Effect of Different genetic and non-genetic factors on Pre weaninglitter and growth performance of pigs

Abstract

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...

Replacement rate and its components in Sahiwal females from birth to age at first calving

“…Similarly, Goshu and Singh (2013) also reported that the effects of season on mortality rates in Holstein Friesian females from birth to age at first calving were found to be non-significant, while year differences were found to be highly significant (P <0.01). Similar findings were also reported by Upadhyay et al (2017) for Karan Fries; Banik and Naskar (2006) and Abbas (2005) for Sahiwal as the period of birth was found highly significant (P<0.01) while season of birth and parity had non-significant effect on mortality. Regarding replacement rate, Thiruvenkadan and Devendran (2014) also reported the significant effect of period of birth on replacement rate in Murrah buffalo.…”

“…Disposal, mortality, culling and replacement rate: The overall incidence of disposal, mortality and culling was 27.35, 23.63 and 3.72% respectively, while replacement rate on female calves and total calves basis were 72.64 and 37.55% respectively, upto age at first calving (Table 1). Almost similar findings of mortality upto AFC were reported by Upadhyay et al (2014) and Abbas (2005) for Sahiwal while lower estimates were observed by Shahi and Kumar (2006), Tomar and Rawal (1994) for Sahiwal; Lathwal et al (1993) for Red Sindhi and higher values were reported by Banik and Naskar (2006) There was significant effect (P<0.01) of period of birth and birth weight of calf on the disposal, mortality and replacement rate of calves upto age at first calving. The effect of period might be due to changes in different management strategies and practices over the period as it was higher in first period (P1) and lower in third period (P3) for disposal and mortality, while replacement rate was higher during third period (P3).…”

“…Similar findings were reported by Upadhyay et al (2014) and Singh et al (2011) for Sahiwal cattle. Lower estimates than the present finding were reported by Shahi and Kumar (2006), Banik and Naskar (2006), Abbas (2005), Rawal and Tomar (1996) for Sahiwal, and Lathwal et al (1993) for Red Sindhi while higher estimates were observed by Upadhyay et al (2017) for Karan Fries; Goshu and Singh (2013) for HF cattle; Shahi and Kumar (2006) for J × SW cross and Atrey et al (2005) for Frieswal. The differences in findings may be due to different breed, geographical location, management differences and duration of data.…”