Analysis of genetic parameters of reproductive traits in conserved breed sows raised in Poland

The aim of the study was to estimate the genetic parameters for reproductive performance in native breeds sows covered by genetic resource conservation programmes in Poland. The study used data on reproductive performance of 1,182 Złotnicka White sows, 1,648 Złotnicka Spotted sows and 1,180 Puławska sows. The following traits were analysed: age at first farrowing, number of piglets born alive, number of piglets at 21 days of age and farrowing interval. Covariance components and genetic parameters were estimated using an REML animal model with different combinations of fixed and random effects. Convergence of the iterative process was achieved by the selection of the AIREML algorithm. The estimated values of the coefficients of heritability for the number of piglets born ranged from h2 = 0.09 in the Puławska breed to h2 = 0.30 in the Złotnicka White breed. For the number of piglets reared, they varied between h2 = 0.09 in the Złotnicka Spotted breed to h2 = 0.27 in the Puławska breed. The heritability values for age at first farrowing and farrowing interval were higher, and ranged from 0.4 to 0.5. The significant positive and negative coefficients of phenotypic correlation, estimated between age at first farrowing and farrowing interval with the number of piglets born alive and reared per litter, suggest that the native pig breeds should be bred in keeping with their breed predispositions.

Performance Traits of Puławska Pigs Depending on Polymorphism in the RYR1 Gene (C.1843C>T)

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between polymorphism in the RYR1 gene (rs344435545) and on-farm test results (fattening, slaughter and reproductive traits) of pigs maintained in conservation herds. the experiment covered 76 boars and 291 gilts kept in 33 herds. animals aged 150–210 days were weighed and P2 and P4 backfat thickness as well as P4 loin muscle depth (P4m) were measured with an ultrasonic device. standardised daily gain (g/day) of the animals and carcass meat percentage (%) were determined. the following reproductive traits of sows were also collected: number of teats, age at first farrowing, dates of next farrowing, number of piglets born alive and weaned at 21 days of age. Hair roots were sampled from the gilts, sows and boars to determine the RYR1 gene polymorphism. it was found that only 3% of the animals in the analysed population had TT genotypes, whereas 28.34% were heterozygous (CT). this polymorphism (CT) was carried by 28.34% of the animals. when analysing the effect of this polymorphism on fattening and slaughter traits in live animals, it was found that sows with TT genotype, compared to the others, were characterised by higher backfat thickness only (P≤0.05). In the boars with CC and CT genotypes, no significant differences were noted between the values of the analysed traits. for reproductive traits of the sows, it was observed that females with TT genotype weaned more piglets until 21 days of age (P≤0.05).

Effect of Diets on Growth and Reproductive Performances of Growing Pigs Maintained at Farmer’s Door

Aims: This study was conducted to study the effect of different types of diets on growth and reproductive performances of pigs under village managemental conditions Chandel, Manipur. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Chandel, ICAR, Manipur Centre between May 2016 to November 2017. Methods: The present study was carried out on 36 Hampshire crossbred pigs maintained by 12 farm women of Chandel district of Manipur. Each farm women were provided with 3 weaned piglets having 2 females and one male of about 3 months old. Out of which, the 50% (6 family) farm women were maintained their piglets on 40% wheat bran and 60 % rice fermented waste (D1), whereas pigs of rest 50% (6 family) farm women were maintained on 30 % crushed maize, 30 % rice bran and 40 % rice fermented waste (D2). The different parameters like body weight at different stage, age at sexual maturity, age at first farrowing, litter size at birth and litter size at weans were determined. Results: Analysis of variance showed non-significant influence of diets on weight at various ages. The average initial body weight of piglets mentioned on D1 and D2 diets were 16.86 ± 0.25 and 16.75 ± 0.43 kg, respectively which was increased to 52.17 ± 1.86 and 53.56 ± 0.92 kg within three months of experimental period. Sex had significant influence on weight at 4th and 5th months of age. However, males were heavier than females at all the ages under study, the value at 6 months of age were 54.50 ± 1.66 and 52.04 ± 1.30 kg for males and females, respectively. Influence of diet was found to be non-significant on various reproductive traits. The age at sexual maturity, age at first farrowing, litter size at birth and at weaning were found to by 8.45 ± 0.23 and 8.23 ± 0.25 months, 12.95 ± 0.33 and 12.66 ± 0.30 months, 7.58 ± 0.31 and 7.75 ± 0.63 and 7.17 ± 0.13 and 7.42 ± 0.29 in D1 and D2 diets, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicated that the rice fermented waste may be incorporated in pig grower ration upto 60 % level without any adverse effect on their growth and reproductive performance to cut down the cost on pig feed.

