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New Crossbred Pig variety was released from Center for Pig Production and Research, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University's Centre for Pig Production and Research at Mannuthy released a new crossbred pig  namely Mannuthy White on 8th February 2017.  Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Pigs has been functioning  at Mannuthy centre since 1993 with the objective to study the performance of indigenous pigs and their crosses with Large White Yorkshire for efficiency of feed conversion, production and reproduction.

As part of the ICAR-All India Co-ordinated Research Project a new crossbred variety suitable to the agro-climatic condition of Kerala was developed by crossing pure lines of Large White Yorkshire males with half bred of Large White Yorkshire x Desi females. The inheritance level has been stabilized at 75:25 % for LWY and Desi. Performance evaluation was done for ten generations with respect to litter size, litter weight growth rate, feed utilization efficiency and lean meat production. Animals were showing distinct characteristics and were validated in the farmer’s fields for further confirmation.

Animals are white in colour with black spots on head and hind quarters. Snout is straight and ears are erect. Coat has short bristles with diameter of 0.18 mm. Body top line is straight and number of teats ranged from 10 to 12. Mannuthy White variety has good prolificacy, higher growth rate, better feed conversion efficiency and more dressing percentage compared to indigenous pigs. The animals have lower back fat thickness than the exotic Large White Yorkshire pigs. The breed can gain 94 kg bodyweight at slaughter age of 10 months with 2.10 cm of back fat thickness. Mannuthy White is well adapted to humid tropical agro-climatic conditions and suited to low input rearing system of Kerala.The research has been done under the leadership of Dr.A.P.Usha, Director Farms of the University. Deputy Director General of ICAR Dr.Rahman released the ew breed of Pig.

The Centre for Pig Production and Research Mannuthy has been providing purebred and crossbred piglets to farmers for starting grower as well as breeding units all over Kerala and many parts of south India.