**3. Andaman local pig**

#### **3.1 Physical characterisation**

Andaman local pig (ALP) has been introduced by settlers in these Islands from mainland India. This ALP is one of the indigenous pig breeds of Andaman group of islands and is mostly found in Baratang and Mayabunder area of Andaman. Its body coat colour differs from rusty grey to black or brown. Neck and back portion hair are very thick as well as long whereas hair on the sides and flank regions are shorter and thinner relatively. The adult male body weight varies from 75 to 80 kg female body weight varies from 60 to 70 kg. Age at first farrowing is about 300 days with litter size of about 7-8. They maintain good health with low plane of nutrition [22].

ALP is very well adapted and tolerable to the different tropical humid harsh environmental conditions with higher relative humidity, higher temperature as well as higher temperature humidity index. Further, these local indigenous Andaman local pigs are scavengers and also semi-wild in their behaviour and character. The Andaman local pigs have good mother caring ability and are more aggressive at farrowing or delivery time. Although the ALPs have lower in their growth rate and

*Domestic Pig Germplasms of Andaman and Nicobar Islands DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95916*

reproductive and productive performances, it is highly liked by the rural tribal communities for supplementation of sufficient protein and income for the family. The ALP is associated with the socio-culture-economic-tradition of tribals. Andaman local pig is in general as semi-feral in behaviour and is mostly reared in extensive or free-range system with little amount of management. Mitogenome analysis revealed that this ALP can be evolved as an independent breed in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as merit for registration as a recognised pig breed [8]. This indigenous local pig is under the endangered position and immediate preservation, conservation propagation effort is need to be taken to safeguard the indigenous pig breed from disappearance [7].

#### **3.2 Genetic characterisation**

Nicobar Islands. A mild outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD-type O) in pig

A Nicobari sows aged 2 years with complete prolapsed uterus was presented for treatment. History revealed that farrowing was normal and the hanging of prolapsed uterus was unnoticed for long period in the night time after farrowing. Everted uterine horns were protruded from vulva in clinical examination. The uterine masses which prolapsed were severely congested as well as oedematous. The values of body temperature, pulse and respiration rate were 102°F, 95/minute and 17/minute respectively. The prolapsed mass was cleaned with cold potassium permanganate (1:1000) solution. Ice packs were applied to reduce oedema. The rear part of the animals was elevated by placing gunny bags. After that attempts were given to replace the everted organ by gently pushing to its original position. However, the sow died due to prolonged exposure of complete prolapse in Nicobari

Nicobari pig breed is believed as a local/indigenous pig germplasm belongs to this Andaman and Nicobar island territories. The external/phenotypic parameters revealed that this Nicobari pig breed is indigenous/ ethnic to these bay islands and their presence was reported since many decades. Nicobari pig revealed higher prolificacy as litter size varies from 8 to 10 numbers as well as lower preweaning mortality prevailed. Castrated boar and adult sow revealed significantly higher body weight (110-160 kg). The pigs are reared and considered as family asset among the tribal. No commercial farms or sale of meat is practiced. However, most of the pigs are slaughtered mostly during festive seasons or family/community ceremony. Awareness programme on conservation of indigenous pig germplasm and training on scientific pig farming is given for the Tribal and island farmers [11, 12]. Tribal families were identified for maintaining /conserving the pig

Andaman local pig (ALP) has been introduced by settlers in these Islands from mainland India. This ALP is one of the indigenous pig breeds of Andaman group of islands and is mostly found in Baratang and Mayabunder area of Andaman. Its body coat colour differs from rusty grey to black or brown. Neck and back portion hair are very thick as well as long whereas hair on the sides and flank regions are shorter and thinner relatively. The adult male body weight varies from 75 to 80 kg female body weight varies from 60 to 70 kg. Age at first farrowing is about 300 days with litter size of about 7-8. They maintain good health with low plane of nutrition [22]. ALP is very well adapted and tolerable to the different tropical humid harsh environmental conditions with higher relative humidity, higher temperature as well as higher temperature humidity index. Further, these local indigenous Andaman local pigs are scavengers and also semi-wild in their behaviour and character. The Andaman local pigs have good mother caring ability and are more aggressive at farrowing or delivery time. Although the ALPs have lower in their growth rate and

was reported just after the episode of tsunami, 2004 [5].

**2.10 Complete uterine prolapse-a case report**

*Landraces - Traditional Variety and Natural Breed*

**2.11 Conservation of Nicobari pigs**

pig [21].

germplasm.