Reproductive performance of pigs raised by intensive management system in Abuja, Nigeria

Background: Population growth led to an increase in the number of people raising pigs, resulting in increased demand for piglets/pigs for breeding and pork for consumption. Aim: This study was carried out to determine the reproductive performance of pigs raised by the intensive management system in Abuja, Nigeria, with a view to assist farmers in ensuring improved productivity and profitability. Materials and Methods: Using an interview-based questionnaire, data from 121 sows and 649 preweaning piglets were collected in 12 herds, from September 2017 to March 2018. Measures of reproductive and production performance assessed in this study were interfarrowing interval (IFI), number of liveborn piglets (NLB), preweaning piglet mortality (PPM), age at weaning (AAW), weaning to service interval (WSI), age at first farrowing (AFF), number of piglets weaned per litter (NPWL), and number of piglets weaned per sow per year (NPWPY). Results: The results obtained in this study were IFI 6.2±0.84 months, NLB 7.2±1.11, PPM 31%, AAW 40.2±3.12 days, NPWL 5.3±0.73, WSI 39.4±4.59 days, AFF 9.1±0.60 months, and NPWPY 8.1±1.21. The identified causes of PPM were maternal overlay 31.34%, splay leg/hypoglycemia 22.39%, cannibalism 20.40%, starvation 14.93%, and unknown cause 10.94%. Conclusion: The result showed that the reproductive performance of the sow (especially, NPWPY and PPM) needs to be improved on. There is a need to promote extension and herd health services by veterinarians and livestock personnel to potential and existing farmers in the area. This is more so because organized pig production in the studied area is relatively new and more people are establishing pig farms in the studied area.

New Polymorphic Changes in the Wnt7A Gene and Their Effect on Reproductive Traits in Pigs

For many years, research has been undertaken to identify genetic markers associated with reproductive traits in pigs, but these issues are still open to research. WNT7A expression was found in endometrium during embryo implantation as well as in early pregnancy in humans and in different species of animals. Our study was designed to identify polymorphic changes in the WNT7A gene and their effect on reproductive traits in 480 Polish Large White (PLW ) and Polish Landrace (PL) pigs in 4 successive litters. As a result, 3 mutations were identified: two transitions in exon 3 g.6270G>A (rs326274214) and in intron 4 g.36251G>A (rs321204163) and deletion/insertion in intron 4 g.36220delinsAT (rs338143418). Frequency analysis of the genotypes of these polymorphisms in the WNT7A gene showed departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for PLW at locus g.36220delinsAT and for total breeds and PLW at locus g.36251G>A. Generally, the largest litters were found in sows with AA genotypes for mutations g.6270G>A and g.36251G>A and in sows with ins/ins genotype for mutation g.3622delinsAT . However, the sows of these genotypes formed only a small percentage (from 9% to 13%) in the studied group of animals. Statistical analysis showed significant differences only for the number of piglets born and reared in parity 1 (1NBA and 1N21d) in favor of the sows with genotype AA g.6270G>A (P≤0.05) and for the number of piglets born in litter 4 (4NBA) with genotype ins/ins g.3622delinsAT (P≤0.05). The analysed mutations had no effect on the age at first farrowing and the successive farrowing intervals.

Fertility traits of autochthonous breeds of Mangalitsa, Moravka and Resavka

Objective of this paper was to evaluate phenotypic variability of fertility traits of indigenous breeds of Mangalitsa (Swallow-Belly Strain Mangalitsa-SBSM), Moravka breed (M) and Resavka (R). Indigenous pig populations are usually constituted by a quite low number of active boars and sows. Their pedigree information is lacking or absent, complete phenotypic description is usually not available for most of these populations that are very well adapted to specific local agro-climatic environments. In controlled herds in period of four years, the average age at first farrowing (AFF) was 18.5 months with large variability of 5.9 months for Swallow belly Mangalitsa. Less AFF (14.3 months) and less variability (4.4 months), in relation to SBSM, determined for Moravka breed while for Resavka determined age of 14.7 months with at least variability for this trait from 4.4 months. The average number of piglets born alive (for a period of four years) of SBSM was the lowest from 4.37 to 4.81; in case of M and R, this value was significantly (P<0.001) higher (from 5.75 to 8.17 and for R breed 6.40 to 9.00). With average duration of suckling period (duration of lactation - DL) of 52.92 days in the first year for the breed SBSM with the lowest number of reared piglets (NRP=4.10) whereas the DL for M and R breeds was shorter (from 45.75 to 52.03 day) with a higher NRP (from 4.57 to 8.92 reared piglets).

Reproductive attributes of local pig (Votho) of Nagaland, India

The present study was conducted to measure the reproductive attributes of Naga local pigs (Votho) in Kohima, Peren and Phek district of Nagaland. The reproductive parameters were measured through field survey and reproductive records of owner. The reproductive parameters such as age at first fertile service (AFFS), age at first farrowing (AFF), gestation length, farrowing interval, litter size at birth, litter size at weaning, litter weight at birth, litter weight at weaning, mortality rate and stillbirth rate were measured. The result revealed that there was a significant difference among the different districts of Nagaland in AFFS, AFF and litter weight at birth. Parameters such as AFFS, AFF and litter weight at birth were significantly higher and gestation length, farrowing interval, litter size at weaning, litter weight at birth, litter weight at weaning were non-significantly higher in Kohima than in Peren and Phek District. Similarly, parameters such as litter size at birth, mortality rate were non-significantly higher in Peren district and stillbirth was non- significantly higher in Phek district than other districts of Nagaland. These reproductive attributes analyses may be useful in selection of breeding stock for future parents and select the place for breeding programme for indigenous local Naga pigs.