It is important to know the different types of pigs you can rear in Zimbabwe, which is the thrust of this article. These are some of the pig breeds you can consider for pig production in Zimbabwe. There are so many pig breeds in the world – roughly 100 of them. The total number of pigs on earth today is over 10 billion – more populous than us people. Pigs are considered to be the 4th most intelligent animal in the world.
Mukota
This is a pig breed that is indigenous to Zimbabwe. They are primarily black. There are about 70000 or so of this pig breed in Zimbabwe. The average litter size ranges from 6.5 to 7.5. There is regarded to be quite good quality. It is said that there are bigger prospects from selectively breeding the Mukota with other breeds. Mukota pigs can thrive in harsh conditions and can do well with limited availability of water.
Large White
This is also known as the Yorkshire – it originated from Yorkshire in England. They are highly recommended if bacon production is the main focus. It tends to be the most recommended pig when it comes to pig production. You will even notice that most people rear the Large Whites. Their mature weights can range from 250 to 450 kilograms. This stems from several things one of which is their excellent feed conversion.
Landrace
They have white skin. There are so many different types of Landrace pigs – about 18 types depending on the country in question. For example, there is the South African Landrace pig. This shows that the Landrace is good for crossbreeding with other breeds. The Landrace typically has a long body which results in more meat produced. They also rapidly growing, much faster than most pig breeds. They also have excellent maternal characteristics which are enhanced by their high milk production. Their mature weight spans from around 200 to 320 kilograms. The Landrace can produce up to 15 piglets per birth – that is a huge litter size.
Duroc
This pig breed is highly adaptable to both extremely cold and extremely hot weather. They grow to a considerably good size and are great ham production. They are resistant to diseases and easy to rear. Their mature weight ranges from 200 to 340 kilograms. Duroc pigs can give birth to litter sizes ranging to as many as 15 piglets.
Hereford (also known as Hereford Hog)
Their colour is a mix of red-brown and white. This was considered the best when you want to produce lean pig meat. Their mature weight can vary from 270 to 360 kilograms. You might know or notice that there is a cattle breed also called Hereford. The naming of this pig breed is because of its resemblance to the pigment of that cattle breed. They are well-suited for rearing intensively or extensively. They are hardy and can thrive despite the weather conditions.
American Yorkshire
The American Yorkshire has exceptional maternal characteristics. They are the best pick for producing ham and bacon. This is the most produced pig breed in the USA (plus the world at large), especially for meat production. Their meat is lean which is why it is quite popular. They are also great for bacon production. They usually need a bit more space as compared to other pig breeds. This is because of their considerably big size. They do have a generally slower growing rate though. Their mature weight can range from 200 to 340 kilograms. Their litter size is anything between 10 and 12 piglets.
Berkshire
They produce good meat which is typically darker than most pig meat. Their meat though much darker than most has a much richer taste. They can grow to more than 270 kilograms and are black. They have a high milk production and great maternal characteristics.
Hampshire
They are recommended for those who are just starting pig production. They are suitable for producing high-quality meat. They produce the leanest meat of all pig breeds. Litter sizes range from 12 to 13 piglets. They can grow to around 300 or so kilograms.
Large Black
This pig breed has so many different names. Some of them are English Black, Large English Black, or English Large Black, amongst others. They are highly adaptable to hot regions. This is because their skin is dark in colour. That pigment somehow shields them from the scorching sun rays. They can grow to around 360 kilograms. Their litter size varies from 8 to 13 piglets.
Pig production is a worthwhile livestock farming venture in Zimbabwe. If you come to me and ask for recommendations in livestock farming I would suggest pig production. Pigs can reproduce twice a year which means good prospects. A sow (i.e. female pig) can wean at least 10 healthy piglets per birth. Let us suppose you start with just 2 sows. By the end of one year, you will have at least 40 more pigs, imagine that!
