| Abstract [eng] |
Although pig farming is the second (after cattle farming) most important branch of stockbreeding in Lithuania, pork supply makes up only 50-60 % with the remaining 40-50% being imported. In the article the situation of pig farming have been analyzed by Akmenė, Joniškis, Kelmė, Pakruojis, Radviliškis and Šiauliai districts. It was indicated, that as of the 1st of July 2012, there were 150 888 pigs kept in farms throughout the six districts of Šiauliai region, which constitutes 26.1 % of the total number of pigs kept in Lithuania. The largest number of pigs was recorded in Radviliškis and Akmenė districts (27.0 and 21.8 % respectively), with the smallest number in Šiauliai district (0.1 %). Varied population density in different districts of the region has no impact on this field of business. As of the 1st July of 2012, in the region there were 288 farmers and family farms, as well as 15 agricultural companies and enterprises producing pigs. The average distribution of pigs in the above holdings in all 6 districts was 5.1 and 94.9 % respectively (73.6 % of the total pigs in region are kept in five large-scale complexes with more than 14 000 animals). It means that an irrational structure of pig farming has formed in the region: small farms dominate (83.5 % of the holdings keep only 1-9 pigs), pig production is concentrated in 5 large-scale complexes, there are practically no farms of stable size (2 000 to 5 000 pigs). Quite a large part of family farms and small farmers raise pigs partially ecologically by using only feed of their own production. These are holdings of extensive practice which fatten pigs to greater weight: approximately 110-130 kg. Agricultural companies/enterprises and large farmers raise pigs intensively: during the period of 5-7 months pigs are fattened to live weight of approximately 100 kg and sold on the home or foreign markets. Of the 303 pig farms in the region, 98.7 % are commercial farms and 1.3 % is breeding centres. The large pig farms are well modernised. Of the 150 888 pigs in the six districts of the region, in the herd structure pedigree boars make up 0.1 %, sows – 8.5 %, piglets under the age of 3 months (till 30 kg) – 41.6 %, breeding and fattening progeny of the age of 3-8 months (31-110 kg) – 47.4 %, and fattening adult pigs above the age of 8 months (over 110 kg) – 2.4 %. In different districts this proportion varied significantly. A large proportion of family farms and farmers keeping 10 pigs or less do not keep sows and boars. In larger commercial farms, as the female breed were used Yorkshire, Large White, Landrace and Lithuanian White gilts (sows), and as the male breed were most often used Landrace, Duroc, Landrace x Duroc and Pietrain x Duroc boars. It is efficient combinations as 90 % of pigs sold in the region corresponded, in terms of leanness of carcasses, to the S-E class requirements (lean meat content of carcasses over 55 %). Unfortunately, all the five large-scale complexes do not buy breeding boars and gilts from local Lithuanian breeding centres as they get them from Denmark. North Lithuania region plays an important role in the system of pig breeding. Joint-stock company „Lietuvos veislininkystė“ (Šiauliai district) is situated there, under the authority of which department of pig breeding is placed since August 2012 (in Radviliškis district, the ex-State Pig Breeding Station). In the region there are four pig breeding centres (1 for the pig breed of genetic pool: Lithuanian Native and Lithuanian White of the old genotype, and 3 for cultural pig breeds: 1 for Landrace, 1 for Yorkshire and 1 for the active population or the improved Lithuanian White). [...]. |
