Productive and reproductive performances of two-breed and three-breed pig crosses with Niang Megha, Hampshire and Duroc inheritance reared under subtropical Eastern Himalayan hilly climate

The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of different crossbreeds, viz., two-breed crosses including HN-50 (50% Hampshire × 50% Niang Megha) and HN-75 (75% Hampshire × 25% Niang Megha) and three-breed cross, HND (25% Hampshire × 25% Niang Megha × 50% Duroc) for suggesting suitable crossbred pigs with appropriate inheritance for subtropical Eastern Himalayan hilly climate. These crossbreed pigs were reared in standard management conditions in Nucleus Pig Breeding Farm of ICAR RC for NEH region. A total of 1995 records were collected which included data on production performance ( n = 1466), reproductive performance ( n = 428) and carcass traits ( n = 101) from farm record book maintained over a period of 7 years. Productive performance included body weight, ADG and FCR at different stages of growth. The study revealed productive performance was highest in two-breed cross of pigs with 75% H inheritance (HN-75) and three-breed cross (HND) pigs. Reproductive performance included ages at puberty, first conception and first farrowing, along with inter-farrowing interval, pregnancy and farrowing rate as well as litter performance. The HN-75 was found to be having shorter inter-farrowing interval and higher pregnancy rate than other genetic groups. Regarding carcass traits, three-breed cross had a higher dressing percentage and less back-fat thickness than other crossbred pigs. Two breed crosses of pigs were found to be having a higher back-fat thickness than three-breed cross pig, and HN-75 had a better dressing percentage than HN-50. Thus, it was concluded that three-breed cross was recommended for lean meat production, and two-breed cross HN-75 was recommended for both breeding and fattening purposes for subtropical Eastern Himalayan hilly climate.