Shillong, March 06: The ICAR RC NEH, Umiam Meghalaya had released a new variety of Pig named Lumsniang on 6th March, 2017 in presence of Dr. H Rahman, Deputy Director General(Animal Science) ICAR, New Delhi; Dr. R S Gandhi, Assistant Director General, ICAR, New Delhi, Dr. S V Ngachan, Director of the institute; Dr. B C Deka, Director, ATARI, Zone III, Umiam; Dr.D K Sarma, Director, NRC on Pig, Guwahati; Dr. Vineet Bhasin, Principal Scientist, ICAR, New Delhi; Shri B. K. Sohliya, OSD, Meghalaya Institution of Enterpreneurship & In-Charge Piggery Mission, Govt. of Meghalaya and other dignitaries from Central Agricultural University, Umiam; ICAR-NBPGR; Officials from Government of Meghalaya representing animal husbandry, horticulture and other departments.
Dr. G Kadirvel Head, Livestock Production Division and Principal Investigator of All India Coordinated Research Project on Pig, Meghalaya Unit briefed about the Lumsniang pig variety which is developed by crossing Khasi local pig (Sniang Megha) with exotic pig Hampshire. It has 25% genetic inheritance of Khasi local and 75% genetic inheritance of Hampshire. ICAR did plan cross breeding and regress selection and inter-se mating for more than25 years.Genetics stability of economic traits, performance and lifetime productivity was studied and then proved in farm as well as field condition by Division of Livestock Production, ICAR RC NEH, Umiam, Meghalaya. Finally, ICAR approved to release this as a new pig variety “Lumsniang” where ‘Lum’ means ‘Hill’ and ‘Sniang’ means ‘pig’, Hill pig since the pig variety has better adaptability performance in hill ecosystem of the NE region of India. The variety was dedicated today to the pig farmersin the region and to the Nation.
In order to achieve the objective, a planned crossbreeding program with rigorous selection resulted in development of “Lumsniang” crossbred pig variety with the following features: Better adaptability in hill ecosystem, Climatic resilient traits including the body physiology suitable to hill ecosystem, Promising growth rate and feed conservation efficiency, Good mothering ability with higher litter size at the time of birth and weaning, Good body condition of sow remain excellent up to 6th farrowing, Excellent carcass quality and consumer preference in the region, and better disease resistance capacity.
Another key feature of the pig variety is suitable to low input tribal production/backyard pig production system. Better performance and productivity in the low input tribal production system. The pig variety attained higher body weight of 90-100 kg at 12 months of age, besides higher litter size at weaning (8.56±0.77 Vs 5.23±0.54) as compared to local non-descriptive pigs in the low input tribal production system. The upgraded pig attains double the body weight of local non-descriptive pigs at the age of 12 months. The adult upgraded pigs were sold by the fattener farmers @ INR 11000 –13000/pig as compared to the earlier local adult pig @ Rs 6000-700/pig. The breeding farmers harvested 2-3 extra piglets per farowing compared to the earlier system and farmers sold each piglet @INR2500-3000/. The beneficiaries got INR 17000-20000/unit through selling the piglet/ farrowing and Rs 5000-7000/ extra per unit than earlier system.
The variety came up today by endless efforts of scientist from the institute, ICAR RC NEH, Umiam, Meghalaya with initiation from Dr. K M Bujarbaruah, present Vice Chancellor, Assam Agricultural University; (Late) Dr. Anubrata Das Ex- Director, NRC Pig; Dr. R. K. Bardoloi and Dr. S Naskar.
The Chief Guest of the programme Dr. H Rahman praised the efforts of scientists, research workers and other staff of ICAR, Umiam for the release of the much needed climate SMART Lumsniang variety for the farmers of Meghalaya. Dr. SV Ngachan, emphasized on increasing popularity of this variety beyond Meghalayato the other states of North East.Director, ATARI; Director NRC on Pig also appreciated and congratulate the efforts of livestock production division.Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry, Deputy Director of Horticulture and Agriculture, Govt. of Meghalaya also appreciated as well as congratulate the efforts of livestock production division. The programme was concluded with distribution of this varieties to the progressive farmers from Meghalaya and finally Dr. Sunil Doley, Principal Scientist, Livestock Production Division presented the vote of thanks.
