Imported semen for new breed pigs arrives

Sunday 20 September, Honiara – Imported pig semen from Australia has arrived in the country on Wednesday 16 September 2026 through the Solomon Islands Agriculture Rural Transformation (SIART) Project to be used to upgrade local genetics and overcome widespread inbreeding affecting pig production in Solomon Islands.

This is part of the Pig Breed Improvement Program with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD) aimed at improving the reproductive performance, productivity and genetic quality of pigs in Solomon Islands.

Following the arrival of the imported semen, gilts were inseminated from Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September 2026, with the first piglets from the artificial insemination (AI) program expected to be born in January 2027.

The imported semen includes ninety-six tubes for forty-right gilts (young female pigs) supplied by the Premier Pig Genetics in Queensland, Australia.

Selected breeding animals successfully completed a the 15-day hormonal feeding program followed by a hormonal feeding program, and subcutaneous oestrus booster injections on 12 to support and synchronize oestrus in selected breeding animals.

Animal identification and numbering, together with reproductive record-keeping was also conducted to ensure correct monitoring of breeding activities and reproductive performance.

SIART Project Manager William Okekini said the program is designed to gradually introduce new genetics into the local pig population while working closely with existing pig breeders.

“This program is about bringing new genetics into Solomon Islands and making sure the benefits reach local farmers. The farmers are an important part of the program because they are providing the gilts that will become the foundation for producing improved offspring,” he said.

Meanwhile, SIART Project Adviser, Mr. Mark Johnston highlighted that SIART is assisting MAL develop the Pig Breed Improvement Program by providing financial and relevant technical support to imitate the artificial insemination program where gilts will be impregnated with semen of improved breeds imported from Australia.

“The resulting offspring will have different genetics from their mothers due to genetics of the imported semen giving them hybrid vigour from genetically distinct parents.