International Training Center on Pig Husbandry

Agriculture and education

Since this blog is dedicated to indigenous pig farming, I decided to feature a government agency that advocates animal husbandry particularly on swine production. Meet the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ITCPH) of the Department of Agriculture.

Located in the bustling city of  Lipa, Batangas (some 100 km away from Manila, the Philippine capital), this training center caters to agricultural education with its focus on hog raising.

In 2013, I had undergone a one week training through a non-formal short course here about sustainable pig farming and in-farm production of beneficial microorganisms used for both native and hybrid pigs. Honestly, I was completely surprised that such a government agency exists near my hometown. What was even more amazing is that they offered the courses I took for FREE. By that, I mean, free food (3 meals and 2 snacks everyday), free board and lodging, free transportation for the field trips and free internet use. Because of the very welcoming accommodation, I felt like I was a fattener pig for one whole week. Haha! Although I never get the chance of being a "breeder boar". But I guess that's something else. Hehe.

Here is a brief history about the center lifted from the ITCPH website:

The Center started in June 1985 as a foreign-assisted project under the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and was initially located at the Alabang Stock Farm in Muntinlupa. It was jointly established by the Philippine and Netherlands governments.

They conducted their courses in different places. Lectures were done in a residential house in BF Homes Parañaque which was also used as the participants' dormitory. For practical classes, the participants were transported in a tractor to the Stockfarm.

Its pioneer employees were hired as contractual workers and mostly from BAI. Some of these pioneers went to Lipa City in 1989 although they were not assured of a permanent position in the government.

The maiden issue of the ITCPH Newsletter was published in December 1986.

Between 1988 to 1989, the Management Team of the ITCPH Project shopped for a suitable "home". And, they found a suitable site in Lipa City with the land provided by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Regional Office. The 7.2 hectare land was previously planted with guyabano trees and "talahib" grass. In 1989, ITCPH finally settled in its present location in Marawoy, Lipa City.

In September 1989, ITCPH was inaugurated under the Bureau of Animal Industry. During the second phase of the project, the Center was institutionalized under the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute with 39 plantilla positions, a remarkable event that signified that ITCPH is here to stay even after the Netherlands assistance.

Initially, ITCPH offered only 4 courses, namely: National Course for Extensionists, Agricultural Teachers Course, International Course and Private Course for Semi-Commercial Swine Raisers. Now, the Center is offering 13 different courses on pigs and its related aspects.

In 1998, it became a regular government agency. It became the only specialized training center of ATI.

Since then, ATI-ITCPH had continued to sustain and improve its programs and services.

Mindoro warty pig

Wild boar of the day: Oliver's warty pig

General description

Previously treated to be a subspecies of S. philippensis, this species was shown to be morphologically and genetically different. Scientifically Sus oliveri, Oliver's warty pig  or Mindoro warty pig is a small species of pig which can only be found on the island of Mindoro in the central Philippines. This species is heavily hunted and is extremely rare.

The Mindoro Warty Pig was recognized as a separate species from Sus philippensis. It is known from four skulls and a mounted head collected in 1993 now in the Field Museum in Chicago, USA.


Citations

Oliver, W. (2008). Sus oliveri. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 5 April 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of endangered.
Jump up 

Grubb, P. 2005. "Order Artiodactyla". pp. 637–722 in Wilson, D.E. & Reeder, D.M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. 3rd ed.
Jump up ^ Groves, C.P. (1997). "Taxonomy of wild pigs (Sus) of the Philippines". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 120 (2): 163–191. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1997.tb01277.x.
Jump up 

Lucchini, V., Meijaard, E., Diong, C. H., Groves, C. P. & Randi, E. (2005). "New phylogenetic perspectives among species of South-east Asian wild pig (Sus sp.) based on mtDNA sequences and morphometric data". Journal of Zoology 266: 25–35. doi:10.1017/S0952836905006588.6: 25–35

Palawan bearded pig

Wild boar of the day: Palawan bearded pig

Santa Pig is coming to town!  

'Tis the season to be jolly falalalalaaa lala lalaaa... And so the song goes. And since merry making this Christmas season isn't over yet, I thought it would be fun to feature 'Santa Pig.'

General characteristics 

Notice its beard. And imagine a red hat on it. Doesn't it look like Santa Claus' pig version in a tropical setting? 

Found on the archipelago of islands formed by Balabac, Palawan, and the Calamian Islands in the Philippines, the Palawan bearded pig with the scientific name Sus ahoenobarbus is a species of pig endemic to the Philippines. They are 1 to 1.6 metres (3.3 to 5.2 ft) in length, about 1 metre (3.3 ft) tall and weigh up to 150 kilograms (330 lb). 

