Comparison of the effects of Pietrain, Yorkshire, and Duroc boars on litter size, growth, and pre-weaning mortality in piglets

Ho Thieu Khoi * , Vo Cong Thi , Nguyen Thi Anh Hau and Ho Quang Do

* Corresponding author (htkhoi@ctu.edu.vn)

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Received: 27 May 2025
Revised: 25 Jun 2025
Accepted: 01 Jul 2025
Published:
Title: Comparison of the effects of Pietrain, Yorkshire, and Duroc boars on litter size, growth, and pre-weaning mortality in piglets
Section
Animal and Veterinary

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of sire breeds (Pietrain, Yorkshire, and Duroc) on the reproductive performance and pre-weaning growth of piglets born from crossbred sows (Landrace × Yorkshire). The results demonstrated that piglets from Yorkshire boars had the highest total number of piglets born (17.77 ± 0.74 piglets/litter) and weaned (16.11 ± 0.88 piglets/litter) (p < 0.001). In contrast, piglets sired by Duroc boars exhibited significantly greater weaning weight (7.80 ± 0.14 kg) and average daily gain (228.41 ± 5.36 g/day) compared with those from the other sire breeds (p < 0.01). Pre-weaning mortality did not differ significantly among the sire breeds (p > 0.05), although the Duroc group tended to have lower mortality rates. These findings suggest that sire breed selection can significantly influence piglet quality and productivity during the pre-weaning stage.

Keywords: Boar breed, Duroc, Pietrain, reproductive performance, Yorkshire

Tóm tắt

Nghiên cứu được thực hiện nhằm đánh giá ảnh hưởng của giống đực (Pietrain, Yorkshire và Duroc) đến năng suất sinh sản và khả năng sinh trưởng của heo con từ lúc sinh đến cai sữa của nái hậu bị (Landrace × Yorkshire). Kết quả cho thấy giống đực Yorkshire cho số heo con sinh ra (17,77 ± 0,74 con/ổ) và cai sữa (16,11 ± 0,88 con/ổ) cao nhất (p < 0,001), trong khi giống Duroc lại có khối lượng cai sữa (7,80 ± 0,14 kg) và tăng khối lượng trung bình hàng ngày toàn kỳ (228,41 ± 5,36 g/ngày) cao hơn hai giống heo đực còn lại (p < 0,01). Tỷ lệ chết trước cai sữa của heo con không khác biệt có ý nghĩa thống kê giữa các giống (p > 0,05), tuy nhiên nhóm Duroc có xu hướng tử vong thấp hơn. Kết quả gợi ý rằng việc lựa chọn giống đực có thể ảnh hưởng đáng kể đến chất lượng đàn con và hiệu quả chăn nuôi trong giai đoạn trước cai sữa.

Từ khóa: Đực giống, Duroc, năng suất sinh sản, Pietrain, Yorkshire

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