Estimates of the world pig and human populations equate one pig to six people in the world. Highest world meat output is derived from pigs according to FAO (1989) statistics.
Similarly, in Nigeria the Central Bank annual reports for a decade indicated pig production as the fastest livestock enterprise in generating output.
This brief statistics attests to the significant contributions of swine to human and national needs. Perhaps pig production would have contributed much more except for constraints imposed climate and religious belief in addition to usually constraints known depress livestock productivity.
Notwithstanding these negative factors, pigs are outstanding in the number of offspring it can produce in a litter and its efficient growth rate that are in comparable to ruminant animals.
The unselected indigenous types are extremely poor in performance than the proven exotic breeds such as land race, large white and duroc.
1. Distribution Consumption and Constraints to Pig Production
The estimated world pig population of 286 million (FAO, 1988) means that there is approximately one pig to every six people in the world.
Although pigs are numerically fewer than some other domestic species, more pig meat is produced than other meat (Table10.1).
This reflects the greater productivity of the pig when compared with other domestic species.
Table: World Comparison of the Main Livestock Species in Terms of Number and Meat Production
| Numbers (million head) | Meat output (000 metric tons per year) | |
| Cattle Buffalo Sheep Goats Poultry Pigs | 1,253 137 1174 521 10050 826 | 50098 8801 11495 63917 |
Source: FAO Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics, 1989
2. Distribution and Consumption of Pigs
The distribution of pigs throughout the world is not uniform. Nearly half the world’s pig population is in Asia, with a further 30 percent in Europe and the USSR. In contrast, the population in large parts of the tropical and sub-tropical developing regions (e.g. Africa and Latin America) is
relatively small.
Nevertheless, the increase in the world pig population over the last decade is largely attributable to increase within the developing world, which now constitutes some 60 percent of the world population of pigs. It is noteworthy that the majority of the pigs in the developing world are located in one Asian country, namely China.
Similarly, marked differences exist in the consumption patterns of pig meat throughout the world. In some parts of Europe, annual per capita consumption of pig meat is over 50 kg, and represents some 60 per cent of the total meat consumed.
Read Also: Feeding and Grazing Behaviour of Goats
At the other end of the scale in areas of the developing world and particularly in Africa, estimated annual per capital consumption ranges from 1 to 3kg, and form less than 10 per cent of the total meat diet.
The reasons for the uneven distribution of pigs throughout the tropical and sub-tropical world are manifold. In tropical Asia and parts of China, pork is the predominant component of the diet. On the other hand, in areas where the Islamic religion prevails, e.g. the Middle East, Pakistan
and part of Africa, Muslims are forbidden to eat any pig meat.
Similarly, believers in the Jewish faith are instructed not to eat pork meat, and Zionist sects occur throughout the developing world. Social factors also play a part and these may have a positive or a negative effect on the pig population.
In some Pacific islands, such as Tonga and Papua New Guinea, pigs are highly regarded as a source of wealth and associated with marriage customs. On the other hand, in Africa people have traditionally obtained their meat supplies mainly from ruminants, particularly cattle and this preference persists.
The pig has historically been considered an unclean animal, wallowing in filth, an object of distaste and a hazard to human health. Clearly, there is some truth in this assumption if the pig is used as a scavenger but the exact opposite pertains if the pig is well managed under confined conditions.
Climate has an influence on distribution. Pigs can be reared almost anywhere given suitable housing and management. But in situations of extreme temperatures, humidity or lack of rainfall they cost more to produce, because of the need for more expensive housing and because suitable feeds may not be available.
Read Also: Feeding and Grazing Behaviour of Goats
