Kumasi's Pigs

A not expected visit.

By florianschweer.com

November 20^th, 2015

a not daily research focus

While we were researching for our main subject cacao we visited the large university KNUST in Kumasi. We had to wait for a researcher on soil and pesticides and started small talking with the head of the agriculture department. The subject of animals came up quickly. She mentioned the pigs on the campus. Pigs on the Campus? Not the thing you expect beside studying students and partying freshman's.

The facility

Looking like a forgotten industry area from the outside and like a deserted large-scale farm from up closer we started to hear the grunts of pigs by getting closer.

WANNA SEE THEM MaTING? NO PROBLEM!

“You know we don’t do that artificial selection. We let them fulfill their nature.” And before we could answer if we want to witness that nature, he opened two gates, we stumbled back and nature took it’s course. Sadly the female was more interested on sitting on then the proud male.

The Champ

On him they are proud as hell.

Animal Love

The head of the research for livestock sector loves his pigs. Yes, he said it out loud and we believed him! But don’t mistake your love, the love of a consumer just knowing the happy TV-Advertisement Pig and the “Schnitzel” on the dinner plate, with the love of someone trying to find the balance between productivity and well-beeing of the animal. And don’t make the mistake of comparing your understanding of animal well-beeing with the one from somebody living in a country where still millions sleep on the floor and just try to get enough food on the table to keep the kids alive.

Research is not for the love of animals.

Ghana isn’t a long way from producing enough food for their people. It’s a even longer way from our luxes to enjoy meat every day for the price of an exclusive bottle of water. So how to find out how to produce more, faster and safer. Take four pigs and feed them all a different thing. The one who grows the most - good food. The one who dies - bad food.

A lifecycle

The pigs they use for productive purpose are far from the native Ghana pigs. a Belgium race is used and just a small amount from the Ghana Pigs Genpool goes into the breeding. They get born, stay with there moms got selected, used for research or given to pigfarmer associations for refreshing their gene pool, die and get eaten. but what ever dies or must be slaughtered, they try on the campus to use it for sausage or meat. “Tell me, if you don’t eat them and show your respect. How do you can love them?”, we got asked.

they got it all. nearly.

Sunlight every day. Cool environment. Staying together with their kids. Food. Fresh Water. That is more than must of the pigs get in western countries. I can tell you from my country, there are still pigs who never see sunlight or enjoy the space they get in Kumasi. But they still miss the experience of fresh soil under their feet or living a social life in a sounder.

Ever seen how your Countries Pigs life?

Before you judge to quickly, answer yourself the question: Do I know how are pigs living in my country or do I just like to think they all enjoy the life of the advertisement pictures. Look a real pig deep in the eyes - it might going to touch your soul.

Footnotes

florian schweer, florianschweer.com, Ghana 2015, KNUST, Kumasi.

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FootNotes

florian schweer, florianschweer.com, Ghana 2015, KNUST, Kumasi.