Pig Production and Indigenous Genetic Resources in Suburban Areas of Cotonou and Abomey-Calavi in Benin

Abstract

A survey on pig production and indigenous genetic resources in suburban areas of Cotonou and Abomey-Calavi in Benin was carried from June to August 2006. The breeders were craftsmen (44%), crop/livestock farmers (20%) and small scale merchants (12%). Most breeders purchased animals to build their herds (76%). The average size of the herd consisted of 19 pigs, of which 4.18 were sows and 1.2 breeding boar on average. Three types of breeding systems were identified. In Type 1, the animal breeders were craftsmen. The animals were left to roam and kept in the pens at night during the dry season, and they were left to roam day and night during the rainy season. In Type 2, the animals were kept in the pens; the owners were merchants or had an occupation other than those linked to farming, breeding, or craft trades. These breeders provided little veterinary care to their animals. Lastly, Type 3 consisted of farmers and breeders. In this breeding system type, the animals received veterinary care and traditional treatments with medicinal plants. They were kept in the pens day and night during the rainy season, and received a feed supplement all year round. For all the types of breeding systems, the suggestions for improvement made by the pig breeders were in order of importance: feeding, preventive and curative care, pen confinement, and cooperative creation. They especially expressed their wish for technical and financial support, (52%) and to expand their activity (28%).