Population trends and distribution of indigenous pigs in India

Abstract

 Indian indigenous pigs have unique features, including their adaptation for survival under most adverse 
conditions of nutrition, disease resistance, heat tolerance and ability to produce meat with comparatively less 
fat. The present status of indigenous pigs was evaluated in terms of their distribution and population trend. It is 
estimated that population of indigenous pigs will fall to 60.70 lakhs by 2025. Some regions in India still have 
sizable population of indigenous pigs. North-Eastern region of Assam comprising districts of Dhemaji, 
Lakhimpur and Sonitpur house about 4.28 percent of the indigenous pig population of India. Bhojpur district in 
Bihar has the highest population of indigenous pigs (128674) in the country. However, the decreasing 
population of indigenous pigs vis a vis increasing population of exotic and crossbred pigs indicate that the 
indigenous pigs require immediate care and attention to arrest the declining trend in their population.