SELECTION RESPONSE FOR HIGHER BODY WEIGHT IN NIGERIA'S INDIGENOUS CROSSBRED PIGS

Six generations of population selection from 2 lines of improved indigenous pigs *NIGER HUBS" comprising pigs born from the year 1984 - 1990 were evaluated. Continued selection for higher body size resulted in observed increases in 150 day body weight of 26% in the white line A and 41% in the black and white line B from the average weight of the foundation stock and 76 to 84 per cent at 12 month of age for these lines of pius respectively. Moderately high heritability estimates of 0.36 to 0.69 were reported for both lines for the 150 day weight and 0.58 to 0.76 for the yearling weight. Response to selection was highest in the first generation of the Bline and the third generation of the A line. Overall response value of 5.79±1.28kg during the first generation declined to 5.01kg±1.08 during the second generation although this subsequently increased from the third to fifth generations. With the plateau not reached within this 6 generation of selection, further response may still be expected in these lines of pigs