Until recently, it was considered a subspecies of the Bornean bearded pig (Sus barbatus), but at least under the phylogenetic species concept, it must be classified as a separate species. For its treatment under other (and more widely used) species concepts, more study is required, but the presently available information seems to argue for full species status in any case.

Population and habitat

The species remains relatively widely, if patchily, distributed. Although still locally common in some areas, it is in decline due to habitat attrition and heavy hunting pressure in many areas 

Natural environments of this species ranges from forest habitats (including fragmented forest) to sea level to mountain forest at 1,500 m in a wide range of habitats: from primary and secondary forest to cultivated and managed areas, even neighboring human habitations.

If you want to see a moving picture of this wild animal, please click here.

Citations

Oliver, W. (2008). Sus ahoenobarbus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 4 November 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of vulnerable.

Lucchini, Meijaard, Diong, Groves and Randi (2005). New phylogenetic perspectives among species of South-east Asian wild pig (Sus sp.) based on mtDNA sequences and morphometric data. J. Zool., Lond. 266: 25–35

Visayan Warty Pig

Wild boar of the day: Visayan Warty Pig

Scientifically known as Sus cebifrons, The Visayan warty pig 

is a critically endangered species of pig.

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia 

Phylum: Chordata 

Class: Mammalia 

Order: Cetartiodactyla

Suborder: Suiformes

Family: Suidae

Tribe: Suini

Genus: Sus

Endemic to six of the Visayan Islands in the central Philippines, the Visayan warty pig  is threatened by habitat loss, food shortages and hunting – these are the leading causes of the Visayan warty pig's status as critically endangered. Sadly,  it is now extinct on four of the islands.  Due to the small numbers of remaining Visayan warty pigs in the wild, little is known of their behaviors or characteristics outside of captivity. 

Unique physical traits

Head and body length: About 100 cm

Shoulder height: 30-45 cm (females), up to 63 cm (males)

Tail length: 23 cm

Adult weight: 20-35 kg (females), 35-40 kg, up to 80 kg (males)

The Visayan warty pig receives its name from the three pairs of fleshy "warts" present on the visage of the boar. Biologists speculate that the reason for the warts is to assist as a natural defense against the tusks of rival pigs during a fight. The boars also grow stiff spikey hair.

Seasonal breeding

During the tropical dry season between the months of January and March, Visayan warty pig piglets are often seen  in their native habitat of the western Visayan Islands. At birth, Visayan warty pigs are light brown in color, with four dark stripes running down the body from head to tail. These stripes fade as the infants grow, and adult coloration is reached at one year. Per litter, the mean number of piglets is three to four.

Wild boars in captivity

In addition to a few other conservation programs in the Philippines, the Crocolandia Foundation and the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation, Inc., both have this species in captivity. In Europe, nine zoos – the Rotterdam Zoo, Poznan Zoo, Chester Zoo, Belfast Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, Blackbrook Zoological Park, Děčín Zoo, the Newquay Zoo and the Parken Zoo in Eskilstuna – maintain the Negros Island variety of this species. Moreover, several zoos in the United States also maintain this species. The San Diego Zoo was the first zoo outside the Philippines to keep and breed Visayan Warty Pigs. Elsewhere in North America, zoos in Los Angeles, Portland, Phoenix, Miami, Tampa, Saint Louis, Brevard Zoo, and Boise have also kept the species.

Citation

Oliver, W. (2008). Sus cebifrons. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 5 April 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of critically endangered.

Breast feed

Breast milk is still best for baby pigs up to three months old!

This sow's name is Liit. In Filipino, liit means small. I named her so because she is the smallest indigenous pig I have ever had. Surprisingly, she was the first pig to lactate. On top of that, she had given birth to seven bouncing piglets! Can you imagine that one month ago, all these piglets where inside her pot-like belly? I guess it's one of the wonders of life science. Haha!

Pigpen bedding

Got laid. "Birthing nest" for her successful delivery of seven piglets.

Using, coconuts husks, dried leaves and vines, this sow lays comfortably on rice hulls hours after giving birth to her first seven young ones. It is a wild boar's nature to build a dry, cool place for her piglets to sleep on on their first 24 hours.

Guess how many females and males were there among the seven piglets. The ratio is 4:3 respectively with the XX chromosomes taking the lead! Who run the world? Girls!!!

Madre con hijos

Mama knows best: wild boars have better motherly instinct as compared

to the  genetically modified commercial pigs

She knows it when one of her piglets is in danger as she makes some defense mechanisms and gets ready to attack. She knows it when she has to breastfeed her young ones even if it means that her own health will be at stake. It is such an intrinsic and innate quality of organic sows.