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.
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