Present Population and Problems in Pig Farming in India

Present Population of Pigs according to 20^th Livestock Census (2019)

• The total Pigs in the country is 9.06 Million in the current Census 2019, declined by 12.03% over the previous Census (2012)
• About 1.7% of the total livestock is contributed by pigs.

Pig Population (in million) of Major States of India

1. Assam – 2.10
2. Jharkhand – 1.28
3. Meghalaya – 0.71
4. West Bengal- 0.54
5. Chhattisgarh- 0.53
6. Uttar Pradesh- 0.41
7. Nagaland- 0.40
8. Bihar- 0.34
9. Karnataka- 0.32
10. Mizoram- 0.29

Pig Population (in million) of Major Countries:-

1. China – 440.6
2. European Union – 150.26
3. United States – 73.15
4. Brazil – 38.83
5. Russia – 22.94
6. Canada – 14.17
7. South Korea – 11.27
8. Mexico – 10.41
9. Japan – 9.28
10. India – 9.06

Problems in Pig Farming

To make a swine enterprise successful, its limitation must receive due considerations. There are as follows:

• When grains are the only source of energy, the production cost will naturally be high. Besides, the pig is in direct competition with man for food. Under such situations efforts are made to raise pigs on non-cereal diets, which again is a limitation.
• Pigs are sensitive to un-favorable rations.
• Swine are highly susceptible to diseases and parasites particularly the roundworm i.e. Ascaris lumbricoides. Management practices to maintain a disease free herd are thus very important for a successful swine enterprise.
• Skilled attention is needed at the time of farrowing. Many pigs are lost if the attendant is not careful in removing the remnant of placenta from newborn piglet mouths, and teaching them to suck immediately after birth.
• Pigs are not suited to permanent pasture areas. They are also hard on pasture because of their rooting and close grazing habits. So they are not adapted to areas where grazing is extensive and vegetation is sparse.