Variations in growth pattern and predictablity of liveweight growth of crossred pigs in a tropical wet climate

Abstract

Four hundred and seventy-six (476) piglets from forty-four (44) farrowings in six (6) breeding cycles obtained from sixteen (16) sows and two (2) mature boars of Landrace, Large White, Hampshire and Duroc crossbred pigs were used to study variations in growth pattern and predictability of liveweight growth. Results obtained from the study showed that only the sow effect factor of the fixed model used was significant (P Key words : Growth pattern, predictability, liveweight, crossbred pigs, variations.