Preliminary study of the incidence of pre-weaning mortality in exotic and West African dwarf pigs in South Nigeria

Abstract

The incidence of pre-weaning mortality in exotic and indigenous West African dwarf pigs in Ibadan, South Nigeria, was investigated for a continuous period of 12 months. Mortality from birth to weaning in exotic and indigenous piglets was 29.3 and 44.8 %, respectively. Most of these losses occurred during the first week of life (26.9 and 37.9 % in exotic and indigenous breeds, respectively). The exotic piglets were heavier (p < 0.01) at birth than the indigenous with an average weight of 1.21 ± 0.20 and 0.64 ± 0.06 kg, respectively. Weaned indigenous piglets were significantly (p < 0.05) heavier at birth than the dead litter mates ; however, this difference was not significant (p > 0.05) in exotic piglets. Litter size differed (p < 0.05) between the two breeds but had significant (p < 0.05) effect on mortality rate only in the indigenous breed. Apparent causes of death in exotic and indigenous piglets were: trauma, 16.0 and 1.8; gastroenteritis, 2.1 and 5.4; still-birth, 0.6 and 2.9; respiratory distress, 0.3 and 1.5 and unidentified causes, 10.3 and 33.3 %, respectively. There was no noticeable seasonal influence on the mortality. The specific effects of birth weight, infection and nutrition on piglet mortality were not discernible at this stage of the study. These Will be investigated in future studies.