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African Journal of Pig Farming ISSN 2375-0731 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2019. Available online at 
www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals 

 

Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. 
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. 
 
 

Full Length Research Paper 
 

Comparison of growth and reproductive performance of 
exotic, indigenous and cross breeds of pigs in Nepal 

 

Shashi Sharma1+*, Chiranjibi Pantha2+, Prakash Kumar Yadav1, Suman Karki1 and Nabaraj 
Poudel1 

 

1
Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Nepal, Fax 977-1-4262500. 
2
Department of Livestock Services, Nepal, Fax 977-1-5542915. 

  
Accepted 10 March, 2019 

 

The objective of this study is to evaluate growth and reproductive performance of the exotic, indigenous and 
cross breeds of pigs in Nepal. A total of 42 female piglets were selected, 7 each from breed in Hampshire, 
Pakhribas black, Nagpuri, Hurrah, Pakhribas black X Nagpuri and Hampshire X Hurrah; and are kept under 6 
treatments with 7 replications. Mean body weight, age at first mating, litter size at weaning, litter weight at weaning 
and farrowing interval were significant (p<0.05%). Weight at first mating and litter index sow/year were significant 
(p<0.01). Age of first farrowing, litter size at birth, weight of piglets at birth and piglet mortality % were non 
significant. Exotic breed Hampshire has the highest adult body weight than synthetic breed Pakhribas followed 
by cross breed Pakhribas X Nagpuri, Hampshire X Hurrah and local breeds Nagpuri and Hurrah. Age at first

 

mating, age at first farrowing and piglet mortality % were higher in local breeds. Litter size at birth, litter size at 
weaning and weight of piglets at birth were higher in Pakhribas. Weight at first mating and litter weight at 
weaning were higher in exotic breed. Farrowing interval was higher in local breed. Litter index was higher in 
synthetic and exotic breeds. 
 
Keywords: Exotic, indigenous, cross, breed, farrowing, growth, reproductive, pig. 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
Pig is a high value domesticated animal for meat as it 
gives quick return to the farmers by consuming waste 
food materials converting into valuable protein. The 
government through department of livestock services 
(DLS) and different NGO/INGOs have been distributing 
improved pig breeds in the country for many years. This 
approach has expanded the improved pig raising system 
in the rural farmers. Regional Agriculture Research 
Station (RARS), Tarahara, Sunsari, Nepal has been 
conserving different pig breeds viz. Hampshire, 
Pakhribas Black, Hurrah, Nagpuri and  their crosses for  
many years. The exotic and improved breeds maintained 
  
 
*Corresponding author e-mail: timilsinashashi@gmail.com 
Tel: +977-9841159515  
+
 Equal Contributors 

as pure line parental (nucleus) seed stock. Hurrah and 
Nagpuri kept as conservation of native pig breeds and 
crossing each other for research purposes. 
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
 
A total of forty two female piglets (Hampshire n=7, 
Pakhribas black n=7, Nagpuri n=7, Hurrah n=7, 
Pakhribas black X Nagpuri n=7 and Hampshire X Hurrah 
n=7) were kept under 6 treatments with 7 replications one 
pig considering as one replication. A study was 
conducted in Regional Agricultural Research Station 
(RARS), Tarahara, Sunsari, Nepal. The data for the 
present investigation were obtained from the pigs of 
exotic,  indigenous and cross breeds of Nepal over a period 
of 1 year from July 2017 to June 2018. The design used 
was CRD. Providing commercial feed upto twelve months  

file:///C:\Users\user\Downloads\www.internationalscholarsjournals.org


 
 
 
 
of age, drenching and vaccination were routinely done in 
each pig. Piglets from different groups were kept in 
indoor housing system with open running space under 
uniform management condition. Data were analyzed 
using MSTAT. The observations were recorded from 
pedigree sheet of pig farm.  Mean body weight (kg) and 
other performance parameters like age at first  mating 
(days), weight at first  mating (kg), age at first

 
farrowing 

(days), litter size at birth (nos.) , weight of  piglets at birth 
(kg), litter size at weaning (nos.), litter weight at weaning 
(kg), farrowing interval (days), litter index /sow/year, 
piglet  mortality % were compared. 
 
