a lean pig and does well foraging. It also produces delicious meat and bacon and has ears that flop down over the eyes.
