Characteristics of the smallholder free-range pig production system in western Kenya. Tropical Animal Health and Production
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Date
2009-11Author
Karuga, J W
Ng’ang’a, J C
Githigia, S M
Maingi, N
Kanyari, P W N
Kagira, J M
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Free-range pig farming is common amongst the small-scale farmers in western Kenya. In
order to determine the characteristics of this type of production system, a cross-sectional
questionnaire survey on farm characteristics and management was collected from 182
farmers in Busia District. The mean farm size was one acre, while the mean number of
pigs per farm was 3.6. Pigs were mainly kept as a source of income (98%) and majority
were of cross breed variety (64%). The production systems included farrow to weaner
(12%), porker to finisher (36%), and mixed (46%). Sixty five percent (65%) of the pigs
were tethered and housing was not provided in 61% of the farms. Most of the feeds were
sourced locally. Lack of castration and delayed weaning of pigs was observed on 49%
and 30% of the farms, respectively. The main production constraints included pig
diseases (81%) and high cost or lack of feed (81%). Haematopinus suis infestations and
worm infections were considered to be the most important diseases by 71% and 55% of
the farmers, respectively. Farmers had moderate knowledge on parasitic disease diagnosis
with 31% and 62% not having a history of either deworming or spraying pigs with
acaricides, respectively. Marketing constraints were common amongst the farmers and
included poor prices and inadequate market information. In conclusion, the production
system was characterized as low-input with an income objective. Future research and
development approaches should focus on the integration of free-range farmers into the
country’s market chains through access to extension services.
URI
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19916053http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/14243
Citation
Tropical Animal Health and Production 42 (5) 865-873Publisher
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology & Parasitology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Nairobi