Author : Ana Maria Da Costa Goncalves Noronha

Summary : Productivity of native pigs in subsistence farming and their roles in community development in Timor Leste was determined in three selected districts based on the geographical attributes and potential for native pig farming. A structured survey questionnaire and personal interviews were used and distributed to 319 farmers who served as respondents.

Results of the study reveal that most of the pig raisers belonged to productive age and pig raising was a collaborative undertaking among household members. Most of the native pigs were black with solid color pattern, with disc-like snout, straight hairs and skin covered with sparse hairs. Both male and female native pigs recorded a mean age at puberty of 5 to 6 months. The mean age at first mating was 9 months while first parturition normally occurs at an average of 13 months. Estrus was recorded at a range of 18-22 days while gestation period lasted for 4 months. Interval between parturitions was 6-12 months. At weaning, mean litter size was 5 and very few piglets died from birth to weaning. Gilts were usually bred at about one year old on the first day of estrus. A piglet serves as boar service fee. Sows were allowed to farrow four to five times in their lifetime. Most pigs were marketed live on a per head basis. Poor standards of management and lack of support services were perceived problems of respondents.

Native pig production were primarily practiced for economic and socio-cultural purposes. Major problems encountered include the practice of inbreeding and shortage of of feed supply. Pig raising is closely linked with other agricultural operations performed by rural people for livelihood. Pigs correspond to the symbolic values associated to the fulfillment of a set of rituals and social obligations of families and communities. It gives social status to its owners, demonstrates wealth and facilitates the access to informal credits and loans to the households. Pigs are used in traditional rituals, ceremonies and festivities and serves as gifts in worships.

Development of a venue where animal health workers and farmers in rural villages can meet to improve knowledge on animal production and health, promotion and implementation of new technologies in native pig raising and establishment of community-based activities with the participation of government institutions, NGOs and local people to conserve and improve native pigs could empower the community towards increased native pig production. Setting-up small to medium enterprises like feed formulation and supply, establishment of pig breeding unit, artificial insemination facilities, mobile vaccination services, pork processing and use of pork by-product to generate employment opportunities for farmers and their families are potential solutions to the low productivity of native pigs.