The study was carried out on two different genetic groups of pig viz. Duroc and Hampshire maintained at pig breeding farm of National Research Centre on Pig, Guwahati. Effect of different genetic group and non-genetic factors (year and season of farrowing and parity) were estimated by least squares analysis of variance for different litter production, weight and pre weaning growth rate. Genetic group and parity revealed highly significant (P<0.01) effect on all the traits under study. However, effect of year and season of birth was non significant in most of the cases. The pre weaning mortality of Hampshire pigs was found to be less than Duroc. The performance of litter production and weight traits of Hampshire pigs were found to be better than Duroc pigs in the farm.Key words: Duroc, Growth performance, Hampshire, Litter traits, Piglets.Pig rearing is one of the most important occupations of rural society especially for the tribal masses of India. Preweaning growth characteristics are the best indicator for early selection of pigs . Heavier pigs at birth and weaning have a competitive advantage and remain heavier throughout their stay in group (Beaulieu et al., 2010). The pre weaning performance depends upon various genetic and non genetic factors to a maximum extent. The present study was planned to find out the effect of different genetic and non-genetic factors on growth performance of pre weaned piglets of Duroc and Hampshire pigs.The present investigation was carried out on two different genetic groups of pig viz. Duroc and Hampshire maintained at pig breeding farm of National Research Centre on Pig, Guwahati. A total of 191 farrowings were recorded and the weight of the piglets were taken with electronic balance on the day of birth and then weekly basis up to 35 days and their mean values were calculated. Farrowing records of more than two litter size at birth were considered for the present study.Piglets were housed with their dam in indoor pens (12.0 ft × 10.0 ft with concrete flooring) varying from 6 to 10 piglets/pen. Water was available ad lib. at all times. Creep ration (maize-56.5 parts, wheat bran-10.0 parts, soybean meal-12.0 parts, groundnut cake-19.0 parts, mineral mixture-2.0 parts, and salt-0.5 parts) of 20% CP and 2779 Kcal/ kg were offered to them from 15th day @ 20g / piglet till weaning. The creep ration was increased @ 20 g/ piglet till first week after weaning (Banik et al., 2012). The weaning has been practiced on 35 days. All the piglets were dewormed at three weeks of age. The economic traits viz., litter size at birth (LSB), litter weight at birth (LWB), litter size at weaning (LSW), litter weights at weaning (LWW), individual weight at birth (IWB), individual weight at weaning (IWW) and growth rate (GR) were recorded. A least square model as suggested by Harvey (1987) to estimate the effect of genetic group (2), year of birth (5), season of birth (3) and parity(5) were used by using the model; Y ijklm =m+G i +P j +S k +Pa l +e ijklm , Where Y ijklm =is m th observation of d...
Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) plays a central role in growth and production through its influence on important metabolic activities in mammals which prompted its wide commercial use including use as a candidate marker. In present experiment, polymorphism at exon 2 and 3 of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone gene (GHRH) was studied using PCR-RFLP in crossbred and exotic pigs, commonly found in north east India. Restriction enzyme digestion of 467 bp PCR amplicon with AluI revealed 1 genotype. Comparison of obtained sequences revealed large scale nucleotide and residue substitutions. Observed polymorphism may be associated with wide variability in growth (rate) of different breeds of pig.
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