Record keeping(Pigs)

 The records captures or writes down all information on for each pig.  This information sheets may have but not limited the following information:

1. Statistics and Identification

• Number of sows
• Number of boars
• Number of weaned piglets
•  
  1. Reproduction
• Number of Sow
• Date of farrowing/ Weaning piglets
• Number of piglets for each birth
• Number of weaned piglets 
• Boar or artificial insemination used
• Abortion when it occurs and age of foetuses
• Number of born alive and dead piglets

1. Growth

• How the piglets increases weights  in kg after their birth ,
• They are weighed for the first time after 1 month and keep record of their weights every month.
• They calculate how the weight increases comparing the difference every month,

1. Character

• They record the pigs in most cases the Boar that are aggressive or with good behavior.

e)  Feeding

Type of feeds to each category of pigs ( herbs, roots and tubers, concentrates,...)

f) Financial records

Money related expenses and entries have to be recorded. These records helps the farmer to calculate investments and returns/ losses if any.

1.  PIG BREEDS
   1. Local breed
2. Characteristics
   • Black color skin  sometimes mixed with white color
   • Short head
   • Long mouth , small straight ears
   • Slim  ( not very fat)
   • Long leg ( slim)
3. Advantages : 
   • This breed resists to different diseases
   •  Resists to hot and dry weather
   • Eat everything
   • Produce between 8 -10 piglets once,
   • Produce twice per year
   • 1^st generation at 16 months or two years
   • Grow slowly, reaches 120 kg after 1 year and a half / 16 months
      
4. Disadvantage
   •  It has a lot of fat and that reduce its value at the market.
5. Large White breed:
6. Characteristics:
   • White color skin ,
   • Long and  bent head
   • Big mouth
   • Big and straight ears
   • Very fat with a lot of meat
   • Big leg  with a lot of meat
7. Advantages:

• Resistant to diseases but need quality food
• Drops between  10-12 piglets once,
• Drops twice per year
• Mate for the first time at age of  12 months,
• Grow very fast, can reach 70kg at 5 months
• It gives a lot  and quality meat but requires a clean environment and quality food.

1. Landrace breed:
2. Characteristics:

• White skin,
•  Long head
•  Big ears 
• Long waist compared to the Large White
• Long in large and width

1. Advantages :

• Very productive compared to Large White.

1. Disadvantages:

• Does not have enough ability to resist to diseases , they can be affected easily.

1. Cross breed

• Large White x local breed: it resists to disease and it is productive when given quality food and care. 
• Large White x Landrace x Duroc:  recently introduced to Rwanda from Ireland. It is also resistant to disease and productive.