OSTEOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF INDIGENOUS PIGS IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study explored the osteological characterization of indigenous pigs in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Sampling was carried out at Lafia, Nasarawa Eggon and Kokona Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State, representing Nasarawa South, North and West Agricultural Zones, respectively. A total of 30 finisher pigs of both sexes (10 from each study area) were sampled. Osteological parameters such as weight, length and width of humerus, femur, ulna, tibia, fibula bones were measured after water maceration with the aid of a digital weighing scale for weight, a ruler for length, and a digital vernier caliper for bone width. All the parameters were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test the effect of location, and significant means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. There were significant (P<0.05) variations in most of the osteological parameters based on location. Generally, pigs from Nasarawa Eggon tend to have strong numerical values as compared to those of Kokona and Lafia LGAs, respectively.