INFLUENCE OF SEASON AND GENOTYPE ON THE REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS OF THE FEMALE PIGS

Abstract

The study was carried out at the Piggery Research Unit of the Delta State University Farm, Asaba Campus, Nigeria. It was conducted to evaluate the influence of season and genotype on reproductive traits of pigs. A total of 24 weaner pigs made up of 18 females and 6 males of Landrace (LR), Duroc (DU), and Large White (LW) constituted the experimental stock. The gilts were bred and the offspring from the first parity were also used for the experiment. Data were taken continually every two weeks in the four sub- seasons of the year: Late dry season (October-December); Early dry season (January-March); Early rainy season (April-June); and Late rainy season (July-September) in two replicate years. The data generated were subjected to variance, and significantly different means separated by Scheffe using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure SPSS (2010) program. Reproductive traits were investigated using standard methods. The findings revealed that season had no significant (P>0.05) effect on all the reproductive traits evaluated. While genotype groups had significant (P<0.05) effects on litter size of sows at farrowing (LSF), litter birth weight (LBWT), litter weaning weight (LWWT) and pre-weaning gain parameters, respectively. The Large White genetic group was superior in litter size at farrowing (LSF) to the Duroc or the Landrace. The Duroc and Landrace groups were superior in weaning weight (WWT) to the Large White. The Duroc group is superior in pre-weaning gain to Large White and Landrace