Genetic evaluation of growth and reproductive performances of crossbred pigs reared under intensive system in tropical humid coastal climate

Abstract

Pig farming is one of the most economically viable options for the rural backward and resource-poor farmers in Asian countries. Growth rate and litter size are the most important traits based on which the crossbreeding programs are typically planned in commercial pig farming. The modern system of farming with high yielding improved pig germplasm helps in economic growth in piggery enterprises. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of various genetic and non-genetic factors on growth and reproductive performances of 75% crossbred progenies of Large White Yorkshire and indigenous Agonda Goan pigs. Body weights were recorded at birth, weaning, and at monthly intervals up to 10 months of age. Reproductive performances were also recorded for litter size and weights at birth and weaning stages, age at first farrowing, number of services per conception, farrowing interval, and pre-weaning mortality. The general linear model was used to estimate overall least square means of body weights at different ages considering the effects of different factors at certain levels viz., generation (i = first, second, third, fourth), sex (j = male, female), litter size at birth (k = 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, ?10), parity (l = 1, 2, ?3), season (m = summer, rainy, spring), and period of birth (n = 2012-2015, 2016-2019). The heritability and genetic correlations for different traits were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method using WOMBAT software. The re(production) parameters were analyzed to assess the genetic improvement in successive generations. There was significant difference (p < 0.01) in body weights among different generations where animals belonging to latest generation showed maximum body weights indicating ideal selective breeding in the herd. Other fixed effects also had significant effects on growth performance which clearly signifies to the crucial influence of rearing environment and animal factors like parity of dams as well as litter size at birth. The overall birth weight, weaning weight, and weight at 10 months of age were 1.00 ? 0.01 kg, 7.57 ? 0.07 kg, and 81.58 ? 1.96 kg, respectively. Nevertheless, weaning weight and weight at marketing age (8 months) were 8.04 ? 0.27 kg and 75.48 ? 1.40 kg, respectively, in fourth generation, indicating higher post-weaning growth rate of 337.20 g/day. During this fourth generation, mean litter size at birth was 8.35 ? 0.43 and litter size at weaning was 7.79 ? 0.39 with lowest percentage of pre-weaning mortality (4.11 ? 1.51). The average age at first farrowing and farrowing interval was 293 ? 17.24 and 195 ? 4.78 days, respectively. There was apparently greater genetic gain in each generation except for the second generation which might be due to the environment and managemental issues that hindered reproductive performance traits and body growth. The heritability estimate for weaning weight was 0.45 and higher heritability values were observed for all the body weights except weight at third month. Genetic as well as phenotypic correlations were moderate to high among the growth traits. The heritability and genetic correlations at birth and weaning indicate the reliability of selection at an early age. The findings indicated that there is scope for improvement through genetic selection in later generations and the 75% crossbred pigs thrived well in the prevailing hot and humid tropical coastal climate. The improved germplasm could satisfy the farmers' need in a commercial venture with high economic return