Growth, physiological characteristics and reproductive performance of hybrid sows LRVCN-MS15 and YVCN-MS15
To estimate the growth capacity of hybrid sows LRCVN-MS15 and YVCN-MS15, a total of 60 females LRVCN-MS15 pigs and 60 females YVCN-MS15 pigs, which were kept in 10 pigs/pen, were sent to performance testing from 25 to 80kg. After performance testing, 40 gilts LRVCN-MS15 and 40 gilts YVCN-MS15 were selected to estimate the physiological characteristics and reproductive performance. The results showed that the average daily gains of LRVCN-MS15 and YVCN-MS15 were 648.43 and 639.80 g/day, respectively; the backfat thicknesses were 15.5 and 15.32 mm, respectively. LRVCN-MS15 and YVCN-MS15 were early puberty and there was no significant difference between them. The age at first oestrus and the first mating were 163.15 and 185.7 days (LRVCN-MS15), 162.88, and 184.33 days (YVCN-MS15). Besides, LRVCN-MS15 and YVCN-MS15 had good reproductive performance when mated with Duroc and PiDu boars. The number born alive and the total offspring/sow/years of LRVCN-MS15, when mated with Duroc and PiDu, were 13.33 and 13.34 piglets, and 29.02 and 29.20 pigs. These traits for YVCN-MS15 were 13.35 and 13.29 piglets, and 29.39 and 29.12 pigs.
