On the skeletal differentiation in the ontogenesis of wild (Sus scrofa) and domestic (Sus scrofa domestica) pigs

The roentgenographic and anatomical studies of the skeletons of 15 European wild pigs and 100 domestic pigs of large white breed of both sexes and known age showed certain differences in the rate of growth and development. In European wild pig, all the secondary foci of ossification (epiphyses and apophyses) are present at the age of 6 months. The synostosis of these foci begins at the age of one year and comes to its end at the age of 3 years. The development of the skeleton of the body and extremities is completed by the age of 4.5 years. The skeleton of domestic pig grows much more rapidly, and at the age of 3 months, all the secondary foci undergo ossification, their synostosis begins at the age of 6 months. However, by the age of 2 to 3 years, the sharp decrease of the rate of differentiation was observed. The development of the skeleton of domestic pig is completed only by the age of 7 years. These peculiarities of skeletal differentiation in pigs must be taken into consideration under various selectionary and zootechnical measures.