Morphometric and Performance Evaluation of ThaokhriPigs of Assam, India

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the performance of Thaokhri pigs of Assam, India. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon, located in the Kokrajhar district of Assam, India, during the period from 2020 to 2022. Methodology: Nineteen traits were measured in 756 numbers of Thaokhri pigs over a period of 2020-2022. The traits considered in the study were (A) Morphometric traits at adult age ( 8month) viz. chest girth (cm), body length(cm), height at withers(cm) and neck girth; (B) Growth traits viz. body weight (kg) at birth, weaning (2 months), 8 months and 1 year; (C) Reproductive traits (days) viz. age at first oestrous, age at first mating, age at first farrowing, farrowing interval; (D) Litter traits viz. litter size at farrowing (numbers), litter weight at birth (kg) and litter size at weaning ((numbers ) and (E) Carcass traits viz. carcass weight (kg), carcass length (cm), dressing percentage (%) and back fat thickness (cm). Statistical analysis of the data generated was done using the software SPSS version 24. Results: The mean values along with standard errors were estimated for various morphometric, growth, reproductive, litter, and carcass traits. The mean values for chest girth, body length, height at withers, and neck girth at adult age were found to be 64.40±2.23 cm, 75.40±1.91 cm, 52.90±1.51 cm, and 52.25±2.31 cm, respectively. Body weights at birth, weaning (2 months), 8 months, and 1 year were 0.61±1.71 kg, 4.97±1.66 kg, 21.37±2.34 kg, and 34.25±3.20 kg, respectively. The age at first oestrus, age at first mating, age at first farrowing, and farrowing interval were 227.48±3.39 days, 247.85±2.44 days, 360.34±5.46 days, and 195.00±2.15 days, respectively. Litter size at farrowing, litter weight at birth, and litter size at weaning were 5.19±3.45 (numbers), 3.26±3.42 kg, and 4.05±1.13 (numbers), respectively. Carcass weight, carcass length, dressing percentage, and back fat thickness were recorded as 19.60±3.12 kg, 46.90±2.68 cm, 57.00±1.86%, and 1.45±1.21 cm, respectively, in Thaokhri pigs. Conclusion: The present study provides baseline information on morphometric, growth, reproductive, litter, and carcass traits of the Thaokhri pig, an indigenous breed of Assam, under native field conditions. This data will be valuable for the documentation and development of breed descriptors for the registration, improvement, and conservation of this important genetic resource.