LITERATURE REVIEW 
 
Nepalese farmers are nowadays raising various types of 
exotic breeds such as Landrace, Hampshire, Duroc, 
Yorkshire, etc. although Chwanche, Hurrah and Nagpuri 
etc. are the indigenous breeds of pig which are the major 
component of livelihood for most of the deprived 
communities. 
Pakhribas pig is a result of three-way crossing of exotic 
breeds (Saddle back, Fayuen and Tamworth) developed 
at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Pakhribas (Oli 
1986, Gatenby et al.,1990, Aryal et al.,1992). The breed 
is very popular in the eastern hills of Nepal because of its 
black color and a good litter size at birth and weaning 
(Gatenby et al., 1990). For religious purposes, black color 
is preferred over other colors in the eastern hills. It is 
medium in size and can be maintained by the farmers in 
the hills. 
Hurrah pigs are distributed in southern terai belt of Nepal 
from east to west. The actual population of the Hurrah 
breed is unknown at present but it was estimated that it 
constituted 23% of the total native pig population. They 
are rust brown in color, hardy and suitable for scavenging 
conditions. They reach puberty at an average age of 11 
months, first farrowing at 14 months with average litter 
size 7 at birth and 6 at weaning. The average birth weight 
is 0.8kg and adult weight is 45kg (40-55kg). They have 
been characterized at phenotypic and genotypic level. 
Their population is declining day by day and needs 
conservation measures. NARC records (Neupane and 
Kadel 2008) show that hurrah pigs attained an average of 
42kg body weight at one year of age with a body length 
79 cm; 88 cm heart girth; 7 and 5.7 litter size at birth and 
at weaning respectively, with less than 6 months 
farrowing interval. According to Dhakal (2012), Pokhrel 
(2012), Pandey (2011) and Thapa (2009) least square 
mean and standard error of reproductive traits like age at 
first service (days), age at first farrowing (days), farrowing 
interval, litter size at birth (nos.) and litter size at weaning 
(nos.) were 241.73±2.13, 351.30±4.8, 180.30±0.3, 
8.70±0.27 and 7.53±0.20 respectively. 
Nagpuri or Pundi breed is found in eastern hills and terai 
districts of Nepal . They are black in color, short snout, 
wrinkled face and pendulous belly that resembles 

Chinese Mehisan breed. Some believe that the breed is 
crosses between the Chinese Mehisan and local pig 
breeds which have been well established since long 
before but it is placed in local breed category in Nepal. 
They are prolific with average weight of 40-50kg. Under 
good management condition, the breed has potential to 
reach adult weight of about 70kg. The farmers of 
economically disadvantaged and some middle class 
farmers rear Pundi (Dhaubadhel and Ghimire, 2002). 
This breed is said to have evolved from the crosses of 
Meshain with local pig population. According to Dhakal 
(2012), Pokhrel (2012), Pandey (2011) and Thapa (2009) 
least square mean and standard error of reproductive 
traits like age at first service, age at first farrowing, 
farrowing interval, litter size at birth and litter size at 
weaning were 213.5±11.14 days, 335.54±9.91days, 
170.96±7.28 days, 8.95±2.39 nos. and 8.14±2.10 nos 
respectively. 
Hampshire breed having large body size, short legs and 
small erect ears originated from England. They are black 
in color with white color belt encircling the shoulder and 
forelegs. This breed is suitable for crossbreeding and has 
been very popular in eastern region (Kayastha et al., 
2014). Hampshire is popular for pork production. It is well 
known for excellent growth rate and feed efficiency. It 
matures early, farrows 8-10 litters and is a good mother. 
Mature boar weighs about 400kg and sow 350kg. 
According to Tummaruk et al. (2001) age at first 
farrowing and farrowing interval of Hampshire pig was 
found 386 days & 173.4 days respectively. Similarly, 
adult mean body weight was 185kg (Kumaresan et al., 
2006). Likewise Thapa et al. (2018) who did research in 
production performance of crossbred pigs in government 
farm of Bhutan farrowing interval, age at first service, 
weaning to service interval, litter size at birth and litter 
size at weaning of Hampshire pig was 174 days, 
301±42.42 days, 473 days, 11.77 days, 8.31 no. and 7.56 
nos respectively. 
 
