PhD

A detailed investigation was carried out to compare
the merits and demerits of crossbred pigs over indigenous and
exotic pigs with respect to growth and carcass characteristics
and to study the economic feasibility of rearing crossbred pigs.
Three groups of twelve weaned female piglings each
belonging to indigenous (Desi), Large White Yorkshire (LWY)
and crossbred (CB) (LWY x Desi) of Centre for Pig Production
and Research, Mannuthy were selected as uniform as possible
with regard to age and body weight. Animals in each breed
group were randomly divided into two equal dietary treatment
groups of six. Treatment group one was fed with a ration
specified by ICAR and treatment group two with a ration
containing 10 per cent less crude protein than ICAR ration.
All the pigs were fed isocaloric ration as per ICAR
recommendation.
The protein level in the ration had a moderate
influence on the performance of grower pigs. There was a
trend in favour of full rCAR ration with respect to the
parameters like growth rate, feed conversion efficiency,
average daily weight gain and carcass characteristics.


Everithough, there was no significant difference (P>0.05)
between the two dietary regimes there was highly significant
difference (P difference was noticed between Large White Yorkshire and
Desi pigs with respect to traits such as feed intake, body
weight, body measurements, average daily body weight gain
and feed conversion efficiency. But there was no significant
difference (P > 0.05) between crossbreds and Desi Pigs in
average daily body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency.
Large White Yorkshire pigs had better digestibility than
crossbred and De si pigs. The cost of production per kg live
body weight was found to be less (Rs. 45.30) in reAR ration
than 10 per cent less crude protein ration (Rs. 46.02) due to
higher feed efficiency and better growth rate.
The overall results obtained during the course of
present study is that the unit cost of production is less for
animals maintained on reAR ration. The present study also
revealed that Large White Yorkshire had higher growth rate,
better feed conversion efficiency, average daily weight gain and
higher values for carcass traits when compared to crossbred
and Desi pigs. So the cost of production per kg of live body
weight was calculated, Large White Yorkshire had lowest cost
of production when compared to crossbred and Desi pigs. But
the cost of production per kg live body weight is lower for

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crossbred pigs maintained on 10 per cent less crude protein
than ICAR ration. On the whole, Large White Yorkshire breed
is most suited for large scale commercial piggery units.
However, for the vast majority of extensive scavenging pig
rearing systems under harsh environment, poor hygienic
condition and low plane of nutrition the Desi pig has adapted
albeit extremely low level of productivity. The Large White
Yorkshire and similar exotic breeds with their highly
sophisticated requirements are not likely to perform well in



these sub-standard production systems.


The Crossbreds



which showed production traits in between the two, i.e.,
higher than Desi but lower than Large White Yorkshire may fit
In by adapting to the conditions and improving the
productivity of the system. The fact that on low protein diet
cost of production was lower than on full protein diet, points
to that.