Farmer's Handbook on Pig Production

                                                 BREEDS

Native Breeds

Native breeds of pig can be found throughout the country. They are a small body
size compared to other exotic and crosses pig types. There name varies from region
to region, for example: Jangali Bandel / Wild Boar, Pygmi Bandel, Hurra, Banmpudke,
Chwanche, Pakhribas Black Pig and Dharane Kalo Banggur. Their short description
is given below.

Jangali Bandel / Wild Boar
Found in the wild throughout the country, for the commercial production to receive
seed Rs 10,000 per piglet to be paid to the National Park and Wild Life Conservation
Department of Nepal.
Height ; 90 – 95 cm, Weight; 200 - 250
kg
Color; Brown black with thick hair on
the body
Herd comprises ; 6 – 30 heads up to 3
generation, Conceive Oct – Dec,
Farrowing Feb – April, Gestation
period 115 days, Litter size; 4 – 6,
Piglets look very different in
appearance and in color strips at an
early stage.

 Pygmi Bandel
Found in throughout northern India,
Bhutan, and Nepal. Smallest, adult males
average 65 cm long and 25 cm tall.
Females are slightly smaller. Males average
8.5 kg in weight. Their coats have blackishbrown
bristles over gray-brown skin.
Reproduction is seasonal, and the birth
peak coincides with the monsoon in late
April and May. Gestation is approximately
100 days and litters size 2 to 6, sexual
maturity at 13 to 33 months and live 10 to 12 years in the wild. Small family 5 to 20
members, it was placed in the Endangered category according to IUCN in 1960. Found
in the wild, but for the commercial production to receive seed, Rs 10000 per piglet to
be paid to the National Park and Wild Life Conservation Department of Nepal. 

Hurra
Found in throughout Terai of Nepal. Kept
under scavenging systems. Their coats
have brown bristles on the neck portion.
Reached adultery at 226 days. Average
litter size is 5.72 and weaning size is
5.14 with birth weight 700gm. Matured
males average 45 and female 49 kg live
weight. Resistance to several diseases
and parasites.

Chwanche
Found in across the mid hills of Nepal.
Kept under semi-intensive systems.
Mostly found in black color. Reached
adultery at 219 days. Gestation period
is 114 days with farrowing interval of
222days. Average litter size is 7.33 and
weaning size is 6.0 with birth weight
800 gm. Matured males average 24 and
female 32 kg live weight. Resistance to
several diseases and parasites.

Banmpudke
Bampudke is the domesticated form
of Jangali Bandel. Known as smallest
domesticated breed of pig. Color
varies red – brownish to black. Reached
adultery at 187 days. . Gestation period
is 114 days with farrowing interval of
138 days. Average litter size is 4.7 and
weaning size is 3.4 with birth weight
650 gm. Matured males average 20 and
female 19 kg live weight. Resistance to
several diseases and parasites

Pakhribas Black Pig
The Pakhribas Black Pig was Developed
at Pakhribas Agriculture Centre
Dhankuta Nepal through three ways
crossing between Saddleback, Fayun
and Tamworth. Black in color. Average
litter size is 9.4 and birth weight is 1.0 kg.
Matured male average 170 and female
160 kg live weight. Resistance to several
diseases and parasites, and superior over
other local breeds.

Dharane Kalo Banggur
Black pig found in the eastern terai
and hills of Nepal. Long body, large
ear dropping upward. Highly prolific,
average litter size 8 – 10 with high
weaning rate. Resistance to several
disease and parasites. Easily reared on
locally available feed resources and crop
by products. Perfect for semi-intensive
systems.

Exotic Breeds
The most common pig breeds for commercial pig production are the Yorkshire,
Landrace, Hampshire, Duroc, and Tibetan, Tamworth and Meishan breeds and their
crosses. These breeds produce lean meat combined with efficient feed conversion
(3 kg of good feed is needed to produce 1 kg of pork). Compared to local pig
breeds, these commercial breeds are less resistant to diseases and suffer more from
hot weather and low quality feeds. Pure exotic breeds generally do not perform
Yorkshire
Yorkshire: white, long body, erect ears,
good mothers, live weight of a mature
male 300 – 450 and female 250 - 350 kg.
High prolificacy, with a litter size of 12,
weaning percent of > 70, and 7 pairs of
teats.
Widely used for upgrading local breeds

Landrace
Landrace: white, large drooping ears,
long body, good mothers. One of the
newest breeds of a Danish origin.
They are noted for having the highest
number of pigs per litter, average live
weight of matured male is 310 – 400 kg
and female is 250 – 330 kg.
Good for Bacon production. High
prolificacy, average litter size of 11 with a good weaning rate. 

Hampshire
Hampshire: black, white belt, muscular.
Average live weight of matured male 300
kg and female is 250 kg.
Good for Bacon production.
High prolificacy, with a litter size of 9 with
high weaning rate. 

Duroc
Duroc: red, muscular, partially drooping
ears, desirable as sires.
They grow the fastest out of all the other
breeds. Average live weight of matured
male 300 kg and female is 250 kg.
High prolificacy, with a litter size of 9 with
high weaning rate.

Tibetan
The Tibetan breed of pig is especially
adapted to the high hills, cold climate
and to being on pasture all year round. It
is characterized by:
Light body weight (mature wt about 35
kg .)
Black hair coat, with long and dense
bristles
Highly developed digestive organs; the length of the intestine is about 36 times its
own body length.
Ability to deposit fat in the body. The internal and visceral fat is about 15 percent of
bodyweight.
Muscles with a marble appearance and meat with a special flavor.
Low prolificacy, with average litter size of 5, weaning percent of 69, and 5 pairs of
teats. 

Tamworth
Tamworth: Ginger, golden red to dark
red colored breed with a long head,
prick ears, a straight face and snout,
and a long, narrow body.
Mature boar may weigh 245 – 265 kg and
sow 200 – 300 kg. They produce smaller
litters than other commercial breeds. 

Meishan
The Meishan breed of pig was developed
in China and characterized by:
A black colored breed with short legs, big
stomach, deep back and very ugly face
are the major visible features.
Very high prolificacy, with a litter size of
14 -17 with average birth weight 900gm,
weaning of 11 - 12, and having 8-9 pairs
of teats.
Daily weight gain is 300 – 400 gm with FCR 5:1. An adult male weight about 450 kg
and female weight 350 kg average.