BAU Registers Two New Pig Breeds under ICAR

On Thursday, two new pig breeds - Barsa and Purnea were registered and received certificates for the same by ICAR. These certificates went to Birsa Agricultural University for their new pig breeds.

Registration is crucial keeping in mind further research and policy-making by the government. Now, these pig breeds can be conserved and promoted without obstruction.

Jharkhand has a huge pig-rearing market. It holds the second-largest population of pigs, losing the first rank to Assam. The census count of pigs in Jharkhand stood at 12.8 lahks in 2019. However, no pig breeds had been registered earlier.

At a special event held at the ICAR's headquarters, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, Dr. BN Tripathi, Dy. Director General (Animal Science), Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, GoI, Dr. BP Mishra, Director, NBAGR Karnal, and Akla Nagina Arora, Special Secretary, delivered the certificates. Narendra Singh Tomar, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, took part in the show online.

Purnea and Banda breeds were discovered and then registered by Dr. Ravindra Kumar, Dept of Livestock Productions and Management (LPM) after a decade spent in agricultural extension research. These breeds were widely popular among farmers for being low-cost breeds with very low maintenance. Moreover, they are compatible with rearing under an extensive/scavenging system of management.

Pig rearing has not just become the economic backbone of rural farmers but it also provides additional nutrition security.

The co-applicants for the registration of the Banda breed were Dr. Sushil Prasad, Chairman, Department of LPM, BAU, and Dr. Santanu Banik, Principal Scientist, National Research Centre (NCR) on Pig, Guwahati. For the registration of the Purnea breed, the co-applicants were Dr. Banik and Dr. Shivanand Kanshi, Veterinary Officer, Govt. of Jharkhand.

These pigs stood apart and were registered because of their unique characteristics from other recognized breeds and were sent to ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal (NBAGR), and finally registered. Previously considered local or desi varieties; following the registration of the two breeds, India now has a total of 11 registered breeds.

According to scientists, the districts of Ranchi, Chatra, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Giridih, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Gumla, Lohardagga, Simdega, Pakur, Bokaro, and Dhanbad are the primary locations of Banda breed pigs. This breed is small in stature with a small snout and is very robust and disease resistant. They adapt well to the agro-climatic condition offered in Jharkhand and had an annual growth of 20-30kg with a litter size of 3-5 in one farrowing or birth.

The Santhal Pangana region of Jharkhand and the northern parts of Bihar, namely Purnea and Katihar have large populations of the Purnea breed, this breed is medium-sized and dark. The hair is straight and long in the neck region and the snout is long as well. The hair of this pig is also used for making brushes. Purnea is reared under a scavenging system of management.

Without major input costs, the net income from raising one pig is approximately Rs. 10,000–12,000 per year.

Dr. Onkar Nath Singh, vice chancellor of BAU, complimented the involved scientists and added that Jharkhand should be proud of the state for obtaining registration certificates for two breeds.