The majority of small-holder pig farmers in Mpumalanga had between 1- and 10-sow herds. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the current government agricultural intervention (supply of 10 sows and a boar) in terms of technical and economic feasibilities and ascertain whether the small-scale pig value chain system alleviates poverty. Data were obtained from 220 randomly selected small-holder pig farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results showed that 58% farrowed ≤ 10 piglets/born/sow/litter, 44.2% practiced no weaning method and many fed swill and leftovers alone (41.6%). Pair-wise association revealed that the feeding of commercial feeds had a relationship with pigs in relatively good to very good body condition. Pigs in poor body condition were positively correlated with the feeding of swill alone. The economic models for the 10-sow unit proved that pig farming is unprofitable if the current management and feeding systems that operate in the commercial industry are utilised. However, only through a combination of cooperative systems, benefits of economies of scale, reduction of preweaning mortalities and structured government inputs can pig production be profitable at this scale of production. Keywords: piglets; market; profit; economics; feeds

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the body weight (BW), milk yield, nutritional status, and profitability of moderate genetic (MG) and high genetic (HG) merit of Holstein crossbred (HC) cows in a tropical region under the existing farming system. Materials and Methods: Data was gathered from 204 nursing cows of MG (n = 99) and HG (n = 105) merit of HC cows throughout a year in the dairy zone Keraniganj, Bangladesh. HC cows of MG and HG merit contained 50.0%–67.7% and 75.0%–87.5% Holstein blood, respectively. Data on genetic merit, BW, lactation stage and number, daily milk yield, feed intake, feed, and milk price were documented. All variables were except genetic merit analyzed using one-way analysis of variance. Results: HC cows of MG and HG merit had 433 and 493 kg BW (p < 0.01), and daily produced 11.99 and 14.06 kg milk (p = 0.07) with having 0.99 and 1.15 feed efficiency (p = 0.06), respectively but dry matter intake did not vary (p > 0.05). HC cows of both genetic merit daily offered surplus metabolizable energy and digestible crude protein through roughage and concentrate than their requirement (p > 0.05). The milk production cost of both genetic merit HC cows was alike (p > 0.05), whereas almost two times more profit was obtained in HG merit HC compared to MG merit HC cows (p < 0.05). Conclusion: HC cows of HG merit showed superior potentiality of milk yield, profit, and feed efficiency, whereas MG merit HC cows revealed inferior feed efficiency and milk yield. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(3.000): 686-692]

In the conditions of market relations formation the lowering of production prime cost at the JSC Sennitsa Plant SOM gained the special importance. The reserve supplies for increasing of economic efficiency of milk processing and dairy products production in the conditions of the Republic of Belarus were analyzed. A subject of activity of the enterprise is milk processing, development of dairy production and its realization. Economic benefit of realization of the offered actions is shown. Transfer to the local sources of fuel (woodfuel) made it possible to reduce considerably the cost price of production at the analysed plant. By means of lowering the current consumption of electric energy the economy of the cost price due to decrease expenses for the electric power will make 0,27%. The general economic benefit will consist in decrease in the cost price of a commodity output on on 2,71%, increase of production profitability on 3,55 items. Thus, the realization of the offered actions will considerably improve the financial indicators of JSC Sennitsa Plant SOM