RESULT 
 
Growth performance of different pig breeds at RARS, 
Tarahara 
 
Geometric means of body weight growth of different pig 
breeds at RARS, Tarahara has been presented in Table 
1. 
 
In the first and seconf

 
month, the highest mean body 

weight was observed 8.9±1.12kg, 14.04±3.75kg  in exotic 
breed Hampshire followed by 8.5±1.50kg, 12.44±1.72kg  
in Pakhribas (PAC) breed and the lowest 3.9±0.29kg, 
6.73±0.68kg in local breed Hurrah. Similarly, on third, 
fourth, fifth and sixth

 
months, the highest mean body weight 

was found 18.65±3.73kg, 23.24±4.28kg, 30.97±4.83kg & 
39.08±4.50kg in Hampshire, Hampshire, Pakhribas × 
Nagpuri & Hampshire breeds respectively followed by 17.97  



 
 
 
 
                      Table 1. Some production performances of indigenous breeds of pig (Mean±SD).  
  

Traits Hurrah  Chwanche  Bampudke 
 

Pakhribas 
 

Birth weight (kg) 

Weaning weight  

0.8±0.08 

6.1±0.09 

0.7±0.06 

5.7±0.08 

0.6±0.08 

      - 

1.05 

6.19±1.77 

Age at first  puberty (month) 10.8±0.99 7.3±0.85 6.2±0.12       - 

Age at first farrowing (month) 14.0±0.96 10.7±0.80 11.5±0.23 364.2±7.4 

Farrowing interval (month) 5.57±0.57 7.4±0.6 4.6±0.28 172.8±12.1 

Gestation length (days) 114.5±0.66 114.8±0.52       - 113.5±1.84 

Adult weight (kg) 45 35 20 350 

Litter size at birth (nos.) 

Litter size at weaning (nos.) 

7.04±1.26 

5.73±1.25 

7.33±1.28 

6.0±1.0 

4.7±0.27 

3.4±0.30 

9.24±2.87 

8.43±2.7 
                     Source:  Annual report, ABD (1997), Pradhan (1999), Neopane (2004), Neopane (2006), Neopane and Kadel 
                     (2008).  

 
 
±3.37kg,  22.62±3.88kg, 28.62±4.20kg, 37.62±6.34kg in 
Pakhribas × Nagpuri, Pakhribas, Pakhribas, Pakhribas 
respectively and the lowest value was found 10.33±0.7kg, 
14.33±0.57kg, 18.0±2.64kg, 21.33±3.21kg in local breed 
Hurrah. 
Table 2 shows on 7

th
, 8

th 
and 9

th
 month, the highest mean 

body weight was observed 48.2±14.80kg, 66.0±15.78kg, 
79.8±17.12kg in Hampshire followed by 48.12±7.16kg, 
60.87±8.38kg, 70.62±7.0kg in Pakhribas and the lowest 
mean body weight was observed 26.16±2.24 kg, 
31.33±2.51kg, 38.33±1.52kg in local breed Hurrah. 
Similarly, on 10

th
, 11

th 
and 12

th 
month, the highest mean 

body weight was observed 98.0±13.54kg, 115.25±17.37kg 
and 127.6±21.49kg in exotic breed Hampshire followed by 
89.25±8.43kg, 108.87±9.03kg and 116.6±19.42kg in 
Pakhribas breed and the lowest mean body weight was 
observed 41.66±3.78kg, 49.0±4.32kg  and 55.9±4.0kg in 
local breed Hurrah.  
The result of this research revealed that the highest body 
weight was observed in exotic breed Hampshire followed 
by synthetic breed Pakhribas, Pakhribas × Nagpuri, 
Hampshire × Hurrah, Nagpuri and the lowest in Hurrah. 
Exotic breed like Hampshire has higher weight than 
synthetic breed Pakhribas, their crosses and local 
breeds.  
The F-test statistics showed significant during  I

st 
and 2

nd
 

month at 1% (p<0.01) level of significance whereas this test 
statistics showed significant during 3

rd
, 4

th
, 5

th
, 6

th
, 7

th
, 8

th
, 

9
th
, 10

th
, 11

th
 &12

th
 months at 5% (p<0.05%)  level of 

significance. 
 
