Evaluation of reproductive and production performance of Nicobari pig under humid tropical island ecosystem

Abstract

Nicobari pig is semi-feral, reared in free-range system with very low level of management. However, its population has been significantly reduced due to and after Tsunami in 2004. No systematic study has been conducted to explore the production potential of Nicobari pig. Therefore, a systematic comparison study was conducted between intensive and free-range system on growth and reproductive parameters in ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair. Reproductive parameters like age at first mating in male and age at first oestrus, oestrus cycle duration, oestrous duration, age at first mating, age at first farrowing, farrowing interval, litter size at farrowing and weaning, litter weight, still birth and mortality were recorded. Growth parameters like body weight at birth, at weaning and at months 3, 6 and 9 were recorded. Results revealed that significantly higher body weights at months 3, 6, 9 and 12 were recorded under intensive than in free-range system in male and female pigs and in male than in female. Non-significant differences was observed in the reproductive parameters in pigs between the two systems except parameters like oestrous cycle duration was higher and age at first mating, stillbirth and mortality were lower significantly in pigs under intensive system than in free range system. It was concluded that growth and reproductive performances of Nicobari pigs reared under intensive system has significantly higher beneficial than in free-range system.