GENETIC-STUDY OF WEIGHT AT DIFFERENT AGES IN EXOTIC, DESI AND THEIR HALFBRED PIGS

Sis genetic groups of pig consisting of 792 progenies were studied. Ge netic group and weaning weight had highly significant effect on body w eight at all the ages whereas. sea and interaction between genetic gro up x ses had nonsignificant influence at ali the ages except al 12th a nd 16th weeks for interaction. Birth weight had highly significant inf luence during preweaning period but its effect was nonsignificant duri ng postweaning period. The effect of season of birth was significant d uring most of the postweaning periods whereas, nonsignificant during p reweaning periods except birth weight. Litter size al birth ir;lct sig nificant effect on preweaning body weight at all the ages except at bi rth. In general, higher body weight was observed in Hampshire than tho se of large White and T and D followed bq halfbreds (LWY x D and H x D ) and desi. Almost similar growth rate was recorded in T and D and LWY halfbreds but both were significantly superior to Hampshire halfbreds . During preweaning period, body weight was negatively correlated with litter size at birth of their dam, whereas weaning weight was positiv ely correlated with postweaning growth rate. The genetic correlations among successive ages were very high and that even the phenotypic corr elation were relatively high and increased with age. It is possible th erefore to select for targe body size relatively tarry in life.