Reproductive performance of different pig breeds at 
RARS, Tarahara 
 
Geometric means of reproductive performance of 
different pig breeds at RARS, Tarahara has been 
presented in Table 3. 
The highest mean of age at I

st
 mating & age at first 

farrowing were observed 335±26.8 days & 466±3.21days 
in Hurrah & Nagpuri breed respectively followed by 
322±23.3 days & 462±5.59 days in Nagpuri & Hampshire 
breed respectively and the lowest 294±28.20 days & 

408±6.9 days in Pakhribas breed. Similarly, the highest 
mean of weight at I

st
  mating  and litter weight at weaning 

were observed  95±10.10kg & 9.2±0.28kg in Hampshire  
followed by 78±11.3kg & 8.1±0.75kg in Pakhribas and the 
lowest 52±9.75kg &  5.54±0.97kg in and Nagpuri & 
Hurrah respectively. Likewise, the highest mean value of 
litter size at birth & at weaning were observed 11.4±1.6 
nos. & 9.4±1.01 nos. in Pakhribas followed by 10.5±0.59 
nos. & 8.28±0.96 nos. in Hampshire and the lowest 
7.56±1.32 nos.& 5.54±0.97 nos. in Hurrah. 
Table 3 shows the highest mean of weight of piglets at 
birth, farrowing interval, litter index & piglet mortality were 
observed 1.2±0.05kg, 207±12.32 days, 1.8±0.24 
sow/year & 22±0.96% in Hampshire, Nagpuri, Pakhribas 
& Nagpuri respectively followed by 1.1±0.08kg, 197±7.65 
days, 1.8±0.05 sow/year & 21±0.85% in Pakhribas, 
Hurrah, Hampshire & Hurrah respectively and the lowest 
0.92±0.87kg, 184±32.9 days, 1.5±0.98 sow/year , 
18±7.57% in Hurrah, Pakhribas, Nagpuri & Pakhribas 
respectively. 
Among overall coefficient of variance (CV), the CV of 
litter index (sow/year)  was 4.95 which was least CV and 
significant at 1% level of significance. The least value of 
CV among them indicates that it was more consistent and 
reliable than other CV.  
The F-test statistics showed significant in age at I

st
 mating, 

litter size at weaning, litter weight at weaning and farrowing 
interval at 5% (p<0.05%)  level of significance. Similarly, 
this test statistics showed significant in weight at I

st
 mating 

and Litter index at 1% (p<0.01) level of significance 
whereas age of I

st
 farrowing, litter size at birth, weight of 

piglets at birth and piglet mortality showed non significant. 
 
DISCUSSION 
 
The mean body weight of Hampshire piglets in 1

st
 month 

was found higher 8.9±1.12kg compared to 8.5±1.50kg, 
4.38±0.57kg, 3.9±0.29kg, 5.93±0.66kg and 6.23±0.97kg 
of Pakhribas, Nagpuri, Hurrah, Hampshire X Hurrah and 
Pakhribas X Nagpuri piglets respectively. Similarly, the 
mean body weight of Hampshire piglets in 12

th
 month was 

found higher 127±0.10kg as compared to 116.6±18.42kg,   



 
 
 
 
       Table 2. Mean body weight (kg) of different pig breeds upto age of 12 months. 
  

