Craniometric study of the skull of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) in South Western Nigeria

Craniometric study of skulls of domestic pigs

Abstract

Studies related to the craniofacial anatomy of the skull of domestic animals are vital for understanding
spatial relationships of organs in the head region and the effects of genetics and the environment on
sexual dimorphisms. This present study was designed to investigate 15 metrics of craniofacial features
of 26 domestic pigs (large White breed) (12 males and 14 females), aged 6 to 17 months. Average
values were obtained and expressed as mean ± standard deviation and analysed using the Student "t"
test (p<0.05) and Pearson correlation (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). This study showed that about 80% of
the measured parameters were higher in females, compared to males. The mean neurocranial volume
was significantly higher in females (106 ± 8.38 ml) when compared to the males (96 ± 8.56 ml), while
the mean values for maximum height and length of the braincase (Neurocranium) were 6.40 ± 0.69cm
and 8.33 ± 0.35cm and 6.24 ± 0.60cm and 8.44 ± 0.32cm for the males and females respectively.
Although the braincase index values were observed to be higher in pigs above one year of age, it was
only significantly higher (p < 0.05) in females above one year of age when compared to those below
one year. This study reveals sexual dimorphism with a female bias, in the neurocranial volume. The
data obtained, therefore, provide added information that can be useful in the comparative skull
typology of pigs and the field of porcine neuroanatomy research.