🐖Pig Breeds - Indigenous (Ghungroo, Ankamali) and Exotic (Yorkshire, Landrace, Duroc, Hampshire)

Selection of Breeds

Choosing the right breed is the foundation of a profitable pig farming enterprise. The selection depends on factors such as the purpose of rearing (meat, bacon, or lard), local climate, disease resistance, and market demand.

• For commercial pig farming upgraded/crossbred or exotic stock in good health should be selected. Crossbred and exotic breeds tend to have higher growth rates, better feed conversion efficiency, and superior carcass quality compared to indigenous breeds under intensive management systems.

• While selecting a gilt or sow primary aim should be to secure a female that will produce large survivable litter and which can attain marketable weight at an age of six months or less. A good gilt (young female pig that has not yet farrowed) should have at least 12 well-spaced, functional teats to ensure adequate milk supply for the litter.

• Animals those are ready to be bred should be selected. Pig gestation period = 114 days (approximately 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days — the “3-3-3 rule”). This is one of the most exam-tested facts in piggery management.

• Cull the old animals after 10-12 farrowing. Culling at this stage is recommended because reproductive performance, including litter size and piglet survival rate, typically declines after 10-12 farrowing cycles.

• Identify the newly purchased animal by giving suitable identification mark (ear notching or tattooing). Ear notching involves making specific cuts on the pig’s ears following a standardised numbering system, while tattooing uses indelible ink stamped inside the ear. Both methods are permanent and essential for maintaining accurate breeding and health records.

• Always vaccinate the animals against diseases. A proper vaccination schedule protects the herd against common swine diseases such as Classical Swine Fever (CSF), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), and Porcine Parvovirus (PPV).

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Exotic Breeds

Exotic breeds (also called improved breeds) have been developed through selective breeding programmes in Western countries. They are known for their superior growth rate, feed efficiency, and carcass quality. The following are the major exotic breeds:

1. Large White Yorkshire (LWY)

• Origin: England (UK) — Yorkshire county
• Most extensively used exotic breed in India and an excellent breed for crossbreeding.
• Colour: White with erect ears (key identifier — distinguishes from Landrace’s drooping ears).
• Body weight: Boar: 300-400 kg, Sow: 230-320 kg
• Prolific breeder with excellent mothering ability — large litter size of 10–12 piglets.
• Considered both a bacon type and pork type breed — versatile.
• Also grouped with Chester White breed.

2. Middle White Yorkshire

• Evolved by crossing the Large White Yorkshire with a smaller breed of Yorkshire extraction.
• Body weight: Boar: 250-340 kg, Sow: 180-270 kg
• Also grouped with Tamworth breed.

3. Landrace

• Origin: Denmark
• The best bacon breed in the world — bred and fed to produce the highest quality bacon (specifically Wiltshire bacon).
• Colour: White with long body and drooping/lop ears — the long body produces more bacon rashers per carcass.
• Body weight: Boar: 270-360 kg, Sow: 225–260 kg
• Litter size: 10–14 piglets — highly prolific, among the best for maternal traits.
• Also grouped with Berkshire breed.
• Excellent for crossbreeding programmes in India.

4. Duroc

• Origin: USA
• Colour: Reddish-brown (cherry red / rust) coat — the only major red-coloured exotic breed.
• Ear type: Slightly drooping/pendulous ears (unlike the erect ears of LWY and Berkshire).
• Known for hardiness, fast growth rate, and good feed efficiency.
• Excellent muscling and best meat quality with marbling — favoured as a terminal sire for pork production.
• Docile temperament — easier to manage than many other breeds.
• Classified as a pork/meat type breed.

5. Hampshire

• Origin: USA (developed in USA from English stock originally from Hampshire County, England)
• Colour: Black with a white belt around the shoulders and forelegs — the white belt is the defining visual feature.
• Ear type: Erect ears.
• Excellent for lean meat production with good muscling and good mothering ability.
• Popular as a terminal sire in crossbreeding programmes.
• Classified as a pork/meat type breed.

6. Berkshire

• Origin: England (UK)
• Colour: Black with 6 white points — nose/snout, 4 feet, and tail tip. The dished (upturned) face is another distinctive feature.
• Ear type: Erect ears.
• Medium-sized, sturdy breed with good meat quality.
• Grouped with Landrace as a bacon-type breed.

6a. Pietrain

• Origin: Belgium (village of Pietrain in Wallonia)
• Colour: White with black spots — distinctive piebald/spotted pattern.
• Ear type: Erect ears.
• Extremely lean, heavily muscled breed — exhibits double-muscling particularly in the hindquarters.
• Stress-susceptible — prone to PSS (Porcine Stress Syndrome), also called Malignant Hyperthermia. Caused by a mutation in the RYR1 (ryanodine receptor) gene.
• PSS leads to pale, soft, exudative (PSE) meat under stress conditions — a major quality defect.

7. Tamworth

• Origin: England (UK)
• Colour: Golden-red/sandy coat.
• One of the oldest pig breeds, known for hardiness and foraging ability.
• Grouped with Middle White Yorkshire.

8. Poland China

• Origin: USA
• Colour: Black with white markings on face, feet, and tail.
• Large, heavy breed used for lard production.
• Spotted Poland China is a variant with spotted markings.

9. Chester White

• Origin: USA
• Colour: Solid white.
• Good mothering ability and prolific breeder.
• Grouped with Large White Yorkshire.

10. Saddleback

• Origin: England (UK)
• Colour: Black with a white band (saddle) across the shoulders.
• Hardy breed suitable for outdoor/extensive systems.

MCQ Identification Table — Ear Type, Colour & Origin

This table is the single most useful reference for breed-identification MCQs in IBPS AFO / NABARD exams:

These breeds are frequently crossed with indigenous breeds to combine the productivity of exotic germplasm with the disease resistance and adaptability of local stock.

