Comparison of the reproductive performances of local pigs, improved pigs and the products of their crossbreeding with stress-negative Piétrain pigs

The reproductive performance of pig breeds reared in Benin is inferior to that of exotic breeds. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of crossbreeding between locally-reared pig and the Pietrain on female reproductive performance. A total of five batches, each comprising 12 females, were created. The first group consisted of local gilts, the second of Locale-Pietrain crossbred gilts, the third of Pietrain gilts, the fourth of impoved-Pietrain crossbred gilts, and the fifth of improved gilts. The females in the first and fifth batches were mated with a local and an improved boar, respectively, while those in the other three batches were inseminated with Pietrain semen. The reproductive performance of the sows from each batch was recorded and analyzed. The results indicated that the number of live births, litter size at birth, and weaning of Pietrains and F1 females was higher than that of local sows. The rate of stillbirths was markedly elevated in Pietrain litters in comparison to those of local and F1 sows. The gestation length was found to be longer in Pietrain sows (118.66 days) than in local sows (114.3 days) and F1 females (112.75 days). The litter weight at birth and weaning of F1 piglets was significantly higher than that of local piglets. The results of the crossbreeding trials involving the improved breed did not reveal any significant variations. In sum, crossbreeding between the local breed and Pietrain improves the reproductive performance of the animals.