Native pig ( Moo Lat ) breeds in Lao PDR ( Short Communication )

Pig production continues to be an important livelihood activity in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) which base on traditional methods. However, it is increasingly affected by social and market pressures. More than 80 % of pig herds are native breeds and belong to smallholders with combined keeping systems. Based on a national field survey, the native pigs have been characterized and classified in four phenotypes. The native pig types and their local distribution are described. Most of them have short ears, black colour and potbelly. Their production performance, i.e. growth rates and daily weight gain is lower and the carcass fat considerably higher than that of exotic (i.e. in Lao terms »modern, intensive«) breeds. However, they require lower inputs and have excellent adaptation traits.


Introduction
About 85 % of the working population of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) is engaged in agriculture.The agricultural sector contributes to about 52 % of the gross domestic product (GDP) including 18 % by the livestock and fisheries sub-sector (MAF 2005).In 2007, the livestock population consisted of 1.15 million buffalo, 1.5 million cattle, 21.9 million poultry, 280 000 goats and 2.5 million pigs (with about 20 % of them being exotics, i.e. in Lao terms 'modern, intensive' breeds).The smallholder production system dominates in Lao PDR and is characterized by low inputs and low outputs.The traditional livestock management practice is based on free-range grazing of harvested or fallow lands.Breeding is generally uncontrolled with nearly negligible attempts for genetic improvement.
Pig production is the most significant part of smallholder livestock management in Laos and becomes increasingly important for food supply.The social demand for pork is rapidly growing and the small scale pig production cannot satisfy it.Consequently, the import of prefattened pigs for slaughter from neighbouring countries is increasing.In 2007, pork was the second most consumed meat with estimated 11.55 kg per capita (Department of Livestock and Fisheries 2008).The density of pig population is highest in the northern and southern mountainous regions.Differences exist between the ethnic groups regarding household keeping of pigs: 73 % of the Hmong people, 84 % of Khmu and 38 % of Lao ethnic groups rear pigs (Agricultural Census 2000).It must be considered here that indigenous pig production is both a source of income and livelihood to reduce poverty and of gene pool conservation.
So far, no nation-wide survey of indigenous pig breeds exists.The aim of the study was to register, and to identify and to describe the current indigenous pig population in the Lao PDR.Furthermore, information should be given on growth performance and carcass composition in Moo Lat pigs after feeding different levels of a commercial diet.

Materials and methods
Nation-wide indigenous pig survey was performed from 1996 to 2004.Altogether 35 districts were selected for the survey and ten villages were analysed for each district.In each village, seven households with more than three adult pigs per ownership were interviewed.The main tools for data collection were interviews based on questionnaire form and visual evaluation.The interview covered many areas of interest connected to pig production, i.e. management, breeds, food and feeding system, and reproduction performance.The provincial livestock officers who were supervising the survey at the provinces sorted out the data which were afterwards compiled on national level by using Microsoft Access (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA) software.Criteria taken into consideration to identify the different types of indigenous pigs were body length, circumference of the girth, height, colour of the skin and the direction of the ears.
Furthermore, growth performance and carcass composition were analysed first in Moo Lat pigs after feeding different levels of a commercial diet.Altogether 30 healthy castrated males weighing 10-12 kg were included into the trial.Two weeks before the experimental phase animals were treated against internal parasites, vaccinated and their growth rate were recorded feeding ad libitum a commercial diet.Pigs were randomly allocated to five feeding groups (n=6 per group).Animals were kept in individual pens and had free access to fresh water.The control group was fed ad libitum and the other four treatment groups received the same diet, but the level was restricted for 10, 20, 30 or 40 %.During the experimental period animals were weighted weekly and the feed intake was recorded.Pigs were fed to a final weight of 60 kg and then slaughtered.Carcass weight, lean meat and fat content and thickness of back fat were measured at slaughter, and daily weight gain, days to final weight of 60 kg and feed consumption were calculated.All data were analysed by ANOVA.

Results and discussion
Based on the aforementioned criteria, pigs were classified into four types.The phenotype, the reproductive performance and dissemination of the four types are presented following.

Type 1: Local names -Moo Chid, Moo Markadon, Moo Boua
The first type is scattered countrywide.The pig is of relatively small size compared to other types existing in the country.Its body length, circumference of the girth and the height is 75-92 cm, 72-85 cm and 46-54 cm, respectively.The ears are small, short and directed forward.The coat colour is mainly black and legs are white.
Gilts show first oestrus at the age of about 6 months (between 182-197 days) and with body weight of 21-31 kg.The weight of mature sows is about 42-48 kg.The age at first farrowing is approx.360 days.There are 1.5 litters per year with 7-8 piglets per litter.Normal weaning age is three months with an average weaning weight of the piglets of 7.8 kg.
Mature males have lower body weight than females, i.e. the average body weight is 20.5 kg at the age of 170-200 days, and the maximum body weight of boars is between 18-30 kg.

Type 2: Local names -Moo Lat
The second type is mostly present in upland areas (Luangprabang, Oudomxay, Xaysomboun), but also in some lowland territories (Saravane and Savannakhet provinces).This breed is quite bigger than the first type.Body length is 85-100 cm; the girth and height are 84-102 cm and 51-70 cm, respectively.The ears are short and directed forward and the face is strait.Legs and the front of the face are white.The age of the first oestrus is between 189-586 days with 39 kg of body weight.These varying data depend on typical extensive keeping systems, where management is nearly negligibly.The weight of mature sows is about 47-61 kg, and the youngest age of first farrowing is around 360 days.Depending on management systems, sows have 1.5-1.8litters per year and 7-8 piglets per litter.Normal weaning period is 60-90 days with an average of 9.5 kg of piglet's weaning weight.
Mature males of this type have also lower body weight (25 kg) than females and maximum body weight of boars can reach 30-50 kg.

