Italian Journal of Animal Science (Jan 2010)

Effect of sex and season of birth on Gompertz growth curve parameters in “Nero di Parma” pigs

  • Paola Superchi,
  • Claudio Cervi,
  • Raffaele Manini,
  • Valentino Beretti,
  • Alberto Sabbioni

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4081/ijas.2009.719
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 4
pp. 719 – 726

Abstract

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The growth curves of “Nero di Parma” pigs were studied by applying the Gompertz equation to 1069 body weight (BW) records from 285 pigs (156 females, 129 castrated males) born in 11 outdoor and 5 indoor herds; pigs were fed commercial complete feeds offered ad libitum and, on a limited basis in the outdoor system, diets were integrated with pasture. The parameters of the Gompertz equation were compared with reference to sex and season of birth. Mature BW for castrated males (229.0 kg) was 3.5% greater than that for females (221.3 kg) (P180 kg).

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