Abstract:
The aim of this study was to determine the litter performance of three indigenous pig
breeds in Lesotho based on birth weight and weaning weight. Twenty-seven suckling
pigs weighing (0.90 – 1.30 kg) were assigned to three treatments of three levels of feeds.
The experiment was designed as a randomised 3*3 factorial of three breeds and three
dietary treatments of Makhulo feeds. Three piglets from each breed received the
experimental diet (Makhulo commercial feeds) of 200g/day, 100g/day and 0g/day
(control) for a period of six weeks. Mean birth weight was 1.13, 0.97 and 1.23kg for Breed
1 (black with smooth coat), Breed 2 (black with rough coat) and Breed 3 (black and white)
and were significantly different (P<0.05). The mean weight at weaning (11.62, 7.85 and
10.72kg) was significantly different among the three breeds. The average weaning weight
was 11.74, 10.13, and 8.32kg for the 200g/day, 100g/day and 0g/day, respectively. The
GLM procedure was used for analyzing the dataset.
