The pig performance testing scheme in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Commercial pig production in Zimbabwe largely involves the use of exotic pig breeds numbering approximately 104 thousand out of a total of 295 thousand pigs (CSO 1999a, 1999b). In pig production there are many traits of economic importance and improving these traits requires improvement of the environment together with genetic improvement. The genotype of an animal sets a ceiling to which the animal can be improved through manipulation of the environment. It is, therefore, important to complement advances made in management practices by improving the pigs genetically. Genetic improvement within breeds can only be achieved by means of selection. Selection is the act of choosing those animals which will be the parents of the next generation and which have the highest breeding value. Information on the breeding value of an animal can be obtained by testing its relatives, e.g. sibs and progeny, or by evaluating the animal’s own performance. In Zimbabwe genetic evaluation of pigs is done only for the large-scale commercial pig production sector.