Reasons for poor production among the emerging small-scale pig farmers of the Limpopo Province of the Republic of South Africa

Abstract

Emerging small-scale pig farmers in Limpopo province perceive pig production and management as an important means of improving their livelihood and alternative investment option for the future. Their performance has not been optimal due to the lack of practical understanding of the basics of animal production, biosecurity and efficient production system. Thus, an attempt was made to evaluate the challenges and constrains of pig farm production systems identified and reported by emerging small scale pig farmers (ESSPF) in the province. In addition, the risk factors associated with pig movement by ESSPF by means of spatio-temporal analysis was evaluated. The study revealed that the average number of sows/farm was 7.4, while the number of boars/farm was 1.7. On average, the number of days that the sows take to return to oestrus from weaning was 42.9 days while the number of piglet s weaned/sow/year was 4.85 pigs. Also the study showed that 98.77% of ESSPF don t vaccinate their breeding stock against major pig diseases and only 2.47% ESSPF farmers had previously benefited from the infrastructure programme of the department referred to as Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP). The majority of the respondents (82.61%) will prefer to sell their pigs at local points and within communities and only 9.32% and 14.09% will sell at the auctions or formal abattoir/supermarkets respectively. It is therefore recommended CASP be evaluated to reach and impact more pig farmers positively. Good animal husbandry and transfer of knowledge by the veterinary officials is central to the growth of farmers and their productivity. The provision of regional slaughter facilities will reduce the travelling costs to Bronkhorstspruit and Belfast, but also reduce the likelihood of the disease spread within or outside the province. The involvement of different stakeholders should be encouraged to ensure ESSPF are trained, mentored, coached, with the aim of improving their livelihood, food security and safety.

Limpopo provinsie is n belangrike vark produseerende gebied met n groot populasie van huishoudelike en wilde diere. Om die rede dien dit as n interfase tussen huishoudelike diere, mense en wilde diere.Alhoewel opkomende varkboere in die provinsie die produksie en bestuur as n belangrike verbetering in hul lewensbestaan asook alternatiewe finansiële beleggingsopsies vir die toekoms beskou, is hul prestasie nie optimaal nie as gevolg van die gebrek aan praktiese begrip van die basiese beginsels van diereproduksie, biosekuriteit en doeltreffende produksie stelsels. Dus, is 'n poging aangewend om die uitdagings en beperkings van varkplaas produksiestelsels te ïdentifiseer en die opkomende kleinskaalse varkboere (ESSPF) in die provinsie te evalueer. Bykomend is die risikofaktore wat verband hou met vark beweging deur ESSPF deur middel van tydruimtelike analise ontleed. Die studie het getoon dat die gemiddelde aantal sôe per plaas was 7,4 terwyl die aantal bere per plaas 1,7 was. Die sôe neem gemiddeld 42,9 dae om terug te keer na estrus vanaf speen, terwyl die aantal varkies gespeen / sog / jaar is 4,85 varkies. Die studie het ook getoon dat 98,77% van ESSPF nie hul teeldiere ent teen die hoof vark siektes en slegs 2,47% ESSPF boere het voorheen voordeel getrek uit die program infrastruktuur van die departement verwys na as omvattende landbou?ondersteuningsprogram (CASP). Die meerderheid van die respondente (82,61%) verkies om hul varke by plaaslike punte binne gemeenskappe te verkoop en slegs 9,32% en 14,09% onderskeidelik verkoop by veilings of formele slagpale/ supermarkte. Dit word dus aanbeveel dat CASP herevalueer om n positiewe impak te bereik by meer varkboere. Goeie veeteelt en die oordrag van kennis deur die veeartseny?amptenare is sentraal tot die groei van die boere en hul produktiwiteit. Die voorsiening van plaaslike slaggeriewe sal die reiskoste na Bronkhorstspruit en Belfast (beide buite die provinsie en tans gekiesde slagpale van die ESSPF) verminder, maar ook die waarskynlikheid van die verspreiding van siektes binne of buite die provinsie verminder. Die betrokkenheid van die verskillende belanghebbendes moet aangemoedig word om te verseker ESSPF opgelei word, gementor, afgerig, met die doel om van die verbetering van hul lewensbestaan, voedselsekuriteit en veiligheid.