Morphologic study of the Creole pig of Apure state, Venezuela
With the purpose of studying morphologically the Creole pig in Apure state, Venezuela, there were considered 139 post weaning and growing animals located at three municipalities (Achaguas, Pedro Camejo, and Biruaca) under agriculture conditions in a tropical savannah environment. The measured zoometric variables were: head length (HL), face length (FL), head width (HW), cross height (CRS), croup height (CR), longitudinal diameter (DL), croup width (CW), croup length (CL), thorax perimeter (PT), and head perimeter (HP). The calculated zoometric indices were: cephalic (CFI), proportionality (PDI), corporal (CPI), and pelvic (PVI). Descriptive statistic and multivariate analysis were conducted for the zoometric variables and indices, with locality and sex as factors. The zoometric means (cm) were: HL=32.05, FL=10.95, HW=23.99, CRS=59.51, CR=63.26, DL=74.69, CW=17.07, CL=20.51, PT=84.85 and HP=19.92. The values of the indices (%) were: CFI=34.21, PDI=79.47, CPI=88.30 and PVI= 83.04. The locality and interaction locality x sex effects were significantly (P<0.05) on the variability of the zoometrics characteristics and indices. The Creole pig in Apure is a rustic, resistant animal adapted to the environment, with medium body, lengthened, thin, and little voluminous, semi-curved ribs, convex profile following a line to back lumbar slightly bowed.