Oral Iron Module (2-7-10-15 Module) Doubles Income of pig farming  

SITUATION ANALYSIS

Mr. Sunil Jaidar, a progressive livestock entrepreneur based in Chouldari (Bachada Pahad), South Andaman district, Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been operating a semi-intensive piggery farm with a substantial herd of 40 sows, 50 boars and 50 piglets and Andamani and Large Yorkshire crossbred pigs. Over the years, he established himself as a dedicated producer in the island's livestock ecosystem, supplying live animals and meat to local island markets.

However, he suffered severe production and financial losses due to Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) in newborn piglets. Newborn piglets possess minimal iron stores at birth (~50 mg), which deplete rapidly due to fast growth and insufficient iron content in sow milk. In semi-intensive confinement, piglets lacked access to iron-rich natural soil. Consequently, piglets developed severe clinical symptoms such as pale mucous membranes in the gums and eyes, and rough hair coats. Unchecked, hemoglobin levels plunged to critical levels (~4.88 g/dl by week 4), resulting in severe growth stunting, chronic diarrhea and mortality rates reaching 50%.

TECHNOLOGY INTERVENTIONS

Scientists of ICAR-CIARI capacitated knowledge on aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical symptoms, treatment and control measures to control and prevent IDA in piglets. The treatment protocol was as follows: oral ferrous sulphate supplementation administered on the 2nd, 7th, 10th, and 15th day after birth using ferrous sulphate oral tablets at 30 mg/kg body weight. The intervention was paired with mineral mixture supplementation for lactating sows and early creep feeding to ensure complete herd nutritional coverage. He followed the therapeutic protocol as suggested by the Scientists, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, throughout the suckling period. Scientists, ICAR-CIARI, visited at regular intervals to monitor the progress of the piglets' health and growth.

IMPACT / OUTCOME OF TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION

With technical support and therapeutic management of IDA with this scheduled oral iron supplementation module has improved the health, production and reproduction performances of his piggery farm. The success/cure rate of the treatment was 100% in treated litters. The overall piglet mortality fell by 50% with treated litters achieving 0% mortality. Weaned piglets reached selling prices of ₹2,000 per head and fatteners (slaughter pigs) reached 70–80 kg at sale, fetching ₹30,000 per head. Per-litter profitability generated an extra net profit of +₹10,000 per litter compared to anemic litters. A consistent cash flow was established with 1 pig slaughtered/sold every week. The treatment also reduced labour spent nursing sick piglets from hours to just 10–15 minutes for feeding (halving nursing labour). Sunil utilized this saved time to diversify his farm by starting a new poultry venture. The increased income enabled significant household investments such as children's school fees, house construction, home repairs and purchasing a family vehicle. He reinvested profits into buying additional piglets and upgrading farm infrastructure. Sunil expressed 100% willingness to independently purchase oral iron supplements commercially in the future. The benefit-cost ratio improved from 0.83 to 1.48, changing the recommendation from "Not Viable" to "Viable & Profitable."

INCOME GENERATION

The intervention substantially improved piglet health, growth and survival, reducing mortality from 50% to 20% over a two-year period and increasing the number of surviving piglets from 200 to 320.

The improved survival of piglets resulted in higher farm returns, with total income increased from ₹23.50 lakh to ₹37.20 lakh and profit increased from ₹2.63 lakh to ₹9.83 lakh, generating an additional ₹7.20 lakh profit over two years. The cost-benefit ratio improved from 0.67 to 1.48, indicating a marked improvement in the economic viability of the enterprise. Thus, the scheduled oral iron supplementation module, supported by improved health care and scientific management, enhanced piglet survival and productivity while improving farm profitability and reducing the cost burden associated with mortality. The intervention provides a practical and replicable approach for improving the income, livelihood security and economic resilience of smallholder pig farmers.

WAY FORWARD

He appreciated and thanked the Director and Scientists, ICAR-CIARI, for the invention and implementation of such a wonderful scheduled oral iron supplementation module to treat IDA in piglets in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He suggested that this treatment needs to be implemented throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and cover almost all the animals, and all the pig farmers should be benefitted. He planned to carry out the livestock enterprises in a more scientific way to minimize the cost of investment and maximize the revenue as well as profit with the suggestion or advice from the Scientists, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.

Contributors : Arun Kumar De, Perumal Ponaraj, T Sujatha, Jai Sunder, Debasis Bhattacharya and J. Chaithrashree