Evaluation of the Performance of the Malawian Local Pig: 2. Pre-weaning and Post-weaning Growth

Abstract

About 130 (129) piglets of the Malawian local type were used to study the pre-weaning growth traits, birth weight, weaning weight and pre-weaaning average daily gain. Birth weight, weaning weight and pre-weaning average daily gain averaged 1.0 kg plus/minus 0.3,5.5 kg plus/minus 1.1 and 125 g/day plus/minus 35.0 respectively. After weaning, 36 weaners were fattened to 45 kg of liveweight. Postweaning daily gain, daily feed intake, geed: gain ratio and age at 45 kg of liveweight averaged 232 g/day plus/minus 44.5, 1.3 kg plus/minus 0.2, 5.9 kg/kg plus/minus 2.1 and 209 days plus/minus 23.4 respectively. The growth performance of the pigs in this study are within the range of local pig populations in Africa. A remarkable phenotypic variation of growth parameters was observed. It is concluded, that the performance could be improved through feeding and management in the short term and through genetic selection within the population in the long-term. The local pig in Malawi should be kept as genetic resource.

UNISWA Research Journal of Agriculture, Science and Technology Vol 3 (1) 1999: pp 96-99