Reproduction and Lactation Performance of Piglets on Cross-breeding (Moo Laat and Mong Cai) Pigs

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the Integrated Farming Demonstration Centre of Champasack University, situated about 13 km from Pakse city, Champasack Province, Lao PDR to compare the Reproductive and Lactation performance of the piglets of Moo Laat (local pig of Laos) and Mong Cai (local pigs of Vietnam) and crossbred (Moo Laat and Mong Cai pig). Fourteen pigs was used in the experiment; 7 local pigs (Moo Laat) with 6 sows and 1 boar, 7 Mong Cai pigs with 6 sows and 1 boar and with initial body weight of Moo Laat sow of 50-55 kg and Mong Cai sow of 60-65 kg. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications of four treatments.

Live weight changes of Mong Cai sows during pregnancy increased of 22.2 kg (MCMC) and 17.3 kg (MLMC), the Moo laat sows were increased of 9.5 kg (MLML) and 10.4 (MCML). The length of pregnancy was not differ which all of these data were standardized of pregnancy period (1143 days).

The weight loss of sows in lactation was affected in MCMC and MLMC but this trait was not affected in Moo laat sows mated with two breed boars. Percentage of weight loss was higher in Mong Cai sow mated with Mong Cai boar (MCMC) was 16.4% and lower in Moo laat sow (MLML) was 8.03%. All of the sows returned to estrus within 7-8 days.

The total number of piglets per litter at birth were 15.8; 14.6; 8.2 and 7.7 in treatments MCMC, MCML, MLML and MLMC respectively. The live weight of piglets at birth there were no difference among treatment (P>0.05). The total litter size at weaning was 13.8; 12.4; 6.7 and 6.1 in treatments MCMC, MCML, MLML and MLMC respectively. The Moo laat breed did not positive affected to reproductive and lactation of piglets both pure breed and crossbred.