**216**

**3. Andaman local pig**

**3.1 Physical characterisation**

Microsatellite markers have been used widely for the genetic characterisation of animal breeds including pig [23–26]. The microsatellites are used to assess the genetic diversity at higher level among the large genetic resource pools of pigs throughout the world [25]. Andaman local pig was characterised by 23 FAO recommended microsatellite markers. The allele size range, observed and effective number of alleles, observed and expected heterozygosity and polymorphic information content (PIC) at 23 loci in Andaman local pig is explained. The allele size range varies from 86 to 116 bp at locus SW936 to 280–296 at locus IGFI. The alleles' total number is ranged between 5 (SW122, S0228, SW951, S0178 and SW24) and 12 (S0355). The effective number of alleles ranges from 3.14 (SW24) to 8.1 (S0355). The mean expected and observed number of alleles for all the different 23 loci in Desi pigs of Andaman are 5.09 0.20 and 7.04 0.37, respectively [18]. The mean value of effective number of alleles for Andaman local pig is found higher than South-African pig breeds, Mozambique (8.45), Kolbroek (6.18) and Kune-Kune (5.97) but is lower than Duroc (3.98) [27]. The mean effective number of alleles of the Indian pig breeds Desi, Gahuri and Ankamali are 5.00, 5.33 and 5.34 respectively [28]. Higher allele numbers in India populations than in European breeds indicated that isolation and selection effects of these pig populations have been mild or minimum. Andaman local pig has the observed heterozygosities is lower than the expected value at the 22nd loci in S0005. The mean expected and observed heterozygosities are 0.77 0.01 and 0.69 0.01, respectively. The mean PIC for all the 23 studied loci is 0.74 0.01. The genetic diversity in Andaman local pig is higher than the European pig breeds. The PIC is higher than Large White Yorkshire but comparable with other Indian pig breeds like Desi, Gahuri and Ankamali [28]. PIC values of all the microsatellite loci are above 0.5 which indicates that the microsatellite loci are suitable for detection of genetic diversity in Andaman local pig. Mean observed and expected heterozygosities of 23 microsatellite loci of Andaman local pig are found high indicating high genetic diversity of this pig breed. From the microsatellite data, it is also found that this pig breed is distinguishable from other pig breeds. As the pig breed is under the threat of extinction due to extensive cross breeding, serious effort must be initiated to conserve this breed in its breeding tract [18].

#### **3.3 Reproductive profiles**

Reproductive parameters such as litter size at birth (no.), total and individual litter weight at birth (kg), litter size at weaning (no.), total and individual litter weight at weaning (kg) and pre and post-weaning mortality (%) are recorded. Growth parameters such as body weights (kg) from month 1 to 9 are recorded. Dressing percentage, fat thickness, percentage of lean, fat, meat: bone ratio and also bone are recorded for Andaman local pigs in separately for male and female pigs [20].

Significantly higher body weights are observed from month 1 to 9 under intensive system in male than in female pigs. The rate of body weight growth in different months revealed that the rate between first and second months was 37.10% and this rate has been increased from second (15.39%), third (17.79%) and fifth months (22.81%) and then decreased from fifth (13.42%), sixth (12.45%), seventh (2.87%), eighth (3.14%) to ninth months (2.34%) in male pigs. Similar trend is also observed in female pigs as in month 1 (37.39%), month 2 (15.96%), month 3 (18.28%), month 4 (21.18%), month 5 (16.56%), month 6 (9.93%), month 7 (4.09%), month 8 (3.21%) and month 9 (1.64%). In overview, the body weight of female pig is significantly lower than the male pig (47.87 vs. 52.12%) with an average of 42.66 and 46.18 kg, respectively for female and male pigs [20].

respectively. The preserved liquid semen was used for artificial insemination purpose in the organised pig breeding farm, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, India and the sow

Carcass characters such as dressing percentage, meat: bone ratio and fat thickness are not significantly different between male and female pigs whereas other parameters such as percentage of lean, fat and bone differs significantly between them. Percentage of fat (10.10%) in female and lean meat percentage (4.80%) and bone percentage (7.20%) in male are significantly higher than those in the other sex. Carcass characteristics such as dressing percentage (76.54 0.31 vs. 75.52 0.41),

meat: bone ratio (5.53 0.15 vs. 5.69 0.15), fat thickness (5.55 0.18 vs.

percentage (30.37 0.25 vs. 37.2 0.20; p < 0.05) and bone percentage

5.61 0.16 cm), lean meat percentage (58.79 0.36 vs. 53.4 0.41; p < 0.05), fat

(10.86 0.24 vs. 9.4 0.23; p < 0.05) differed between male and female Andaman

Locally available feed resources such as rice bran, maize, wheat, coconut, taro (*Colocasia esculenta* and *Colocasia antiquorum*), tapioca, kitchen/ hotel waste, vegetable waste and poultry offal are fed to the indigenous local pigs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands [4]. In general, feed, fodder and soil of these Islands are deficient in minerals particularly Zn and is limiting factor for the growth of the pig. Age at puberty, age at first conception, age at first furrowing, litter size at birth, individual and total litter weight at birth, litter size at weaning, individual and total litter weight at weaning and weaning percentage are found significantly increased in pigs treated with 80 ppm zinc as zinc sulphate in Andaman local pig and its crossbred. Similarly, the fortnightly body weight gain (kg), total weight gain (kg) and the average daily weight gains (ADWG) are significantly higher in Zn supplemented

Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia (MMA) syndrome causes huge economical losses in the swine industry. Andaman local sow aged 3 years with the history of farrowing 18 days ago and complaint of anorexia, restlessness and inattentive towards her piglets, agalactia and lameness was presented with the elevated rectal temperature, congested mucus membrane, swollen painful mammary glands with foul smelling muco-purulent vulval discharge. Based on the visible clinical signs, sow was tentatively diagnosed as suffered from mastitis-metritis-agalactia syndrome. The affected sow was treated with ice fomentation, cleaning with liquid soap, application of Lugol's iodine solution and antiseptic ointment on the udder, injection of gentamicin, streptopenicillin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, prostaglandin F2α, intrauterine infusion of normal saline followed by Lugol's iodine solution along with supportive therapy with multivitamin and hydrotherapy in water bath. The pig was fed with boiled chicken eggs for supports to her health. The piglets were fed with toned cow milk during the treatment regimen along with creep feed. On day 3rd post treatment, the sow was recovered and allowed the piglets to suckle. Thus the quick diagnosis and prompt treatment saved the pigs from the life threatening syndrome along with eliminating the pre-weaning piglet mortality. The MMA prevalence could be reduced through optimization of husbandry, feeding and managemental practices.

was conceived and farrowed 5 piglets in the year 2019 [29].

*Domestic Pig Germplasms of Andaman and Nicobar Islands*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95916*

**3.5 Carcass characteristics**

local pigs [5].

**219**

**3.6 Feeding practices**

Andaman local pigs and its crossbred [6].

**3.7 Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia (MMA) syndrome**

Weight of total litter size, litter size at birth, and individual at birth, litter size at weaning, weight of total litter size and individual at weaning and pre and post weaning mortality differs significantly between male and female pigs at the rate of 17.72, 9.94, 7.79, 3.41, 5.18, 34.19 and 23.46%, respectively. The male has significantly higher value than in female with respect to all these parameters except the pre and post weaning mortality which are significantly higher in female than in male. However, these values are within the normal range of pigs of indigenous population [20].

One study was conducted to assess the reproductive parameters in Andaman local pigs. Results revealed that these reproductive parameters such as litter size at birth (3.87 0.16 vs. 3.17 0.12), average individual weight at birth (1.66 0.02 vs. 1.42 0.02 kg), litter weight at birth (6.41 0.27 vs. 4.48 0.17 kg), litter size at weaning (3.33 0.13 vs. 3.11 0.11), average individual weight at weaning (10.55 0.09 vs. 9.51 0.06 kg), litter weight at weaning (35.08 0.31 vs. 29.56 0.19 kg), pre-weaning mortality (8.87 0.12 vs. 4.35 0.08%) and post weaning mortality (3.42 0.11 vs. 2.12 0.03%) were significantly higher in male than in female animals. Similarly body weight (kg) at 1st Month (6.67 0.15 vs. 5.96 0.20), 2nd month (14.51 0.18 vs. 13.08 0.18), 3rd month (19.79 0.22 vs. 18.05 0.19), 4th month (28.36 0.24 vs. 26.13 0.29), 5th month (45.13 0.17 vs. 40.77 0.27), 6th month (59.13 0.30 vs. 56.96 0.27), 7th month (75.96 0.29 vs. 69.53 0.39), 8th month (80.45 0.14 vs. 75.47 0.22) and 9th month (85.67 0.23 vs. 78.00 0.37) was significantly higher in male than in female animals in Andaman local pigs [20].

#### **3.4 Semen collection and artificial insemination**

Cross breeding with the use of Artificial insemination (AI) can be a tool to upgrade genetically inferior local pigs and avoid inbreeding that usually happens with less number of available breeding boars or small pig population. The purpose of semen preservation for AI is to maximise the use of superior germplasm with extended sperm viability but without much effect on the sperm fertility essential for successful breeding. With the aforesaid vision, semen collection was attempted in Andaman local pigs using gloved hand technique. This is for the first time to be reported in Andaman local pigs.

Preliminary study indicated that Andaman local pig has released total semen volume, gel free semen and gel in semen volume was 220, 30 and 190 ml, respectively, and pH of semen was found to be 7.5. Objective assessment of total and progressive sperm motility was done which were 80 and 75%, respectively. Sperm concentration was estimated with use of haemocytometer chamber and count is 210x106 /ml. Morphometric measurements of pig spermatozoa with software enabled microscope were performed. Average head length, head width, tail length and full sperm length was observed to be 9.42, 5.24, 43.93 and 52.37 μm,

respectively. The preserved liquid semen was used for artificial insemination purpose in the organised pig breeding farm, ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair, India and the sow was conceived and farrowed 5 piglets in the year 2019 [29].
