Ghungroo Pig: A potential strain of indigenous pig for the rural farmers

Ghungroo an indigenous strain of pig first reported from North Bengal is popular among the local people because of high prolificacy and ability to sustain in low input system.  This breed/strain produces high quality pork utilizing agricultural byproducts and kitchen wastes.  Ghungroo are mostly black coloured with typical Bull dog face appearance, with a litter size of 6-12  piglets, individually weigh about 1.0 kg at birth  and 7.0 – 10.0 kg at weaning.  Both sexes are very much docile and easy to handle.  In  the breeding tract they are maintained under scavenging system and mainly act as insurance to the rainfed agriculture.  At National Research Centre on Pig, Rani, Guwahati Ghungroo pigs are being maintained under intensive system of rearing with standard breeding, feeding and managemental system. Their evaluation for genetic potential for use in future breeding programmes is in progress and   this indigenous strain is performing very well in terms of productive and reproductive efficiency.  Some of the selected sows have delivered litter size of  17 piglets at birth as compared to the other indigenous strains of pigs maintained at the Institute farm

(Source: Animal Science Division, ICAR)