Analysis of performance, management practices and challenges to intensive pig farming in peri-urban Kampala, Uganda

Urban Farm DB summary

This study assessed the performance, factors affecting productivity, and challenges of intensive pig farming in peri-urban Kampala, Uganda, using data from 332 purposively selected sows and 521 grower pigs. Information on management practices, challenges, and prospects was gathered through farmer questionnaires, key informant interviews, and stakeholder focus group discussions. Most farms showed a good overall level of management, but breeding practices were uniformly erratic across all farms, with different breeds crossed indiscriminately, and both reproduction and performance parameters were suboptimal. Breed had a significant effect on growth performance (p < 0.001) and litter size (p < 0.005), while feeding had significant effects on litter size (p < 0.001), number weaned (p < 0.01), weight-to-age ratio (p < 0.05), and weaning-to-service interval (p < 0.05). The major constraints identified were high feed costs, disease, and competition for land with expanding residential estates, and performance indices varied greatly between farms, indicating substantial room for improvement; the study recommends improved housing, breeding practices, feeding, and biosecurity measures.