Department Profile

Pig Breeding Farm, Mannuthy.

GENESIS OF THE CENTRE
Centre was started on 12-05-1965 as a small pig breeding unit along with an auxiliary pork production scheme under the Department of Animal Husbandry. It was taken up by Kerala Agricultural University in 1972 and renamed as University Pig Breeding Farm. The farm was upgraded to Centre for Pig production and Research in 1995.

MANDATE OF THE CENTRE
The major objective of the centre is to conduct research on different aspects of pig production, to operate as an instructional farm to students, to function as a demonstration unit to farmers, to maintain purebred nuclear stock of animals for supply of quality piglets to farmers. Centre also conserves indigenous pigs, to evaluate the performance of indigenous as well their crosses with exotic pig breeds.

ACCOMPLISHMENT
The centre was as a nodal organization to implement Massive Livestock Development Programme (MLDP) with financial outlay of Rs.70 lakhs during 1993-97 in collaboration with State Animal Husbandry Department for distributing quality piglets to the farmers. This station was the lead centre for the World Bank funded National Agricultural Technology Project “Strategies for enhancing the productivity of pigs for the farming community” with financial outlay of Rs.1.5 crores in 1999-2002. ICAR funded All India Coordinated Research Project is under operation since, 1993 to evaluate the performance of indigenous pigs and their crosses with exotic breeds. Eighty five M.V.Sc., Ph.D. and plan projects including 11 doctoral programmes from different disciplines have been completed in this centre. Currently two Ph.D. and 4 M.VSc projects are undergoing.

RESEARCH FACILITIES
The centre has a total stock strength of about 1100 animals, with breedable stock of 340 Large White Yorkshire, 60 Duroc, 10 Landrace, 60 Desi and 100 Crossbreds. There are six farrowing houses having 170 pens, three grower sheds, one breeding shed and a sale animal shed. Feed mill and mixer with 6 ton capacity is in use. Slurry tank for storing and pumping waste water to grass fields is functioning.

EXTENSION FACILITIES
Hands on practical trainings are provided to Veterinary officers, farmers and self help groups. Faculty provides technical advice to pig farmers and helps in preparation of project reports for the establishment of pig farms.

ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
Conduct practical farm training to B.V.Sc & AH and M.V.Sc. courses, internship training for final year students, provide facilities and technical advice for conducting Post graduate and doctoral research and impart training to Vocational Higher Secondary Students in Livestock Management Course
 

Faculties

Dr.A.P.Usha
 

 Dr. R. Thirupathy Venkatachalapathy