Indigenous and crossbred pig genetic resources in India

Indigenous pig Breeds

9. Ghoongroo: The home tract of this breed is Darjeeling and the nearby Tarai area of West Bengal. These pigs are black coat coloured, face has a bull-dog appearance with an upwardly curved snout, large heart-shaped drooping ears, and wrinkled skin. Its temperament is docile and easy to handle. The breed is known for its high prolificacy and ability to sustain in low-input systems. Piglet birth weight is in the range of 0.8-1.5 Kg and weaning weight is in the range of 5.5 -8.0 Kg. The mean litter size at birth is 10.02 with a range of 4- 20 piglets per litter.                                                                                
10. Mali : Mali is native to Tripura, and is a black colored medium sized pig with pot belly. Medium to small bristles are ubiquitously distributed throughout the body. Animals are characterized with short erect ears lying perpendicular to body axis and concave snout. Adult body weight averages about 68 kg in males and 71 kg in females. Average litter size: 5.15 (range 3-7) at birth and 4.46 (range 3-6) at weaning. The mean litter size at birth is6 piglets per litter.
11. Niang Megha are indigenous pig breed from Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills of Meghalaya reared for pork and bristle purpose. The animals have typical wild look with erect bristles on dorsal midline and small erect ears extended vertically. Body coat is solid black to black with white patches on forehead and legs. While legs have white patches.  Erect bristles are present on dorsal midline. White patches may be present on the forehead. Ears are small erect, extended vertically.  Age at first mating is 246.440±1.3 days and farrowing interval: 206.121±0.785 days. Mean litter size is 6.08  piglets per litter.
12. Wak Chambil are distributed in North Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and Southwest Garo Hills of Meghalaya. Wak Chambil is a small sized pig with round and medium pendulous belly. These pigs have small head and eyes, small erected ears, and short and pointed snout. These pigs have thick long hair on the eyebrows and over the forehead and neck. Limbs are short with small hooves that partially touches the ground. Bristles are short with high density all over the body. Pork of this breed has unique flavour and taste, thus it is utilized during special religious and ceremonial occasions. Adult body weight averages 32.0 kg in males and 29.0 kg in females. Average litter size is5.8 (range 4-11) at birth and 4.52(range 3-8) at weaning
13. Manipuri Black: Manipuri Black pig is native of Manipur state and as the name indicates black in colour. Manipur Black pig is medium in size with flat belly and short legs. The head of these pigs is short, slightly concave with short ears, and short to medium snout. White patches are sometimes seen in extremities such as legs and snout area. Hairs are predominantly black and sparse, however few pigs with dark grey are also found. Bristle production is very scanty and cutting has not been practiced. Adult body weight averages about 96.0 kg in males and 93.0 kg in females. Average litter size is 8.27 (range 6-11) at birth and 6.02 (range 5-9) at weaning.
14. Doom : Doom pigs are distributed in Dhubri, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar districts of Assam state. Adult body varies from 36 to 50kg. They  are black in colour with thick line of hair on the neck and towards the shoulders, extending upto lumber regions and have short concave snout. This pig is well known for quality meat and bristle. The pig has a thick bristle in the mid-dorsal line. The average age at first estrus, age at first fertile service, age at first farrowing, gestation length, and inter farrowing period is 213.91±1.36, 237.95±1.18, 351.51±1.24, 113.51±0.40, and 213.25±1.45 days respectively. The average litter size at birth, litter size at weaning, are  55 and 4.56,  respectively.
15. Zovawk : Zovawk pig is native to the state of Mizoram. This pig is considered to have relatively high resistance against diseases and survives well in remote areas where no adequate disease prevention and therapeutic measures are available. The body coat is predominantly black with a star on the forehead and white hairs in four limbs below the knee region. The adult body weight ranges between 40 to 50 kg at maturity. The female pigs attain sexual maturity at 120±1.18 days and 143.20±1.44 days in males. The gestation period is 114.77±0.27 days and usually farrow 5-8 piglets. The average age at first farrowing is 314.9±5.8 days
16. Tenyi Vo: Tenyi-vo pig are native to the state of Nagaland. This indigenous pig has unique traits like well adaptability to its own ecological niche, relatively high disease resistance, can be reared with zero grain production system, in the backyard with household kitchen waste, garbage crop residues, attain early sexual maturity, low feed intake capacity, excellent mothering ability and good meat quality. The body coat is predominantly jet black with white markings on the forehead, flanks, switch of the tail and legs. The pig has moderately dense coat and small and erects ears. The adult body weight ranges between 40 to 60 kg at maturity. The female pigs attain sexual maturity as early as 150 days (Average 180days) and in males as early as 90 days. The gestation period is 109-116 days and usually farrow 4-6 piglets.
