ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF BOAR SEMEN PRODUCTION UNIT FOR SMALLHOLDER PIG PRODUCTION SYSTEM - K. Govindasamy; T. Chutia; M. Rahman; M. K. Kalita; R. Dewry (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2021)
Artificial insemination (AI) is widely practiced in many countries for enhancing pig productivity. Success of this technique is dependent upon quality boar semen production and profitability of the farm. Besides increasing the productivity of non-descript pigs reared under smallholder pig production system, the establishment of boar semen production unit has potential scope for entrepreneurship development in the north eastern part of India. The present study investigated detailed requirements for establishment of boar semen production unit and their cost benefit analysis based on the retrospective study of five years data of a boar semen production unit for backyard smallholder pig production system. A total of 65 healthy male piglets were chosen during weaning out of which 54 pigs were selected for training for semen collection based on their breeding soundness. A total of 1820 ejaculates were collected from the trained boars and AI doses prepared after evaluation. The extended semen was preserved in incubator at 15-18ºC and used for insemination within three days of storage in smallholder pig producers in the region. The results revealed that 79.62% of boars were successfully trained to mount a dummy sow for semen collection. The average gel-free ejaculatory volume, sperm motility and sperm concentration were 214.26 ±9.23 ml, 85.00±0.82 % and 258.50± 9.19 million/ml respectively. Average of 10 ejaculates was collected from each boar in a month, which yielded 110 AI doses per month. Average semen production cost per AI dose was INR 35.78, including the chemical cost (INR 3.39) for extender. Average insemination cost per sow/gilts in small holder production system was INR 455.79, which included the catheter and transport cost. The cost benefit analysis of boar semen production unit with five boars revealed the income generation of INR 31688.89 per month. The present study demonstrates the feasibility and profitability of boar semen production unit for the backyard smallholder pig production system.
Keywords: journal article; boar; semen; production; economic analysis; smallholder pig production; entrepreneurship