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The body weights of large white Yorkshire (LWY) crosses (50 and 75 per cent) were analyzed from birth to weaning. The overall least squares mean body weights were 1.13 ± 0.02, 2.13 ± 0.01, 3.19 ± 0.02, 4.29 ± 0.02, 5.41 ± 0.03, 6.48 ± 0.03, 7.55 ± 0.04, 8.72 ± 0.05 and 9.97 ± 0.06 kg at birth, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 wks of age, respectively. Genetic group, period, parity and litter size group affected all pre-weaning body weights highly significantly except for the non-significant effect of season on body weight at birth. Sexual dimorphism in favour of males was evident from 1 to 6 weeks of age. Body weights of piglets born in rainy and winter seasons and those from smaller litters recorded significantly higher body weights. Moderate to high heritability estimates were observed for body weights. The genetic and phenotypic correlations among the body weights studied ranged widely but were all positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data pertaining to the pre-weaning body weights and average daily gains of 2909 piglets belonging to two crossbred (50% and 75% LWY-Desi) genetic groups were analyzed. Genetic group, period and season of birth and LSB in general, affected all the body weights highly significantly. The overall least-squares mean body weights were 1.11 ± 0.01, 2.16 ± 0.01, 3.20 ± 0.02, 4.32 ± 0.02, 5.44 ± 0.03, 6.52 ± 0.04, 7.65 ± 0.04, 8.79 ± 0.05 and 10.13 ± 0.06 kg at birth, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks age, respectively. The overall least squares mean ADGs during 0 and 1, 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4, 4 and 5, 5 and 6, 6 and 7, 7 and 8 and birth and 8 weeks were 0.149 ± 0.002, 0.148 ± 0.002, 0.158 ± 0.002, 0.161 ± 0.002, 0.154 ± 0.002, 0.161 ± 0.002, 0.165 ± 0.003, 0.191 ± 0.003 and 0.161 ± 0.001 kg, respectively. Genetic and phenotypic correlations among body weights were mostly positive and medium to high. Correlations among average daily gains were very low and without any trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]