Type 3: Local names -Moo Nonghad or Moo Hmong
This type is specifically found in the Nonghad district, Xienkhouang province.It is quite big with body length of 100-105 cm, girth circumference of 115-130 cm and height of 55-76 cm.The body is mostly black and in the abdominal region rose coloured.It has a short and bent face, and the medium sized ears are directed forward.
The age at the first oestrus is between 150-180 days with 30-40 kg of body weight.The weight of mature sows is between 65 and 85 kg.The age at first farrowing is 10-11 months.There are 1.5-1.8litters per year with 7-10 piglets per litter.Normal weaning age of the piglets is 2-3 months and the weaning weight is 8 kg on average.
The maximum body weight of boars is between 60-80 kg.

Type 4: Local name -Moo Deng or Moo Berk
The fourth type is easy to identify due to its phenotype.It has brown colour and is apparently larger than any other pig breed existing in Lao PDR.This pig is a well-adopted and stabilized cross-bred one (Berkshire×local pig).It is kept only in the southern part of Laos, particularly in Mounlapamok and Khong districts, Champasack province.Body length, circumference of the girth and the height are 88-120 cm, 84-116 cm and 60-70 cm, respectively.It has a short and bent face, and large sized hanging ears.The weight of mature sows is around 65-90 kg, and the first farrowing age is between 330-360 days.They have 1.5-1.8litters per year with 7-10 piglets per litter.Piglets are normally weaned at the age of 2-3 months and a weight of 8.5 kg.
The maximum body weight of boars is similar to sows.It should be mentioned that the description of the four types is still a preliminary classification which base only on phenotypical differences.More research activities with advanced techniques like DNA analysis are required to characterize the different breeds finally.Oosterwijk et al. (2003) described three types of endogenous pig breeds; however, others mentioned the previously described four classes (FAO 2007, Wilson 2007).

Keeping systems
Based on the survey data, there are several modes how the farmers manage and feed their pigs.One is the extensive system of free range scavenge all the time and supplementing some food in the morning and evening.Semi-extensive systems comprise both free range scavenge during the day and supplementary food supply and indoor keeping in simple pens during the night time.Semi-intensive keeping systems include simple housing and food supply, whereas in intensive systems pigs are kept in permanent pens and feeding.However, there are several combinations of these basic management systems with relation to the traditions of ethnic groups.

Growth performances and carcass compositions
The average daily gain (ADG) of Moo Lat pigs which are kept extensively in the Lao PDR uplands does not exceed 100 g (unpublished field survey data).Usually, the pigs are fed diets which base mainly on rice bran, maize and cassava roots with some additional green plant material.However, they are not available the whole year.In extensive systems where farmers supplemented the feed with Stylosanthes guianensis (forage legume) ADG could be increased from 107 to 207 g/day (Phengsavanh & Stür 2006).If Moo Lat pigs were fed with a nutrient rich diet, ADG grew up to more than 500 g per day (Table 1) with influence on fat content and body composition (Table 2).The growth rate of pigs fed restrictedly or ad libitum with a commercial diet was higher than in other studies.Growth rates ranging between 113 and 232 g/day were achieved when local pigs in Thailand were fed vegetable, stylo leaves and concentrates (Ratchadawan et al. 2006).Xaypha et al. (2007) reported 155 to 193 g/day when Moo Lat pigs were fed cassava leaf silage.Supplementing feed with stylo leaves, Keoboualapheth et al. (2003) found that the growth rate of native pigs was 154 to 320 g/day.Due to longer (P<0.05)period to gain the final slaughter weight of 60 kg, pigs of the 40 % feed restriction group revealed a significant lower ADG.Pigs (n=30), which were fed restrictedly, were slaughtered when they attained body weight of 60 kg.The carcass weight of about 42 kg was similar in all treatment groups (Table 2).Non-restricted pigs (0 %) gained the highest fat content which was significant (P<0.05)compared to groups of 30-40 % restriction level.The amount of lean meat (16.9 kg or 40 %) was higher (P<0.05) in animals fed a 40 % feed restriction.
Additionally, the analysis if the questionnaires revealed several constrains of pig production at the village level.The main constraints are (1) the absence of breeding management due to the free ranging and uncontrolled mating system; (2) the lack of suitable management with regard to high piglet mortality; (3) the insufficient quality of feed which is responsible of poor growth rates; and (4) epidemic diseases, e.g.classical swine fever.
In conclusion, the national pig survey in the Lao PDR indicates that the initiated phenotypical classification of native pigs is not completed and requires additional genetic estimations.The potential growth performance of native Lao Moo Lat pigs can be considerably increased when they are fed with high quality diets which satisfy the energy and protein requirements.However, an excess of fat accumulation should be avoided feeding nutrient rich diets.Furthermore, farmers need to get knowledge and training of production (nutrition) strategies to ensure optimal performance.The awareness of farmers should be improved to maintain and properly use the genetic resources of native pigs for more efficient and sustainable food production and long-term food security.
Extensive production system should be replaced by semi-intensive or intensive system using an appropriate technology to increase quantity, quality and safety of products.

Figure 4
Figure 4 Type 4: Local name -Moo Deng or Moo Berk Figure 3 Type 3: Local names -Moo Nonghad or Moo Hmong

Table 1
Growth performance of indigenous Moo Lat pigs fed restricted levels of commercial diets

Table 2
Carcass composition of indigenous Moo Lat pigs fed restricted levels of commercial diets