International Journal of Biology and Biological Sciences Vol. 3(1), pp. 001-005, January 2014 ISSN 2327-3062 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Body weight and carcass traits of F₁ pigs produced by ASF- recovered pigs

Adeoye, A.A.¹*, Ikeobi, C.O.N.², Abiola, S.S.² and Adebambo O.A.²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria.

²Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: adeomoh@yahoo.com.

Accepted 17 December, 2013

Abstract

Data on the serological test, pre-weaning weekly body weight, pre-weaning mortality and carcass characteristics from fifty-two pigs generated from eight sows and two boars, (4 Large White sows, 2 Large Black sows, 2 Duroc sows, 1 Large White boar and 1 NigerHyb boar: survivors of the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in a farm at Abeokuta, Nigeria, in 2005) were evaluated. Data obtained were subjected to General Linear Model (GLM) procedure. The serological test for determining the presence of ASF antibody showed that all the ASF recovered pigs tested positive while 18.79% of the F₁ tested positive. There was no sex effect (P > 0.05) on the pre-weaning weekly body weight of piglets farrowed by the two groups. Similarly, no significant effects on the pre-weaning weekly body weight among the genotypes farrowed by pigs of low titre values of ASF antibody. Genotypic effects on the carcass traits were significant (P < 0.05) on spleen and lung weight of the F₁ while effect of sex was significant on live weight, lung weight, kidney weight, stomach weight, liver weight and hind leg weight. The use of recovered and infected pigs in breeding is recommended, in as much as the disease is not zoonotic and the productivity of the pigs were comparable with those reported before the out-break of ASF.

Key words: African Swine Fever (ASF) recovered pigs, carcass traits, body weight, serological test.