Morphological characteristics of Moo Lat native pigs in Salavan Province, Lao PDR

This study assessed the morphological characteristics of Moo Lat Native pigs in Salavan district, Salavan province Lao PDR. A total of 60 pigs aged between 2 - 13 months (55% females and 45%) males were selected for the qualitative and the quantitative traits. The results of this study reveal that the Moo Lat native pig is black with white legs and on the forehead has a white spot. Its ears are directed forward and short, and its face is straight and long. The 60 pigs in the selected villages have mean measurements of 12.39±6.64 kg body weight (BW); 44.26±9.48 cm body length (BL); 50.94±10.56 cm heart girth (HG); 36.41±7.44 cm withers height (WH); 12.14±2.92 cm ear length (EL); 16.55±4.65 cm tail length (TL); and 10.37±0.77 numbers of teats (NT). The pigs’ BW is positively correlated with HG, BL, WH, TL, and EL, and heart girth was the best predictor (R2=0.91) among those measurements with the highest degree of correlation and are positively correlated with HG, BL, WH, TL, and EL, and heart girth is a strong correlation.