Months Pakhribas 

Mean±SD 

Hampshire 

 Mean±SD 

Puri 

Mean±SD 

Hurrah 

Mean±SD 

Hamp× 
Hurrah 

Mean±SD 

PAC×Puri 

Mean±SD 

F-
Test 

1
st

  

 

8.5±1.50 8.9±1.12 4.38±0.57 3.9±0.29 5.98±0.66 6.29±0.97 * 

2
nd

  

 

12.44±1.72 14.04±3.75 9.25±4.66 6.73±0.68 9.33±1.97 11.97±2.33 * 

3
rd

  

 

17.29±±2.28 18.65±3.73 14.08±4.82 10.33±0.7 14.93±2.0 17.97±3.37 ** 

4
th

 

 

22.62±3.88 23.24±4.28 17.6±4.82 14.33±0.57 17.78±2.68 22.39±4.32 ** 

5
th

 

 

28.62±4.20 30.1±4.24 20.8±4.72 18.0±2.64 22.53±2.84 30.97±4.83 ** 

6
th

  

 

37.62±6.34 39.08±4.50 25.2±6.14 21.33±3.21 30.33±1.52 37.33±3.33 ** 

7
th

  

 

48.12±7.16 48.2±14.80 30.6±6.73 26.16±2.24 33.0±4.33 47.2±4.33 ** 

8
th

  

 

60.87±8.38 66.0±15.78 35.64±7.36 31.33±2.51 44.0±5.29 52.31±3.32 ** 

9
th

  

 

70.62±7.0 79.8±17.12 43.0±8.8 38.33±1.52 52.66±8.02 65.0±4.33 ** 

10
th

 

 

89.25±8.43 98.0±13.54 48.4±8.58 41.66±3.78 69.65±5.33 73.33±5.97 ** 

11
th

 

 

108.87±9.03 115.25±17.37 53.0±9.05 49.0±4.32 75.0±5.97 80.2±2.29 ** 

12
th

 

 

116.6±19.42 127.6±21.49 59.8±8.4 55.9±4.0 81.0±7.9 85.33±4.29 ** 

Notes: NS= Non significant, *= significant at 1% level (p value < 0.01  ), **=significant at 5%  level (p<0.05). 

 
 
 
 
59.8±8.4kg, 55.9±4.0kg, 81.0±7.9kg and 85.33±4.29kg of 
Pakhribas, Nagpuri, Hurrah, Hampshire X Hurrah and 
Pakhribas X Nagpuri respectively. The mean body weight 
of Nagpuri was found higher than that of Hurrah. Similarly, 
the mean body weight of Hampshire X Hurrah and 
Pakhribas X Nagpuri was found higher than those of local 
breeds like Hurrah and Nagpuri. According to Kumar et 
al. 2018, adult body weight of Hampshire pig (9

th
 month) 

was observed 77.25±2.82kg which is almost similar with 
the finding of our research i.e. 79.8±17.12 kg. 
The highest mean of age at I

st
 mating & age at first 

farrowing were observed 335±26.8 days & 466±3.21days 
in Hurrah & Nagpuri breed respectively and the lowest 
294±28.20 days & 408±6.9 days in Pakhribas breed. 
Similarly, the highest mean of weight at I

st
 mating  and 

litter weight at weaning were observed  95±10.10kg & 
9.2±0.28kg in Hampshire and the lowest 52±9.75kg &  
5.54±0.97kg in and Nagpuri & Hurrah respectively. 
Likewise, the highest mean value of litter size at birth & at 
weaning were observed 11.4±1.6 nos. & 9.4±1.01 nos. in 
Pakhribas and the lowest 7.56±1.32 nos.& 5.54±0.97 
nos. in Hurrah. 

The highest mean of weight of piglets at birth, farrowing 
interval, litter index & piglet mortality were observed 
1.2±0.05kg, 207±12.32 days, 1.8±0.24 sow/year & 
22±0.96% in Hampshire, Nagpuri, Pakhribas & Nagpuri 
respectively and the lowest 0.92±0.87kg, 184±32.9 days, 
1.5±0.98 sow/year , 18±7.57% in Hurrah, Pakhribas, 
Nagpuri & Pakhribas respectively. 
According to  Neopane (2004), Neopane (2006), 
Neopane and Kadel (2008), weight of piglet at birth and 
adult of Pakhribas  is 1.05kg and 350kg respectively that  
match the finding of our research in terms of birth weight 
1.1±0.08kg but doesn't match the adult body weight 
116.6±19.42kg. In this study, the lower value of adult 
body weight may be due to inbreeding in the herd. 
Similarly, age of I

st
 farrowing, litter size at birth, litter size 

at weaning and farrowing interval were observed 408±6.9 
days, 11.4±1.6 nos., 9.4±1.01 nos. and  184±32.9 days 
which is higher than those of Neopane (2006) 364.2±7.4 
days, 9.24±2.87 nos., 8.43±2.7 nos. and 172.8±12.1 days 
respectively. The higher value may be due to inbreeding 
problems in Pakhribas breed. In this research,  piglet 
mortality  was observed 18±7.57% which is higher than that 



 
 
 
 
             Table 3. Reproductive performance of different pig breeds at RARS, Tarahara. 

