PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT BREEDS OF PIGS IN AN ORGANISED FARM

Abstract

A study was carried out at 30-sow Teaching Unit, College of Veterinary Science, AAU,
Khanapara Campus for a period of ten years to assess the performance of Hampshire (H),
Large Black (LB) and Hampshire x Large Black (H x LB) crosses reared under intensive
feeding and management. The average litter size and litter weight at birth and at weaning
were found to be 8.59±0.28, 7.33±0.32, 8.69±0.42 and 12.33±0.41, 10.02±0.47 and
12.61±0.74 and litter size and litter weight at weaning were 7.44±0.32, 6.40±0.43 and
8.02±0.50 and 101.21±4.30, 81.71±5.48 and 106.80±6.86 respectively in Hampshire, Large
Black and crossbred pigs. The litter size at birth and litter weight at birth was significantly
higher in Hampshire and crossbred than Large Black pigs. Similarly litter size and litter
weight at weaning was also found to be significantly higher in Hampshire and crossbred
pigs. Pre-weaning mortality of piglets was recorded 11.30%, 8.68% and 6.04% in Hampshire,
Large Black and crossbred piglets respectively. The farrowing number did not have any
significant effect on litter size and litter weight at birth and at weaning among the breeds
reared upto 5th farrowing. Analysis of data revealed non-significant difference in farrowing
intervals due to the effect of parity among the breeds. The analysis revealed better
performance of Hampshire and Crossbred pigs in comparison to Large Black pigs.