AUTHOR=Kadirvel Govindasamy , Devi Yumkhaibam Sovarani , Naskar Syamal , Bujarbaruah K. M. , Khargariah Gutum , Banik Santanu , Singh Ningthoujam Suraj , Gonmei Chamniugongliu 

TITLE=Performance of crossbred pigs with indigenous and Hampshire inheritance under a smallholder production system in the Eastern Himalayan hill region

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2023.1042554

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2023.1042554

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=Pig productivity is very low in Eastern Himalayan hill region due to the poor performance of nondescript pigs. To improve pig productivity, an objective was taken up to develop a crossbred pig with Niang Megha as indigenous and Hampshire as exotic germplasm. Performance of crossbred pigs with different levels of Hampshire and indigenous inheritance, viz., H-50×NM-50 (HN-50), H-75×NM-25 (HN-75) and H-87.5×NM-12.5 (HN-87.5) was compared for their performance to find suitable level of genetic inheritance. Among crossbreds, HN-75 performed better in terms of production and reproduction performance and adaptability. Inter-se mating and selection were carried out for six generations for HN-75 pigs and genetic gain and stability of the traits were evaluated and released as a crossbred. These crossbred pigs attained body weight of 77.5-90.7 kg by 10 months of age with FCR of 4.3:1. The age at puberty was 276.66±2.25 days and average birth weight was 0.92 ± 0.06 kg. The litter size at birth and weaning were 9.12±0.55 and 8.52±0.81. They have good mothering ability with a weaning percentage of 89.32±2.52 %, good carcass quality and consumer preference. The lifetime productivity for an average of six farrowing/sow showed total litter size at birth was 51.83±1.61 and total litter size at weaning was 47.17±2.69. At smallholder production system the crossbred pig showed better growth rate, higher litter size at birth and at weaning as compared to non-descript pigs. Hence, the popularisation of the crossbred would enhance the production and productivity, livelihood and income of the farmers in the region.