Original scientific paper
LITTER SIZE OF SOWS AT FAMILY FARMS IN REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
Marijo Tretinjak
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dubravko Škorput
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marija Đikić
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Zoran Luković
; Agronomski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Aim of study was to analyse litter size expressed as number of piglets born alive in period between 1997 and 2007. There were 33 443 litters from the 1st to the 10th parity from 774 family farms analysed. Eight sow genotypes were included: Swedish Landrace, Large White, German Landrace, Duroc, Pietrain, both reciprocal crossbreeds between Swedish Landrace and Large White, and crossbreed between German Landrace and Large White. Mating season was defined as month within year. Litter size at family farms increased for one piglet in period between years 1997 and 2007. Significant effect of season was not periodical, what means that beside climatic changes, other environmental effects affect litter size. Largest litter size was in crossbred sows, and smallest litter size was in sows of terminal breeds. There was considerable variability in litter size among farms. Litter size at family farms increased up to fourth parity, and after that decreased. Study confirmed importance of effects analysed and need of their inclusion in the model for prediction of breeding values for litter size of sows at family farms.
Keywords
pigs; fertility; number of piglets born alive; family farms
Hrčak ID:
50638
URI
Publication date:
30.11.2009.
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