Breed and sex influences on porcine haematological picture under hot humid climatic conditions.

An investigation was undertaken of some haematological characteristics of one indigenous and five exotic breeds of pigs kept on a farm in the hot, humid climate of Ibadan, Nigeria. The total white blood cell counts were not affected by breed and sex but the other parameters exhibited various degrees of response to these two variables, the males of each breed tending to have higher values than the females. The indigenous pigs generally had higher values than the exotic breeds. Of the latter, only the Landrace and Large White had haematological values somewhat similar to those of the West African indigenous pig. This suggests that the Landrace and Large White breeds may be more suited than the other exotic breeds investigated to the climatic conditions prevalent in Ibadan.