Performance of Papua New Guinea Native Pigs Given Improved Management Conditions. (Origionale Pepe).

Abstract

Pig is an important traditional livestock species in PNG agriculture. Pigs are reared for various reasons such as prestige, bride prices, feasts, initiation ceremonies, for wedding events, for compensation payments, funeral activities, for food as protein source and quiet recently for some cash income. Despite the importance of pigs in this country, there is minimum report on the native pig. The Labu Research Centre bought some native pigs from the villages within the Huon Gulf, Nawae and Mumeng Districts of Morobe Province in 1992 for a study on the performance of native pigs given improved management conditions. The pigs were bred and raised in confinement sufficient for a five sow and one boar piggery under a modern cement galvanized iron roof building with nipple drinkers. The pigs were fed various feed resources depending on availability and funding situations. This paper reports in two parts; the reproductive (part 1) and productive (part 2) performances of the native pig given improved management for a 3 year period data.