A note on kidney weight in Large White pigs reared in the humid tropics of southern Nigeria

Abstract

Various species of animals, ranging from ordinary laboratory rats to some high-grade beef and dairy cattle, have been imported from the temperate regions of the world to Nigeria in recent years. Most favoured are Large White pigs and this breed of livestock is proving to have very great potential in the livestock production industry in this part of the tropics. Temperate breeds of livestock when introduced to the tropics are said to decline in their general performance, owing partly to direct effects of high ambient temperatures(Yousef & Johnson, 1965). Some generalized statements have also been made on the adverse effects of tropical climate on growth though very little objective field experimental evidence exists (Williamson & Payne, 1978).

Effects of sex, age and body weight on selected organs of indigenous Nigerian pigs: liver, kidney, heart, lung-and-trachea

“…Although the absolute weights of the liver, heart, kidney, lungand-trachea and their growth rates were less than those reported for Lacombe pigs by Doornenbal & Tong (1981), they were higher than those reported by Thomas & Beamer (1971) for miniature pigs. The mean kidney weights were less than those reported by Alaku & Steinbach (1982) for 36-week-old European pigs reared in Nigeria. While these observations could partly be ascribed to breed, and seasonal differences, Weinbren (1961) and Regoeczi & Taylor (1978) have associated variation in liver weight with the variable amount of blood flowing into the organ following death.…”

“…Thomas & Beamer (1971) and Doornenbal & Tong (1981) have reported organ growth in pigs. Alaku & Steinbach (1982) highlighted the effects of seasonal variation on kidney weights in Large White pigs reared in Nigeria. Davey & Bereskin (1978) established significant differences in some organ weights based on breed line groups and on dietary protein differences.…”