By Herbert Musoke
Andrew Musooba, the Bego Farm manager and a lecturer at Busitema University-Arapai, advised farmers and those interested in venturing into piggery to clarify their market strategy first.
He said this during the Harvest Money Etop Master class at Bego Farm in Okidoi village, Ocokican sub-county, Soroti district recently.
“You should decide whether you are keeping pigs for stocking —selling piglets to farmers — or for pork, whether you raise them for slaughter,” he said.
He said a farm can benefit from commercial breeds such as Large White, Camborough and Landrace. For quality pork, a farmer should consider crosses with Duroc.
He says breeds can be improved using artificial insemination, which provides farmers with access to high-quality pig breeds at a lower cost.
Musooba adds that genetics play a crucial role in achieving the best feed conversion ratios, allowing your animals to gain the best weight per kilogramme of feed consumed.
For example, in pigs with good genetics, when fed quality mixed feed, a pig can yield 1kg of pork per 2kg of feed, an excellent conversion ratio. By six months, a pig can weigh over 100kg and be sold for pork or kept for breeding.
For quality feed, it is advisable to mix your own, as this ensures the quantities and qualities of the raw materials. However, it all starts with sourcing quality ingredients like maize, soya and premix/ vitamins or concentrates. He explains that even with maize, you must ensure its quality.
If you buy maize with low starch and fibre content, it will produce less energy. Similarly, soya with fewer nutrients will contain less protein, resulting in pigs that produce less meat.
“Don’t focus solely on prices when buying raw materials; also consider differences in weight, colour and other qualities. Remember, the heavier the maize or soya, the more nutrients it contains,” he stressed.
LEAD PHOTO CAPTION: Andrew Musooba talking about how to make piggery profitable. Photo by Herbert Musoke
