Defining Breeding Goals and Breeding Strategies for Pigs in Various African Production Systems

Pigs (Sus scrofa) are an important animal genetic resourceAnimal genetic resource (AnGR) in Africa with many different genotypes adapted to various environments and production systems. Sustainable animal breeding programmes seek to correctly evaluate breeding candidates and select the ones most appropriate to be parents of the next generation in order to achieve desired breeding goalsBreeding goals and objectives. This chapter presents an overview and significance of pig production in Africa as well as components of sustainable breeding programmes in the context of farmer-preferred traits. Cognisant of genotype–environment interactions, there is a need to select appropriate genotypes for specific breeding objectives and production systems. Additionally, we discuss the changing environmental conditions and market demands and make a case for the need to breed more productive, resilient pigs for both current and future generations. However, this must be done in consonance with available genetics, feed, housing, healthcare and the targeted markets. The importance of indigenous and locally adapted pig breeds and their sustainable utilisation and conservation as important players in protein-source food securityFood security, livelihoods and wealth creation are presented. The need for all stakeholdersStakeholders to be actively involved in defining objectives for pig breeding, human and institutional capacity buildingCapacity-building as well as sustainable government policies cannot be overemphasised. Finally, we posit that any pig breeding programme aimed at improving the productive and adaptive qualities of pigs in Africa should aim at conserving locally adapted genotypes while making use of emerging innovative technologies for greater efficiency.