Exotic Breeds Quick Reference Table

Breed	Origin	Colour	Ear Type	Boar Weight	Key Feature
Large White Yorkshire	UK	White	Erect	300-400 kg	Most used in India, crossbreeding
Middle White Yorkshire	UK	White	Erect	250-340 kg	Smaller Yorkshire type
Landrace	Denmark	White	Drooping/forward	270-360 kg	Best bacon breed
Duroc	USA	Reddish-brown	Drooping	—	Hardy, fast growth
Hampshire	USA	Black + white belt	Erect	—	Lean meat, terminal sire
Berkshire	UK	Black + white points	Erect	—	Good meat quality
Tamworth	UK	Golden-red	Erect	—	Oldest breed, hardy
Poland China	USA	Black + white marks	Drooping	—	Lard type
Chester White	USA	Solid white	Drooping	—	Prolific breeder
Saddleback	UK	Black + white saddle	—	—	Outdoor/extensive systems

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Indigenous Breeds

Indigenous breeds of pigs in India are well adapted to local climatic conditions and can thrive on minimal inputs. While their growth rate and carcass quality are generally lower than exotic breeds, they offer advantages in terms of disease resistance, heat tolerance, and ability to survive on kitchen waste and agricultural by-products. India has 15+ NBAGR-registered indigenous pig breeds (as of 2024):

1. Ghungroo

• Home tract: West Bengal (Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Darjeeling districts) and also found in Assam.
• Known for highest prolificacy among Indian breeds with litters of 8-12 piglets.
• Black coat, wrinkled skin, heavy pendulous ears — distinctive appearance.
• Compact body with good adaptation to North-East India’s humid subtropical conditions.
• Excellent mothering ability and disease resistance.
• Most widely studied and documented indigenous breed; NBAGR-registered.

2. Niang Megha

• Home tract: Meghalaya
• Adapted to the hilly terrain and humid climate of the Khasi and Jaintia hills.
• Reared by tribal communities as an integral part of their socio-cultural life.
• Black or black-and-white coat colour.

3. Doom

• Home tract: Assam (Upper Brahmaputra valley)
• Small-sized breed with black coat.
• Well-adapted to the hot and humid climate of the Brahmaputra valley.
• Reared primarily by tribal communities in a free-range system.

4. Agonda Goan

• Home tract: Goa
• Named after the Agonda village in South Goa.
• Medium-sized with black coat.
• Adapted to the coastal tropical climate.

5. Tenyi Vo

• Home tract: Nagaland
• Reared by the Angami Naga tribe.
• Compact body with black coat.
• Important for the socio-economic life of tribal communities in Nagaland.

6. Zovawk

• Home tract: Mizoram
• Small to medium-sized, mostly black.
• Hardy breed adapted to hilly terrain.
• Name means “Mizo pig” (Zo = Mizo people; vawk = pig) in the local Mizo language.

7. Mali

• Home tract: Tripura (Dhalai and North districts) — NBAGR-registered
• Small-sized indigenous breed.
• Adapted to the humid sub-tropical conditions of Tripura.

8. Ankamali

• Home tract: Ankamali, Ernakulam district, Kerala
• Indigenous meat breed; black or black-and-white coat, medium-sized.
• Hardy breed well-adapted to Kerala’s humid tropical conditions.
• Primarily reared in backyard systems by local farming communities.
• NBAGR-registered genetic resource.

9. Nicobari

• Home tract: Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Small-sized, black coat; reared by indigenous tribes of the islands.
• NBAGR-registered genetic resource — important for exam awareness.
• Hardy and adapted to the island’s tropical maritime climate.

Indigenous Breeds Quick Reference Table

Breed	Home Tract (State)	Key Feature
Ghungroo	West Bengal	Highest prolificacy (8-12 piglets/litter)
Niang Megha	Meghalaya	Adapted to hilly terrain
Doom	Assam	Small, free-range system
Agonda Goan	Goa	Coastal tropical adaptation
Tenyi Vo	Nagaland	Reared by Angami Naga tribe
Zovawk	Mizoram	”Mizo pig” (Zo = Mizo people; vawk = pig)
Mali	Tripura (Dhalai & North districts)	NBAGR-registered; humid sub-tropical
Ankamali	Kerala (Ernakulam district)	Black/black-white; backyard, humid-adapted
Nicobari	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	Small, black; reared by indigenous tribes

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Desi vs Exotic Comparison

Litter Size Norms

Litter size is a key measure of sow productivity and varies significantly by breed:

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Breed Classification by Purpose

Understanding why each breed is used for specific products helps answer “best breed for ___” type MCQs:

Why does Landrace produce the best bacon? The long body of Landrace means more vertebrae (6–7 more than average breeds), which translates to a longer loin and more bacon rashers per carcass. The breed was specifically developed in Denmark through selective breeding focused on this carcass trait.

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Crossbreeding in India

Crossbreeding between exotic and indigenous breeds is the most practical approach for improving pig productivity in India. The goals are to combine:

• Exotic traits: Higher growth rate, better FCR, superior carcass quality
• Indigenous traits: Disease resistance, heat tolerance, ability to thrive on low-cost feeds

Common crossbreeding combinations in India:

• Large White Yorkshire x Ghungroo — most popular cross in eastern India
• Landrace x indigenous breeds — for improved bacon-type pigs
• Hampshire x local breeds — for improved lean meat production

Advanced Crossbreeding Strategies (Exam-level)

References & Sources

1

G.C. Banerjee: A Textbook of Animal HusbandryBook

2

Wikipedia — Animal HusbandryWeb

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Summary Cheat Sheet