A field trial of the effect of improved piglet management on smallholder sow productivity in the Philippines.

We conducted a randomised, controlled field trial during 1998/1999 to evaluate the hypothesis that improved piglet management would improve the reproductive performance of smallholder sows. Simple changes were introduced into the treatment herds including the construction of a heated piglet-separation pen, vitamin injections, creep feeding and early weaning. The control herds were unchanged. Data were collected from all sows in each enrolled herd over two farrowings. We enrolled 176 sows, including 170 (96 treatment and 74 control) sows that remained throughout the study period. Significant differences in the reproductive performance of treatment and control sows were recorded for interfarrowing interval (median 176 versus 220 days), average number liveborn over 2 litters (11 versus 12), and average preweaning mortality over 2 litters (0 versus 37%). Based on a discount rate of 17%, the benefit-cost ratio of the treatment was 11.1 and 12.1 over 3 and 5 years, respectively.

Weight-for-age of growing pigs raised by smallholder farmers in the Philippines.

We conducted a cross-sectional study at two sites in the Philippines to obtain baseline information about weight-for-age of smallholder growing pigs, and to identify important constraints and opportunities for smallholder pig raisers. Using an interview-based questionnaire, we collected data about 115 (with 244 growing pigs) and 123 (212) herds at the northern and southern study sites, respectively. At these sites, the median weight-for-age was 5.7 and 5.5 kg/mo, respectively. There was herd-level clustering with respect to weight-for-age, and the breed and origin of the growing pig was strongly associated with this measure of productivity. Herd-level weight-for-age was higher for smallholders who had a strong production focus and who specialised in raising growing pigs.

The reproductive performance of sows raised by smallholder farmers in the Philippines.

We conducted a cross-sectional study at two sites in the Philippines to obtain baseline information about the reproductive performance of smallholder sows, and to identify important constraints and opportunities for smallholder pig raisers. Using an interview-based questionnaire, we collected data about 99 (with 128 sows) and 123 (144) herds at the northern and southern study sites, respectively. A range of animal- and herd-level measures of sow productivity were assessed, including average interfarrowing interval (9.7 and 6.6 mo in herds at the northern and southern sites, respectively), number of liveborn piglets (8.5 and 8.4) and preweaning mortality (19.0% and 12.8%). We have identified a number of animal- and herd-level factors associated with the productivity of smallholder sows in the Philippines, including aspects of breeding and piglet management and nutrition.