HETEROSIS OF EARLY GROWTH IN NATIVE AND LANDRACE PIGS.

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the heterosis of early growth of
native and landrace pigs and their crosses using growth parameters like live
weight, weight gain, feedintake and feed efficiency as well as body linear
parameters like body length, heartgirth and height at withers of the piglets.
The study was carried out for a period of eight weeks using locally sourced
feed ingredients containing about 22 percent crude protein to formulate the
creep feed. A total of six progenies per strain comprising three males and
females each were randomly selected to represent one breeding group. A
total of four breeding groups were monitored namely: Native, Landrace,,
Purebreds, and their progenies of main and reciprocaf crosses. The result of
the experiment showed that the crossbreds were superior to the native puaebreds
but were statistically (P>0.05) similar with the exotic purebreds in all
traits except weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency that were not statistically
different in most of the weeks. The result also indicated significant
(P~0.05h) eterosis in body weight and other linear body parameters at the
preweaning and weaning age periods but were not significant (P>O.O5) for
other growth parameters like live weight gain, feedintake and feed efficiency
from first to !ithw eek of growth. At 7'" to Sthw eek of age, heterosis were
highly significant among the growth parameters monitored. Results also
portrayed the reciprocal crossbreds as having higher heterotic performances
than their maincrossbred. Result suggests that F1 progenies growth potentials
could be exploited through reciprocal crossings of native sire with exotic
landrace dam to explore the benefits of heterosis.