Study of reproductive performance of Meishan breed and Duroc-Meishan crossbred

Two hundred and sixty-six records of litter size at birth, birth weight, alive litter size at birth, number of piglets weaned and weaning weight of Meishan Breeds (M), 50 % Duroc-50 % Meishan Crossbred (D50M50), 75 % Duroc 25 % Meishan Crossbred (D75M25), 87.5 % Duroc-12.5 % Meishan Crossbred (D87.5M12.5) and 93.75 % Duroc-6.25 % Meishan Crossbred (D93.75M6.25) were recorded between 1987-1993. The parity and year at forrowing were recorded. All records were analized by Least Square Analysis Methods. The litter size at birth of M,D50M50,D75 M25, D87.5 M12.5 and D93.75 M6.25 were 14.47+-0.49, 13.54+-0.37, 11.06+-0.44, 9.97+-0.38 and 10.43+-0.41 piglets per litter respectively. The alive litter size at birth were 12.19+-0.44, 12.13+-0.34, 10.00+-0.40, 9.15+-0.34 and 9.07+-0.37 piglets per litter respectively. M and D50 M50 had significantly higher in litter size at birth and alive litter size at birth than the other breeds (P0.01). The birth weight were 1.14+-0.03, 1.20+-0.26, 1.33+-0.03, 1.27+-0.02 and 1.24+-0.02 kilograms per piglet respectively. M had lowest in birth weight and significantly lower than D75M25, D87.5 M12.5 and D93.75 M6.25 (P0.01). The number of piglets weaned (5 wk) were 11.59+-0.45, 11.12+-0.34, 9.76+-M12.5 and D93.75 M6.25 (P0.01). The number of piglets weaned (5 wk) were 11.59+-0.45, 11.12+-0.34, 9.76+-0.40, 8.04+-0.35 and 7.93+-0.37 piglets per litter respectively. M and D50 M50 had signicantly higherin number of piglets weaned than the other breeds (P0.01). The weaning weight were 6.35+-0.25, 7.48+-0.19, 7.65+-0.22, 7.10+-0.19 and 6.96+-0.20 kilograms per piglet respectively. D75 M25 had highest in weaning weight, but M had lowest in weaning weight and significantly lower than the other breeds (P0.05).