title: Estimating the mature body weight of indigenous Nigerian pigs using body weight and tissue composition changes with age.
abstract: The body weight changes with age were studied for 64 female, male, and castrated male indigenous Nigerian pigs each between birth and 672 days. The results showed non-significant (P greater than 0.05) sex differences and highly significant (P less than 0.01) sex-age interactions. The average percentage changes in body weight between 336 and 392 days were four times higher than those between 392 and 504 days, during which the body weight changes stabilized, associated with non-significant changes in the percentages of bone, lean, and fat. The average mature body weight of the pigs was about 65 kg (62.58 kg +/- 3.54 for female, 67.50 kg +/- 1.59) for castrated male, and 65.51 kg +/- 2.00 for intact male pigs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, University of Cross River State, Uyo, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Essien
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fetuga
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009929:Organ Size; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development*