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Opportunities for conservation and utilisation of local pig breeds in low-input production systems in Zimbabwe and South Africa

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A Publisher’s Erratum to this article was published on 22 February 2014

Abstract

Purpose and methods

In situ conservation of pig genetic resources requires understanding of the farming systems under which the pigs are kept. The objective of the study was to characterise smallholder pig production systems where indigenous pigs are kept in order to assess opportunities for in situ conservation of these pigs. Factors influencing pig herd sizes, ranking of pigs in smallholder production systems, breeds and breed preferences, pig ownership patterns, traits preferred by farmers and constraints to production were investigated in a survey involving 199 farmers from Chirimhanzu District of Zimbabwe, Vhembe, Alfred Nzo and O. R. Tambo Districts of South Africa.

Results

Income was the major factor influencing most pig production related parameters. Most pigs (69.67 %) were owned by women, with most of the women falling into the very low income group. Farmers kept pigs for several reasons that were common across geographical zones and income groups. The odds of a farmer ranking pigs first in the production system depended on the absence of other livestock (P < 0.05). Farmers in the higher income group tended to mention poor feed resources and access to information as constraints (P < 0.05) compared to the very low income group. There was preference heterogeneity in the breeds kept and the reasons for breed choice across the income groups and geographical zones. Fewer farmers in the very low income group (42.62 %) recognised the need to conserve local pigs compared to the low income group (80.49 %), the medium income group (50.00 %) and the high income group (100.00 %; χ 2 = 19.14; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

It was concluded that farmers see value in local pigs and are willing to conserve them. In situ conservation programmes are possible and these should recognise the role of poor women in conserving and enhancing indigenous pig genetic resources.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to communities in Chirumhanzu district of Midlands province in Zimbabwe, Limpopo and Eastern Cape provinces in South Africa for taking their time to answer questionnaires. In addition, the authors would like to thank the National Research Foundation (SA) and the Regional Universities Forum for Agricultural Research for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Sciences, Animal Breeding and Genetics, Stellenbosch University, P. Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa

    Tinyiko Edward Halimani, Farai C. Muchadeyi & Kennedy Dzama

  2. Department of Animal Science, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

    Tinyiko Edward Halimani

  3. Discipline of Animal and Poultry Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P. Bag X01 Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    Michael Chimonyo

Authors
  1. Tinyiko Edward Halimani
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  2. Farai C. Muchadeyi
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  3. Michael Chimonyo
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  4. Kennedy Dzama
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Correspondence to Kennedy Dzama.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0555-z.

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Halimani, T.E., Muchadeyi, F.C., Chimonyo, M. et al. Opportunities for conservation and utilisation of local pig breeds in low-input production systems in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Trop Anim Health Prod 45, 81–90 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-012-0177-2

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