Among the physical dimensions of the pig body, the height has received limited scientific focus. During transport, however, where multideck trucks and trailers typically are used, detailed knowledge about the height of pigs is relevant. The body weight of pigs is often known, whereas height is more difficult to quantify as part of the pre-transport management of the pigs. Nursery pigs are one category of European pig production often subjected to long distance transport for further fattening some weeks after weaning. The present study aimed to determine the height of pigs from 5 to 40 kg of body weight, as well as the relation between height and body weight. The height and weight were measured for 1,614 randomly selected pigs (castrates and females) from 10 Danish pig herds balanced between the two large breeding systems, DanBred (DB) and Danish Genetics (DG). From 9 herds, data from 1,435 pigs with 2.8 to 40.6 kg body weight were used for establishing prediction equations, while pigs from the tenth herd were set aside for validation. The study considered using 1) polynomial regressions of various order; 2) power functions; or 3) nonlinear growth curve models. Overall, the third-order polynomial with sex-specific intercept and the power function with sex-specific log-intercept were optimal for prediction. Nevertheless, for feasibility and due to only marginal sex differences, we suggest using common intercepts for prediction of height from weight. Taken together, the results of the present study present data for pig height in the interval from 5 to 40 kg body weight. Further, we suggest that a third-order polynomial or a power function can be used for pigs from at least the genetic systems DB and DG, if the pig height is to be predicted based on body weight.
Keywords: height; pigs; transportation; weight.
Among the physical dimensions of the pig body, the height has received limited scientific focus. However, during transport, where multideck trucks and trailers of limited deck height typically are used, detailed knowledge about the height of pigs is relevant. One pig category often subjected to long distance transport in Europe is nursery pigs, transported for further fattening some weeks after weaning. The body weight of pigs is often known, whereas height is more difficult to quantify as part of the pre-transport management of pigs. To determine the relation between body weight and height for this category of pigs, a total of 1,614 castrates and female nursery pigs from 10 different Danish herds with pigs from one of two larger Danish breeding systems (DanBred or Danish Genetics) were measured. A third-order polynomial and a power function were determined and can be used to predict pig height from weight for pigs in the range from around 5 to 40 kg.
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.