By Vision Reporter
It is common for pig farmers to keep any breed. Many of them are not even sure of which breed they are keeping. However, a good farmer must know the breed of pigs that he is keeping to appreciate the specific requirements for their growth.
A good farmer should be prepared to pay a bit more for a quality pig breed. In Uganda, the commonest breeds include cambourough, large white, landrace, duroc plus crosses of these varieties.
Cambourough, whose mother breeds come mainly from South Africa has been identified as a breed that grows fast and produces many piglets when breeding.
A Camborogouh piglet at two months old costs between sh150,000-sh250,000. Camborogouh ar=e long and slim. They can grow to 350kgs.
Large White
The Large White breed is the top breed in England. And if you consider the Yorkshires in the United States direct descendants of the Large White, this is the most popular breed in Uganda too.
Nearly every country in the world that values pig production has, at one point or another, imported the Large White.
This breed and its descendent Yorkshire are found in all crossbreeding involving three or more pigs worldwide. They have excellent quality meat, great maternal qualities, they are white, smallish, upright ears, long body with a straight back.
They are also a rugged, hardy breed where the sows have large litters, high milk production and good maternal instincts.
Also, it has very tasty meat. Piglets at two months cost between sh80,000 to sh150,000 in Uganda. It can grow to 400kgs.
Duroc
The Duroc was developed in the United States in the Corn Belt and in the East. Its original name was Duroc-Jersey, and the early history is somewhat unclear as to exactly what the mixture of breeds was from which the Duroc was derived, but New York state is the first known state where Durocs existed.
They gained national recognition at the Duroc-Jersey show at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. They claim the highest conversion rate of feed to meat of any breed. They are good for meat.
They have a red skin with red, brown, or even black hair. Relative to other pigs, the Duroc has what you would call an athletic build in the class of pigs. Short, floppy ears; short snout and good meat.
Piglets at two months cost between sh80,000 to sh150,000. It can grow to 250kgs.
Landrace
This is a medium-sized pig that grows to over 200 kgs. They are white in colour, have fine hair coat, long snouts and heavy drooping ears. They have long bodies, deep smooth sides and less fat compared to the other breeds. They are mainly breed for pork.
