Abstract
The study determined the growth parameters of pigs at different production phases for farmer's profitability in Cross River, Nigeria. A research question and one hypothesis guided the study. The hypothesis was tested at p< 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted experimental design. A population of 22 piglets of Large White (Yorkshire) breed was used. The piglets were 15 to 21-days of age. The sample was 18 healthy piglets. The instrument for data collection was a template for recording the information such as cost of piglets, cost of feeds, daily feed consumed among others and a structured questionnaire. The instrument was validated by three (3) experts, one (1) from the Department of Agricultural Education, and two (2) from the Department of Animal Science, all from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Data was collected by directly recording inputs, outputs, costs, and revenue for each production phase. Weigh back technique was used to collect data on feed intake. The data was analyzed using Mean, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), t-test, and Stochastic Frontier Regression statistic .Finding indicated that pigs sold at phase 3 had the highest profitability when compared to others while the pig sold at production phase 1 had the least profitability; pigs sold at the phase 3 had the highest feed intake followed by the feed intake in phase 2; the highest average body weight was obtained in phase 3 at the twentieth week of production ; and the least average weight was obtained in the first week on phase; and the highest weight gain was obtained at phase 2 and 3 while the lowest weight gain was obtained at phase 1. It was recommended among others that farmers should be educated on the two phase (phase 3) to provide more feeds for the highest feed intake which will translate to the highest average body weight.
Keywords: Growth Parameters, Pig Production, Production Phases, Profitability,
Publication Date: 2025-12-10