Principal component analysis of body measurements in Mizo local pigs

The principal component analysis was used to consolidate and describe the interdependence among five biometric traits in 120 Mizo local pig (Zovawk). Five body measurements viz. body length (BL), head length (HL), chest girth (CG), front height (FH) and rear height (RH) were recorded at different stages of life. There was one factor extracted each at birth, 4th week, weaning (52 days), 14th and 18th weeks of age, accounted for 60.41%, 69.79%, 67.49%, 81.85% and 87.73% of the total variance, respectively. The significant positive high loading of FH and RH at birth, 4th week, weaning, and 14th were observed. These factors could be exploited in breeding and selection programmes to acquire highly coordinated animal bodies using fewer measurements.