Parameters                                                   Breeds  

Pakhribas 
      n=7 

Hampshire 
      n=7 

    Puri 
     n=7 

  Hurrah 
   n=7 

Average 
   n=28 

CV% F test 

Age at 1
st

  
Mating(days) 
 

294±28.20 301±42.42 322±23.3 335±26.8 313.2±32.20 7.29 ** 

Wt. at 1
st

 mating 
 (kg) 
 

78±11.3 95±10.10 52±9.75 58±8.75 70.8±9.63 11.25 * 

Age of 1
st

 
farrowing  
(days) 
 

408±6.9 462±5.59 466±3.21 459±3.12 448.5±4.70 12.52 NS 

Litter size at  
birth (nos) 
 

11.4±1.6 10.5±0.59 10.7±0.98 7.56±1.32 10.04±1.11 11.57 NS 

Wt. of  
piglets at 
 birth (kg) 
 

1.1±0.08 1.2±0.05 0.97±0.86 0.92±0.87 1.02±0.46 8.06 NS 

Litter size 
 at weaning  
(nos) 
 

9.4±1.01 8.28±0.96 6.75±1.24 5.98±0.89 7.6±1.05 12.29 ** 

Litter wt. 
at weaning  
(kg) 
 

8.1±0.75 9.2±0.28 5.64±0.97 5.54±0.97 7.27±0.62 7.06 ** 

Farrowing 
interval (days) 
 

184±32.9 192±12.28 207±12.32 197±7.65 195.20±17.34 13.36 ** 

Litter index  
sow/year 
 

1.8±0.24 1.8±0.05 1.5±0.98 1.6±0.23 1.7±0.40 4.95 * 

Piglet  
mortality % 

18±7.57 19±7.75 22±0.96 21.±0.85 20.6±4.07 13.24 NS 

           Notes: NS = non significant * = significant at 1% level ( p value < 0.01  ), ** = significant at 5% level ( p<0.05). 

 
 
 
of 10.4% pre-weaning mortality (Ghimire and Aryal, 
1999). Panta (2015) reported higher mortality percentage 
47%. Season of birth and managemental stress 
significantly affected the health traits. The inbreeding 
affects fitness traits. The increase in piglet's mortality may 
be due to inbreeding.  
According to Neopane and Kadel (2008) weight of piglet at 
birth  of Hurrah local breed  is 0.8kg and adult weight is 
45kg which do not  match the finding of our research in 
terms of birth weight 0.92±0.87kg and adult body weight 
55.9±4.0kg. Similarly, age of I

st
 mating, age of I

st
 farrowing  

and farrowing interval were 335±26.8 days, 448.5±4.70 
days and 197±7.65 days respectively which is  higher than 
finding of Dhakal (2012), Pokharel (2012), Pandey (2011) 
and Thapa (2009) i.e. 241.73±22.13 days, 351.30±4.8 days 
and 180.30±0.3 days respectively. The higher value may 
be due to inbreeding problem arise in pig of Regional 
Agriculture Research Station, Tarahara, Sunsari, Nepal 
but litter size at weaning (nos.) and litter size at birth were 
almost similar to the finding of  Pradhan (1999), Neopane 

(2004). According to Pokharel (2012), Pandey (2011), adult 
body weight of Local Nagpuri breed was 50-60kg which 
match the finding of our research i.e. 59.8±8.4kg. Similarly, 
age at I

st
 mating, age at I

st
 farrowing, farrowing interval 

were  322±23.3 days, 466±3.21 days and 207±12.32 days 
which were observed higher  than those of Dhakal (2012) 
213.5±11.14 days, 335.54±9.91days and 170.96±7.28 days 
respectively. 

