Behavior, sexual maturity and productive traits in gilts reared under different floor area
2014
Kirov, M., Agricultural Institute, Shumen (Bulgaria) | Doychev, V., Thrakia University, Stara Zagora (Bulgaria)
A trial with 16 gilts of Danubian White breed has been performed. The gilts have been divided into two groups - 8 pigs per group equal by origin, age and live weight. The experiment has been performed during the spring on 2012 year. The gilts from I group have been kept on floor area of 1.5 m2/head and the gilts from II group have been kept on floor area of 2.5 m2/head. Growth of gilts, age at first heating, back fat thickness, MLD thickness, carcass meat percent, age at first heating, behavior of gilts - movement, lying and feeding time during pregnancy, number of live born and weaned pigs per sow have been controlled. The gilts kept on floor area of 2.5 m2/head have reached sexual maturity at an average age of 178,71 days, while their sisters kept on floor area of 1.5 m2/head at an average age of 199,50 days – 20,79 days later - P0.001. The gilts kept in larger floor area had thinner back fat, more meat in the carcass, have moved more, have lied less, had more live born and weaned pigs.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Institute of Agricultural Economics