MORPHOSTRUCTURAL STUDY IN A POPULATION OF NATURALIZED PIGS IN VALENCIA AND LA MANA CITIES, ECUADOR

Abstract

The study was carried out sampling 149 naturalized pigs with an age range from 12 to 36 months, from this group 61 belonged to Valencia and 88 to La Maná. The morphologic characterization of 16 zoometric and eight phaneroptical variables was made and nine zoometrics indexes were calculated. The main variables analized were: raised to the cross (CRS), longitudinal diameter (LD), thoracic perimeter (TP), croup length (CL), croup width (CW) obtaining the following averages: CRS 60.99 and 61.74 cm; LD 80.12 and 79.12 cm; TP 93.68 and 92.50 cm; CL 30.08 and 28.32 cm and, CW 23.08 and 22.26 cm; for Valencia and La Maná, respectively. The cephalic index was of 45.89% in Valencia and 51.15% in La Maná. The naturalized pigs showed in higher percentage the rectilinear frontonasal profile; the most frequent layer color was colored in Valencia and dappled in La Maná; the color of the mucous is mainly dark in Valencia and light in La Maná; the pelage varies from abundant to scarce; more pigs with Iberian ears types have been found in both towns; a reduced number of animals with mamellas was registered while the pig of double purpose prevailed in Valencia and meager in La Maná.