Performance of Exotic Breeds of White Pig under Bhutanese Farmers’ Management Conditions

Abstract

We assessed the growth performances and disease susceptibility of exotic white pigs under farmers’ management conditions in Bhutan. Twelve low homogenous weanlings of Large White and Landrace were randomly selected. The mean age of weanlings was about 53 days with mean body weight of about 11 kg. The white pigs were housed in available sheds and managed under normal routine feeding followed by farmers, and weighed 14 days apart for 17 times. The growth rates of exotic white pigs Large White and Landrace, and male and female were 0.35 kg and 0.41 kg, 0.34 kg and 0.44 kg, and 0.34 kg and 0.41 kg, respectively. The majority [67%] of pigs showed clinical signs of diseases such as tiny redness on their white skin, diarrhea, cough and anorexia. Of that, 75% occasionally indicated skin problem with tiny redness on their white skin. The growth rate of exotic white pigs that did not suffer from any disease was significantly greater than the pigs that suffered from diseases. To optimize the growth rates of exotic white pigs, the overall management conditions of Bhutanese farmers must be improved. An intensive care and higher inputs such as feed, housing and health services may help to realize greater genetic potentials of exotic white pigs.