The gift that keeps on giving... and giving!
Bóthar recently received a ‘field update’ from Ali Misimi, one of it’s extension workers in Kosovo. Ali was very excited to let us know about his latest visit to a family in the Kamenica region. One of the family’s sows gave birth to a record-breaking 21 piglets!
On 22 September 2009, we visited the family of Goran Dimic, a Serbian family living in Ranillug Village, in Kamenica region. The Dimic family received an Irish sow from Bóthar.
Nobody in the Dimic family has a regular job. Goran is a trained veterinarian technician but has no job. He volunteers his time and skills to help out other farming families in his region.
The reason we visited was that one of Goran’s sows had given birth to 21 piglets! This is a very rare case, not only in Goran’s village, but also in Kosovo. Goran needed expert advice in helping the sow to look after so many piglets!
We helped the family to divide the piglets into two groups. To distinguish the groups, one half had a red mark painted on their back. Now the suckling takes place in two shifts - with the red group feeding first, followed by the second group.
The family is extremely grateful to Bóthar and their field partner, Heifer International, for giving them their breeding sows. Goran says that the quality of the breed is far superior to the local breed.
One of the sows has had three pregnancies in total. The first two produced 14 piglets each time while the third pregnancy produced the record-breaking litter. There is a ready market amongst the local people for their piglets. Each piglet earns the family ?50. The family’s income has increased by over 30% since the arrival of their Bóthar sow.
Without the income Goran makes from his livestock, the Dimic family would have very little money.
Half of the money they earn through the sale of pigs is invested back in the farm. They purchase good quality concentrated feed for their animals. They recognise that if they treat their animals well they are assured of a constant stream of income in the future.
The remaining income from the sale of the pigs has been used to send Goran’s children to school. All three of the children, Nikola 16, Jovana 14 and Angela 8, are now attending the local school.
I left Goran’s farm that day with proof that one small animal can make can make such a big change in the lives of the farmers in Kosovo.
