Smallholder pig farming is an important livestock activity in Mpumalanga. The aim of the
current study was to investigate whether variation in agro-ecological climatic conditions
differently impacts on the small-scale pig production systems in Mpumalanga province and to
identify factors that influence production positively or negatively in the various agroecological
zones. The study was conducted in Mpumalanga province of South Africa in three
agro-ecological zones namely the highveld, the lowveld and the midveld. The study followed
mixed methods approach, using qualitative and quantitative data. In total, 220 randomly
selected smallholder pig farmers were interviewed face to face using pre-tested semistructured
questionnaire. Data was entered into Microsoft Excel2007
®
spreadsheet, filtered
and analysed using Stata v9 (Statacorp., Texas, USA) and Microsoft Excel2007®
for
frequency, herd-related variables; in addition, some hypothesis were tested using appropriate
analytical methods (descriptive and correlation analyses). Associations between agricultural
training, government assistance (material or financial) and thirteen herd and farmer-related
variables were analysed using multivariable logistic regression model. A pairwise correlation
was used where necessary and outputs were generated to associate certain variables and
preferred methods including markets, market determinants, treatment methods for sick pigs,
feed preference, body conditions of the sows and age at weaning. To integrate economic
analyses, a partial budgeting combined with other turn on investment (ROI) model has
developed in Microsoft Excel 2007® spreadsheet. The outcomes from the field data obtained
including details from published materials were utilized to develop and validate the model.
Economic feasibility and viability of a 10-sow unit were tested for a three-year farm
operation. The results indicated that smallholder pig farming was predominated by males
(64%), age group 51 years and above (54%), black Africans (98.6%) and approximately
three-quarters of the smallholder farmers were classified as being poor to just below average.
The majority (80%) of respondents had no prior pig husbandry training while few had (33%)
received assistance from Department of Agriculture. In terms of stock, mixed breeds (89%)
from exotic pigs were mostly kept and the majority (87%) of the farmers kept between 1 – 10
sows in their herds. Many farmers (75%) engaged in bio-security risky behaviour of buying
auctioned-sourced boars, free-range boars and untested boars from neighbours and relatives.
Few (17%) farmers practiced vaccination and only (10%) kept records of the pigs. The
majority of the responses on pre-weaning mortality (50%) and post-weaning mortality (90%)
xi
were within acceptable range of 1-10% and 1-5% mortality rates respectively. The lead
causes of mortality were weak piglets and crushing (46%), diarrhea (27%), poor management
knowledge (19%) and malnutrition (16%). Fifty-eight percent farrowed ≤10
piglets/born/sow/litter, 44.2% practiced no weaning method, many fed leftovers alone
(41.6%), 47% was using self-medication and 41% of the sows were in poor body conditions.
It was also discovered that only 27% sold the porkers in less than 6 months of age and local
slaughter/sold live (64.4%) was the most preferred market source. A pair-wise correlation
showed links that between the feeding of commercial feeds and pigs in relatively good to
very good body conditions. Poor body conditioned pigs were positively correlated with the
feeding of swill alone. The economic models for a 10-sow unit proved that pig farming at that
scale is unprofitable by feeding commercial feed. However, only through a combination of
cooperative systems, benefits of economic of scale, reduction of pre-weaning mortalities, and
structured government inputs can improve pig production profitable at this scale of
production. In addition, agricultural training and government incentives will facilitate
improved productivity in smallholder pig farms within the province.