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Livestock-Based Farming Systems, Renewable Resources and the Environment |
This study was carried out in Doc Lap commune, Ky Son district, Hoa Binh province from January to November 2011 in order to evaluate the reproductive performance, growth, carcass performance and meat quality of two breeds of pig: purebred local (Ban x Ban) and cross-bred (Mong Cai x Ban). The reproductive performance of the cross-bred was higher than the purebred Ban. Number of piglets per litter reached 8.37 in the cross-bred compared to 7.30 in pure bred Ban. Birth weight was 0.63kg (cross-breds) and 0.44kg (Ban). Number of weaned piglets at 70 days of age were 7.37 per litter for crossbreds compared with 5.06 kg for Ban pigs. Although pure Ban breeding had longer lactation (86.8 days), they had less number and smaller weight of weaned pigs than in F1 cross-bred pigs. The survival rate to weaning in F1 cross-bred pigs (92.2%) was higher than in pure Ban pigs (86.4%).
Over the same period of age, the live weight of F1 crossbred was always higher than Ban pigs. The rate of growth of both breeds were very low, but the average daily gain of F1 crossbreds was higher than pure Ban pigs (125 g/day in F1 cross-bred pig compared to 65.5 g in Ban breed). F1 cross-bred pig had higher dressing weight than Ban breed (21.4 kg and 15.5 kg respectively); however, carcass percentage and the proportion of lean meat were similar between the two breeds. Other criteria were similar and within normal range of pork.
It is concluded that using Mong Cai boar for crossing with Ban sow will improve the reproductive performance of Ban sow as well as growth and carcass performance of growing-finishing pigs. Thus, this hybrid combination should be recommended popularly to similar areas in Hoa Binh province.