Conservation of Kieng Sat pig breed

At the end of last year, Mr. Dinh Kni (in Ba Thanh commune, Ba To district) was granted 13 Kieng Sat pig breeds by the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center. After four months of rearing in a stable, the pigs have reached an average weight of 45 kg per head. Recently, three sows gave birth to 15 more piglets.

Also granted the same breed as Mr. Kni, Ms. Dinh Thi Sinh in Son Bao commune raised healthy pigs without disease. With the selling price of 100,000 VND per kg, she collected a total of 68 million VND, minus expenses, 9 million VND profit after 3-4 months.

These are the first households participating in the Kieng Sat pig breeding model of the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center. The model will be deployed in 2021-2023 in three districts of Ba To, Son Ha and Mo Duc to conserve genetic resources.

Kieng Sat pig (also known as grass pig) originates in mountainous districts of Ba To, Son Ha, Son Tay, has black skin and fur, and has a small body. This species is easy to raise, has good disease resistance, delicious meat, low fat does not cause boredom. However, the introduction of high-yielding foreign pig breeds and crossbreeding poses a risk of losing the genetic resources of this rare pig breed.

In 2016, Quang Ngai Department of Science and Technology selected Kieng Sat pig along with Re chicken, Ly Son garlic, Tra Bong cinnamon as the breeds that need to be kept. After that, the Provincial Science and Technology Service and Application Center built an experimental farm to create pig breeds.

After selecting the best pig breed, in 2021 the Provincial Agricultural Extension Center will provide 140 breeding animals to 6 households. Specifically, in Ba To district, two households were granted seeds with a total of 25 children; Son Ha district two households with 25 children; Mo Duc district (plain) has two households with 90 children.

According to the Center for Agricultural Extension, Kieng Sat pigs are well adapted to the feeding conditions and soil in all three regions. Farmers use refined feed, less green vegetables, but pigs grow well. On average, each animal reaches a weight of 45-46 kg.

Notably, Kieng Sat pig costs about 100,000 VND per kg, 42,000-45,000 VND higher than other breeds, but still sells well. On average, for each commercial pig, farmers make a profit of 590,000 VND after four months.

Master Nguyen Huu Nguyen, Quang Ngai Agricultural Extension Center, project manager, said that households participating in the model were transferred and applied the best farming process to limit disease and reduce costs.

The center will continue to raise Kieng Sat pigs until 2023 with a total of 600 breeding animals in 18 households, in order to promote the raising of indigenous breeds, while conserving genetic resources and generating income for farmers.

Mai Sam