Pigs form an important component of hill farming systems in Rai, Limbu, Magar, Tamang and occupational caste communities in the eastern hills of Nepal. These farmers rear pigs especially for meat and religious purposes. The weaning age of piglets in the eastern hills varies from six weeks to more than two months. Although weaning of piglets at or before six weeks of age needs special care and management, there is the possibility of increasing the productivity of sows by weaning their piglets at six weeks of age.

A total of 19 Pakhribas sows were used in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups (10 sows for six week weaning and 9 sows for eight week weaning). The piglets produced from these two groups of sows were weaned at six and at eight weeks of age. The sows were always bred after weaning their piglets when they came in heat. This study was carried out between 1991 and 1994 at Pakhribas Agricultural Centre.

The results showed that the farrowing interval of sows decreased significantly (P=0.002) when the piglets were weaned at six weeks (162±4.38 days) of age compared to eight weeks (179±13.2 days). The lower farrowing interval in six weeks group has significantly increased the number of litters per sow per year (2.26 vs 2.05, p=0.00J). The number of piglets weaned per sow per year was 19.4 and 16.4 for six and eight week weaning groups respectively. No significant differences for litter traits (litter weight at birth, litter size at birth, litter size at weaning) were found. The results obtained from this study suggest that weaning of piglets at six weeks of age increases the productivity of sows.

Pigs form an important component of hill farming systems in Rai, Limbu, Magar, Tamang and occupational caste communities in the eastern hills of Nepal. These farmers rear pigs especially for meat and religious purposes. The weaning age of piglets in the eastern hills varies from six weeks to more than two months. Although weaning of piglets at or before six weeks of age needs special care and management, there is the possibility of increasing the productivity of sows by weaning their piglets at six weeks of age.

A total of 19 Pakhribas sows were used in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups (10 sows for six week weaning and 9 sows for eight week weaning). The piglets produced from these two groups of sows were weaned at six and at eight weeks of age. The sows were always bred after weaning their piglets when they came in heat. This study was carried out between 1991 and 1994 at Pakhribas Agricultural Centre.

The results showed that the farrowing interval of sows decreased significantly (P=0.002) when the piglets were weaned at six weeks (162±4.38 days) of age compared to eight weeks (179±13.2 days). The lower farrowing interval in six weeks group has significantly increased the number of litters per sow per year (2.26 vs 2.05, p=0.00J). The number of piglets weaned per sow per year was 19.4 and 16.4 for six and eight week weaning groups respectively. No significant differences for litter traits (litter weight at birth, litter size at birth, litter size at weaning) were found. The results obtained from this study suggest that weaning of piglets at six weeks of age increases the productivity of sows.