17. Nicobari: Nicobari pigs are indigenous pigs of Nicobar Islands and are reared by Nicoabri tribes since time immemorial. Nicobari pig, locally known as Ha-un, is more or less linked closely with the local culture and tradition. Nicobari pigs are semi-feral in nature and no systematic or scientific management is followed by the tribes.As such, tribals were not aware much about the farming system and the pigs were reared under free-range system. Generally, pigs are not reared for commercial purposes. This breed is well adapted to the local environment of Nicobar and can survive with a very low level of management. At present, the Nicobari indigenous pig breed is under the threat of extinction and immediate conservation effort is necessary. Efforts have been made to document the farming practices of this breed by Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI), Port Blair.
18. Purnea: Purnea is a black colored medium sized pig found in Purnea and Katihar districts of Biharand adjoining areas of Sahibganj district of Jharkhand. These pigs have compact body and pot belly. However, in few animals, white spots at the lower limbs are also seen. Thick line of bristle is present on topline from neck to shoulders giving the animal a wild look. Animals are characterized with round face; short conical and erect ears and small, thick and slightly concave snout. Skin is thick with neck folds in mature animals. Adult body weight varies from 41 to 50kg. Litter size at birth varies from 4 to 6.
19. Ghurrah: These pigs are native to Bareilly division and adjoining pats of Lucknow division of Uttar Pradesh. These are black colored medium-sized pigs with a flat belly, angular body, and long straight snout. Legs below the hock joint are white. Thick line of hairs is present from neck to shoulders. Head is elongated with triangular face and short leaf-shaped vertically erected ears. An adult male weighs about 46kg and females about 48kg. Litter size is 6.85 at birth and 5.65 at weaning.
20. Banda: Banda pig is native of Jharkhand and is of black colour with short and erect ear. Animals are black coloured, having short and erect ear. They have  medium to short bristle on neck with a long and concave snout. These are potbellied and characterized with small litter size. Adult body weight averages 28.0 kg in males and 27.0 kg in females. Average litter size is4.5 (range 4-7) at birth and 4.25(range 4-6) at weaning.
21. Agonda Goan: The native tract is Tiswadi, Bardez and Ternem of North-Goa district and Mormugao, Salcete, Canacona, Quepemtalukas of South-Goa district. Other names of this breed are Gavthi and Dukor.  The breed name is given on the name of AGONDA village of Goa.  It is wild in nature with small and compact size. The usual colour is black. White patches on legs and face are also found. The legs and snouts are small. Bristles are rough. Height of animal is 55 cm and 60 cm of male and female respectively. Weight is around 41 kg [38.91 ± 5.71 kg and 43 kg of male and female respectively. It has 72% dressing percentage. Mean litter size it average 7.45 with range of 2 to 13.  
22. Andamani pig is a native to the islands of Andaman & Nicobar and mainly reared for meat (pork). These pigs are sturdy and medium in size. The coat is mostly black and sometime rusty gray. They are fast runners and evolved to thrive under low-input management system. Average adult body weight is 71 kg in male and 68 kg in female.

Crossbred pig germplasm: Piggery developmental programmes undertaken by the central and state departments namely; Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Departments and Animal Resource Development Departments of different states and research organizations viz. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central Agricultural Universities (CAU), State Agricultural/Veterinary University (SAUs) have resulted in noticeable progress over the time. During the initial period of development, focus was on genetic improvement of indigenous pig through selective breeding. Subsequently exotic breeds were introduced in India and efforts were made for stabilize their performance in Indian agro-climatic condition. Consequent to slow progress of indigenous pigs and based on demand, crossbreeding of native pigs with exotic boars gained momentum in different parts of the country. Several crossbred pig varieties have been reported by different organizations.

The crossbred pigs include high-producing varieties viz. Rani, Asha, HD K-75, Lumsniang, Jharsuk, Mannuthy White, TANUVAS KPM Gold, SVVU T-17 and Landlly suitable for different agro-climatic condition of the country.