Comparative study of maternal behaviours and reproductive performance among three Minpig hybrid breeds

文献类型： 外文期刊

第一作者： Huang, Xuankai

作者： Huang, Xuankai;Zhang, Lei;Gao, Shengyue;Song, Yan;Wang, Hongbao;Wang, Li;Di, Shengwei;Jin, Long;Cui, Shiquan;Wang, Xibiao

作者机构：

关键词： Sows; Hybrid; Behaviour; Maternal ability

期刊名称：APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE （ 影响因子：2.0； 五年影响因子：2.4 ）

ISSN： 0168-1591

年卷期： 2025 年 288 卷

页码：

收录情况： SCI

摘要： Maternal ability plays an important role in improving the reproductive efficiency of sows. The advantage of local pigs in terms of maternal ability in China has been verified. Evaluating the maternal ability of offspring from different introduced boars and Minpig sows is highly important for determining the best hybrid mode and fully utilizing the maternal advantages of Minpig. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the posture changes, carefulness scores, sow responsiveness to trapped screams, nursing behaviours and reproductive performance of sows of three Minpig hybrid breeds (Duroc x Minpig (DM, N = 24), Landrace x Minpig (LM, N = 26) and Yorkshire x Minpig (YM, N = 26)) and determine the crossbreeding that optimizes maternal ability. The data were analysed using the general linear model and generalized estimating equations. Compared with the LM and YM sows, the DM sows presented an earlier peak and a longer total duration (P = 0.007) and average bout duration (P = 0.009) of nest-building behaviour during the 24 h prior to parturition. Furthermore, lower proportion of piglet crushing from standing to lying (P = 0.002) and total postural changes (P = 0.008) was observed in DM sows during the first 3 days. DM sows also had higher carefulness scores (day 1-day 3, P < 0.001; week 2-week 5) and responsiveness scores to the playback of piglet screams (P < 0.001) during lactation. Compared with that of DM sows, the frequency of nutritive nursing was significantly greater (P = 0.005) and the duration of nutritive nursing was lower (P < 0.001) in LM and YM sows. Compared with the DM and LM sows, the YM sows presented a shorter duration of pre-ejection (P = 0.001) and postejection massage (P < 0.001) by sucking piglets and a greater proportion of nursing terminated by sows during lactation. The number of piglets born alive (P = 0.004) and weaned (P < 0.001) and the piglet weight of litters at age 21 days (P = 0.0003) were greater for the LM and YM sows than the DM sows. These results suggest that DM sows exhibit positive prepartum nesting activities, high carefulness scores for piglets and better responses to piglet screams, which are more conducive to production management. However, YM sows have greater advantages in terms of reproductive performance. In production environments without artificially assisted piglet care, DM sows may serve as an excellent maternal line because of their favourable maternal characteristics.

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