According to Tummaruk et al. (2001), age at I
st
 farrowing 

and farrowing interval of Hampshire pig were found 386 
days & 173.4 days which were observed  higher in this 
research finding i.e. 462±5.59 days & 192±12.28 days but 
litter size at birth & litter size at weaning were almost similar 
i.e. 10.5±0.59 nos. & 8.28±0.96 nos. respectively. Litter size 
at birth & litter size at weaning  were observed higher than 
those of Kumar et al. (2018). Similarly, according to Thapa 
et al. (2018), farrowing interval , litter size at birth and litter 
size at weaning of Hampshire pig were found 174 days, 
8.31 nos. and 7.56 nos. which was lower than our research 
findings i.e. 192±12.28 days, 10.5±0.59 nos. and 8.28±0.96 



  
 
 
 
 
nos. respectively. The adult mean body weight was 
127.6±21.49 kg which was less than Kumaresan et al. 
(2006). According to him, average daily weight gain of 
Hampshire pig was 185 kg. This may be due to 
inbreeding problem and location of farm is in Sunsari 
district which lie in terai region and climate over there is 
hot but Hampshire breed performed better in cold places 
and could be suitable for temperate environment (Thapa 
et. al., 2018). Age at I

st
 mating of Hampshire was 

301±42..42 days. Age at I
st
 service in any of the pig farms 

should be between 8 & 9 months and if it crosses more 
than 10 months , then it is advisable to cull these animals 
(Rymer & Grand, 2009). 
Exotic breed Hampshire has the highest body weight 
than synthetic breed Pakhribas  followed by Pakhribas× 
Nagpuri, Hampshire× Hurrah, Nagpuri and Hurrah. From 
above findings, the highest body weight was found in 
Hampshire followed by Pakhribas, Pakhribas×Nagpuri, 
Hampshire×Hurrah, Nagpuri and Hurrah. Exotic breed 
like Hampshire has higher body weight than synthetic 
breed Pakhribas, their cross and local breeds. Similarly, 
reproductive traits like age at I

st 
mating, age of I

st
 

farrowing & piglet mortality were observed highest in local 
breeds Nagpuri & Hurrah followed by Hampshire and the 
lowest in Pakhribas. Litter size at birth, litter size at 
weaning & weight of piglets at birth were observed 
highest in synthetic breed Pakhribas  followed by exotic 
breed Hampshire & Nagpuri and the lowest in Hurrah. 
Weight at I

st
 mating & litter weight at weaning were higher 

in exotic breed Hampshire followed by Pakhribas and the 
lowest in local breed. Farrowing interval was observed 
the highest in local breed followed by exotic breed and 
the lowest in synthetic breed Pakhribas. Litter index 
sow/year is higher in synthetic & exotic breeds and lower 
in indigenous breed. 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
The result of this research revealed that the highest body 
weight was observed in exotic breed Hampshire followed 
by synthetic breed Pakhribas, Pakhribas × Nagpuri, 
Hampshire × Hurrah, Nagpuri and the lowest in Hurrah. 
Exotic breed like Hampshire has higher weight than 
synthetic breed Pakhribas, their crosses and local 
breeds. Similarly, reproductive traits like age at I

st 
mating, 

age of I
st
 farrowing & piglet mortality was observed the 

highest in local breed Nagpuri & Hurrah followed by 
Hampshire and the lowest in Pakhribas. Litter size at 
birth, litter size at weaning & weight of piglets at birth 
were observed the highest in synthetic breed Pakhribas  
followed by exotic breed Hampshire & Nagpuri and the 
lowest in Hurrah. Weight at I

st
 mating & litter weight at 

weaning were observed the highest in exotic breed 
Hampshire followed by Pakhribas and the lowest in local 
breed. Farrowing interval was observed the highest in 
local breed followed by exotic breed and the lowest in 

synthetic breed Pakhribas. Litter index sow/year is higher 
in synthetic & exotic breed and lower in indigenous 
breed. 
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT 
 
This study was supported through a grant from the Nepal 
Agricultural Research Council (NARC).  
 
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