Pre-Weaning Growth Traits in Nigerian Indigenous Pig Crossbreds

Abstract

Forty-seven hybrid progenies from crossbreeding between the Nigerian indigenous pig (NIP) and Large white pigs were used. Body measurements and live weight were recorded weekly from first week of birth to their weaning date. Body measurements taken were Body Weight (BW), Body Length (BL), Body Height (BH), Heart girth (HG) and Rump circumference (RC) of crossbred progenies. The correlation between the reproductive parameters and growth performance of hybrid pigs were established with good management practice. The mean for weaning weight was 6.72 ± 0.02, birth weight 0.91 ± 0.13, litter size at birth 5.36 ± 1.87, litter size at weaning 5.29 ± 1.97, litter weight at birth 4.56 ± 1.57, total litter weight at weaning 33.91 ± 11.6, average daily weaning weight 0.73 ± 0.12, average litter size at birth 0.93 ± 0.11 and sex ratio 97.78% ± 8.61%. The male and female mean values for weight of animals were 6.96 ± 1.0 and 6.52 ± 0.9 with male heavier in weight and higher in morphometric traits such as body length, heart girth and rump circumference, while the female were high in morphometric traits such as snout length, ear length and body height. The correlation matrix for body weight against linear body measurements in pre-weaned NIP crossbreds indicates that all the parameters could be used to select for body weight. The linear equation generated by regressing body weight on snout length, body height, rump circumference, heart girth and body length could be used by resource poor pig farmers in the estimation of body weight of pre weaned crossbreds pigs if they cannot afford weighing scales.