Comparaison des performances de reproduction et des aptitudes maternelles de truies Meishan et Large White élevées en enclos individuels de la mise bas au sevrage

The reproductive performance and maternal abilities of 16 Large White (LW) and 16 Meishan (MS) gilts were compared in a loose-housing system from farrowing to weaning. Females were inseminated with semen from the other breed in order to produce LWxMS litters in both groups. Sow behaviour was analysed over the first three hours of farrowing and during six hours on day 6 of lactation, by use of video recordings. LW gilts produced larger (15.2 vs 12.9 piglets born in total; P<0.05) and more heterogeneous litters (within-litter standard deviation of birth weight of 0.28 vs 0.19 kg; P<0.01), as well as heavier piglets at birth (1.33 vs 1.13 kg; P