Factors Influencing Post Weaning Growth Performance in Crossbred Pigs* Prasanna J. Sai, Prakash M. Gnana, Gupta B. Ramesh, Mahender M., Rao D. Srinivasa Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati– 517 502, India. *Prepared from the M.V.Sc. thesis submitted by the first author to Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Tirupati. 1VD Nizampur, Medak Dist., Andhra Pradesh. 2Dept. of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, Hyderabad - 500 030. Abstract The study was conducted on 1201 pigs to determine the factors influencing post weaning body weights and daily gains in LWY-desi crossbreds and to estimate heritabilities and correlations. The overall least squares mean body weights at 12, 16, 20, 24, 28 and 32 weeks of age were 14.40 ± 0.13, 20.38 ± 0.22, 27.41 ± 0.41, 34.68 ± 0.47, 44.08 ± 0.53 and 52.37 ± 0.56 kg, respectively and the overall least squares mean ADGs during 8–12, 12–16, 16–20, 20–24, 24–28, 28–32 and 8–32 weeks were 0.14 ± 0.003, 0.20 ± 0.004, 0.23 ± 0.01, 0.23 ± 0.01, 0.26 ± 0.01, 0.27 ± 0.01 and 0.26 ± 0.01 kg, respectively. The heritability estimates of body weights ranged from 0.22 ± 0.24 to 0.80 ± 0.27 and those of the ADGs varied between 0.07 ± 0.15 and 0.90 ± 0.27. Genetic and phenotypic correlations among body weights were mostly positive and high and those among average daily gains were very low in magnitude. Top Key words Crossbred pigs, Post weaning, Growth. Top |