Herd dynamics and contribution of indigenous pigs to the livelihoods of rural farmers in a semi-arid area of Zimbabwe.

Tropical Animal Health and Production
G ChiduwaKennedy Dzama

Abstract

Herd dynamics of indigenous pigs were determined in a semi-arid farming area of Chirumanzu, Zimbabwe. Thirty-two pig herds were monitored once every month for 12 months. Consequently, pig production potential (PPP) and pig production efficiency (PPE) were computed for each month. Incidences of farrowing were higher in times of pig confinement (57%) than in times when the pigs were free ranging (43%). About 23% of the farmers interviewed had access to irrigation. The mean pig herd size per household was 3.3. The average litter size per farrowing was 7.7. Pigs were free ranging for most of the year and penned during the rainy season. Herd sizes changed with month (P<0.05). Farmers who had access to irrigation had higher (P<0.05) herd sizes, number of piglets and the number of adult pigs. Highest piglet numbers were observed during the rainy months. The number of mature pigs contributing to pig production efficiency was low. Piglet mortality was the major cause of exits from the herd and was higher in farmers with no access to irrigation facility (P<0.05). The PPP was highest in farmers who had access to irrigation (P<0.05), except in June and July. The PPE was low and not affected by either month, village or access to irrigation ...Continue Reading

References

Feb 12, 1999·Tropical Animal Health and Production·S J Hall
Jun 1, 2002·Health Education & Behavior : the Official Publication of the Society for Public Health Education·Amy J SchulzSandro Galea
Dec 16, 2003·Veterinary Research Communications·J ZangaS Mukaratirwa
Mar 9, 2005·Journal of Animal Science·E KanisJ A M van Arendonk
Mar 1, 2007·Animal : an International Journal of Animal Bioscience·M Chimonyo, K Dzama

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 13, 2012·Virus Research·Mary-Louise PenrithArmanda D S Bastos
Jan 13, 2015·Preventive Veterinary Medicine·Edwina E C LeslieJenny-Ann L M L Toribio
Dec 3, 2014·Tropical Animal Health and Production·Jackson Mwenda MbuthiaAlexander Kigunzu Kahi
Mar 29, 2019·Transboundary and Emerging Diseases·Léopold K Mulumba-MfumuMary Louise Penrith
May 29, 2012·Tropical Animal Health and Production·Tinyiko Edward HalimaniKennedy Dzama
Aug 18, 2010·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·David SatterthwaiteCecilia Tacoli
Aug 15, 2019·Tropical Animal Health and Production·Ketshephaone ThutwaEnoch Owusu-Sekyere
Nov 24, 2019·Tropical Animal Health and Production·Abel G ChilundoMaria Vang Johansen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.