Effect of Sex on Voluntary Feed Intake and Growth Performance in Crossbred Pigs

Thirty 75% crossbred (LWX x Desi) pigs (15.0 kg b.wt.) were divided into three groups of 10 each of entire males, barrows and females and fed ad libitum on a standard grower and finisher ration. The daily feed intake during growth and finishing stages (15–60 kg body weight) in the descending order was females (2.34 kg), barrows (2.05 kg) and entire males (1.96 kg). The average dally gain in corresponding group of animals was 397,384 and 395 g. The feed/kg gain and cost/kg gain of entire males (4.99 and Rs. 27.43) were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of females (5.88 and Rs. 32.07) while values for barrows (5.39 and Rs. 29.45) were similar to either entire males or females. The carcass length of entire males was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of barrows (75.9 Vs 73.1 cm). The average back fat thickness and per cent yield of fat of entire males (2.48 cm and 31.64) were significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of barrows (3.01 cm and 38.33). It can be concluded that rearing of entire males is advantageous than barrows or females.