Times Of Swaziland: AI TO INFLATE PIG PRODUCTION

AI TO INFLATE PIG PRODUCTION
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Thulile Gama and Mhlengi Magongo on 29/06/2022 08:27:00


MBABANE - Artificial insemination (AI) has been introduced to the local pig
production to inflate production.
The introduction of AI in pig production would also expand the pig’s market
locally, making it sufficient for export. AI offers producers numerous benefits
by allowing more extensive use of superior sires. AI can also enhance the rate
of genetic improvement and in terminal mating systems, increase the consistency
of market hogs produced. Eswatini is currently working with expertise from the
Republic of China on Taiwan to run an AI programme to assist farmers in their
pig production in the country. Pigs’ Artificial Insemination is said to carry
more advantages than disadvantages compared to natural mating. Pig’s
production via AI is when semen from a proven boar is artificially collected,
evaluated for quality and deposited into the cervix of a receptive sow.
Trained
In an interview with Director of veterinary Services, Dr Xolani Dlamini, from
the Ministry of Agriculture he said farmers were trained to do their own
insemination. The doctor also educated that carrying out the insemination
without knowledge was dangerous because wrong timing could result to failure to
conceive. “Physical injury to the pig or self,” Dlamini said. The doctor
emphasised that it was important for the farmer to be trained on insemination.
Dlamini also revealed that government was working with expertise from Taiwan to
run the AI programme producing the semen at Mpisi farm, training the farmers and
giving extension services. He also said the insemination process was done at the
farmer’s place. “The farmer goes to Mpisi farm to buy the semen, come back
home and inseminate the pig that is on heat,” he said. The Director encouraged
farmers who wanted to learn to come forward and learn.
Organised
Minister of Agriculture, Jabulani Mabuza, advised farmers to form organised
commodity groups to attain bargaining power in aspects ranging from bulk buying,
input price negotiation, commodity price negotiations and other associated
attributes. He said they should venture into production of animal feed
especially the major feed ingredients in pig rations and fattening.
“Add value to the final product through processing, packaging and branding,”
he said. The minister added that they should also explore other possible markets
within the SADC region and beyond.
Mandla Mthupha, a swineherd based in Mandlangempisi said this is a valuable
opportunity for the industry as it would expand their reach. He said it would be
advantages to swineherds as it would increase production and supply to the local
market thus generating profit. “Once we have sufficient pig’s to supply
local market, it would be easy for us to expand to the international market as a
brand,” he said. The swineherd added that they fear that this move may force
them to decrease the amount they charge for supplying the local market. He said
if a market is flooded by a commodity, the demand decreases forcing supply to
decrease as well.
Places to visit if one is interested to learn:
*Livestock Production Offices in Manzini (RA offices)
* Mbabane (Vet Offices)
*Nhlangano (Post Office)
*Siteki (Government Offices complex).
Advantages of AI over natural conception;
*Access to semen from outstanding boars
*Reduces stress from female which might result to no conception
*Reduction of disease transfer from boar to sow, sow to boar
*Fewer boars needed in the farm, savings on food costs and medicine costs for
the boar.