Monday, April 28, 2008 In-breeding in pigs causes defects, small litter-expert
CROSS breeding is a better alternative to in-breeding even for backyard pig farms, a British expert said during the recently concluded hog convention.
Dr. Rex Walters of the British Pig Association said that while in-breeding—allowing swine and sow from the same breed to mate and reproduce—is commonly practiced by pig farms, it increases the possibilities of animal defects and lesser litter yield per year.
Cross breeding, however, improves survival rate of piglets and increases by about six percent the litter size per year, Walters said during the 17th Convention.
The use of good genetics for production would result in a large number of pigs per year, as well as fast and efficient growth, he said. He also said that good genetics would result in pigs with big appetites that, in turn, will lead to better quality pork.
Walters, who talked about the importance of genetics in the improvement of pig reproductive performance, mentioned technological advancements and methods used in hog farming abroad.
But he said these technologies, like the use of DNA technology and the utilization of biochemical pathway, have yet to be adopted in the country.
Cross breeding, on the other hand, can be processed naturally and at a lower cost, which would be an efficient method of reproduction that can be used by local hog raisers.
He pointed out that the Philippines is the 10th biggest hog producer worldwide. (Strawberry Yap, STC Intern)
