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Evaluation of biological and economic efficiency of smallholder pig production systems in North Vietnam

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Abstract

This study evaluates smallholder pig production systems in North Vietnam, comparing a semi-intensive system near a town with good market access, where a Vietnamese improved breed has replaced the indigenous pig breed, and an extensive system away from town, where the indigenous breed still prevails. Fieldwork was conducted in 64 households in four villages. Repeated farm visits yielded 234 structured interviews. Data were analysed by linear models and non-parametric tests. Production inputs and outputs were quantified, and feed use efficiency and economic efficiency were assessed. The gross margin was higher for semi-intensive production with the improved breed, while the benefit–cost ratio was higher under extensive conditions with the indigenous breed. The net benefit did not differ between systems. Twenty-four per cent of farmers yielded a negative net benefit. In one village under extensive conditions, live weight output from indigenous sows with crossbred offspring compared positively with the output from semi-intensive production with improved genotypes, but was associated with high inputs, making production inefficient. Results indicate that improved genotypes might not be an efficient production alternative for saving-oriented production with limited resource supply. Suitability of evaluation parameters, farmers’ production aims, and factors impacting the production success in different systems are discussed.

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Abbreviations

B:

Ban (pig breed)

BCR:

benefit–cost ratio

C :

cash revenue

CW:

Cornwall (pig breed)

DAAD:

German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst)

DFG:

German Research Council (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)

DM:

dry matter

FAO:

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FM:

fresh matter

GJ:

gigajoule

GM:

gross margin

GSO:

General Statistical Office Vietnam

hh:

household

LSM:

least-squares mean

lw:

live weight

LW:

Large White (pig breed)

MARD:

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Vietnam

MC:

Mong Cai (pig breed)

ME:

metabolizable energy

MJ:

megajoule

mVND:

million Vietnamese Dong

N :

non-market value of production

NB:

net benefit

NIAH:

National Institute of Animal Husbandry Hanoi, Vietnam

O :

opportunity feed costs

P25, P75 :

25th and 75th percentile

UNDP:

United Nations Development Program

USD:

US dollar

V :

variable cash costs

VND:

Vietnamese Dong (average exchange rate: 1 USD ∼ 15 000 VND, year 2001/2)

\(\overline{{\text{x}}}\) :

arithmetic mean

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry 480a, University of Hohenheim, Institute of Animal Production in the Tropics and Subtropics, Garbenstr. 17, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany

    U. Lemke, B. Kaufmann & A. Valle Zárate

  2. National Institute of Animal Husbandry, Chem, Tu Liem, Hanoi, Vietnam

    L. T. Thuy

  3. Department of Bioinformatics, University of Hohenheim, Institute for Crop Production and Grassland Research, Stuttgart, Germany

    K. Emrich

Authors
  1. U. Lemke
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  2. B. Kaufmann
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  3. L. T. Thuy
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  4. K. Emrich
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  5. A. Valle Zárate
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Correspondence to U. Lemke.

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Lemke, U., Kaufmann, B., Thuy, L.T. et al. Evaluation of biological and economic efficiency of smallholder pig production systems in North Vietnam. Trop Anim Health Prod 39, 237–254 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-007-9001-9

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