The animal called ‘Pig’

I found when i decided to be come a farmer that the most lucrative livestock in Uganda was the pig, and so my research about pigs begun,here is some of what i have so far learned.

Pigs are omnivores which means they eat both plants and animals as their primary food source. They are highly social and intelligent animals. Pigs are fed mostly on corn and soyabean meal with a mixture of vitamins and minerals added to the diet. At my farm, the pigs meal is mixed with blood from the cattle to provide for the added mineral content.

Domesticated pigs are commonly raised as livestock by farmers for meat (generally called pork, hams, gammon or bacon), It is also a common ingredient in sausages. The pig skin may be used leather and their bristly hairs used for brushes.Pork is one of the most widely eaten meats in the world, accounting for about 38% of meat production worldwide, although consumption varies widely from place to place.² In Uganda grilled/smoked pork is the most popular form enjoyed as evidenced by the numerous pork joints across the country.

However pigs can harbour a range of parasites and diseases that can be transmitted to humans. These include trichinosis, Taenia solium, cysticercosis, and brucellosis. Pigs are also known to host large concentrations of parasitic ascarid worms in their digestive tract.¹  It is hence advised to eat  cured or well cooked meat at all times.

This little piece of research gave me a peak into the general feeding habits of pigs and the products that were available from the animal and well an insight into their social behavior. It was also the basis for more detailed researches that i am carrying out plus it gave me an idea of what was achievable from pig farming as a business.

¹ The Pig Health, http://www.thepigsite.com/pighealth/

² Raloff, Janet. Food for Thought: Global Food Trends. Science News Online. May 31, 2003^.