Phenotypic Characristics of the Ashanti Black Pig under intensive rearing.

Alenyorege B.; Kodjo; A. K. Addah. W.

Volume : V, Issue : XI, November - 2015

Phenotypic Characristics of the Ashanti Black Pig under intensive rearing.

Alenyorege B. , Kodjo, A. K. Addah. W.

Abstract :

 This study was carried out in Babile Pig Breeding Station in the Upper West Region of Ghana. A total of 166 Ashanti Black Pigs (69 males and 97 females) were used to characterize their phenotypic traits. Pigs were grouped as weaners or young (2 –3 months), Prime age pigs (6 – 10 months) and adults (12 months and above). Parameters observed were; Hair colour (HC), hair texture (HT), Hair posture (HP), hair density at back (HDB), hair density at tail (HDT), hair density at the sides, (HDS), ear orientation (EO), skin colour (SC), curvature of back (CB), eye colour (EC) and length of eye ows (EB). Frequencies and correlations were used to determine traits that best describe the ABP. From the study, most phenotypic traits of the ABP changed as the pig ages. However, the hair of weaners was generally black, straight postured, soft textured and dense at its back. Weaners also had sparse hair covering at their sides, semi–erect ears, black skin, straight back, and ownish black eye colour. The prime age ABPs had jet black, curly or straight hair. Hair was dense at their backs, but sparse at their sides. Their ears were erect and skins black, Prime age ABPs also exhibited straight or arching backs if males and saddle backs if females; long eye owse and black eyes. Adult ABPs were predominantly jet black in hair colour with curly or straight hair, istle hair texture, dense hair at their backs. This group had sparse hair at their sides, erect ears, and black skin. Their backs were straight if males and or sagged if female. They had long eye owse and black eyes. Traits including SC, HDL and HDS, remained the same throughout the ABP’s live.