Investigation Of The Performance And Effect On Sow Reproductivity Under Different Body Conditions In British Large White

Here we report the performance of British Large White on Rizhao Pig Breeding Farm in Shandong Province, which improved the British Large White in Sep. 1999.Reproductive traits: 60 sows' reproduction records from 2000~2003 were analyzed, the total number of piglets born (TNB) per litter and the total number of piglets born alive (TNBA) per litter were 11.41±4.01 and 10.66±4.33 respectively. As for sow's valid lifespan, 6 parities are optimal, hence 38% of replacement rate should be conducted.In 2003, reproductive performance of sows were 11. 73±3. 24(TNB), and 10. 76±3. 07 (TNBA) respectively.Growth characters: Based on the data from 20 male growers and 20 female growers, the average daily gains (ADG) between 30kg-100kg body weight were 884.66g (male) and 812.59g (female), the feed conversion rates (FCR) were 2.44(male) and 2.77(female), the emendation age of 100kg body weight alive attained were 152 days(male) and 158 days (female).,Carcass traits: Pigs were slaughted at 95kg body weight alive, the results showed: dressing percentages was 74.64%, lean meat percentage of carcass was 65.56%, the average backfat thickness was 12. 65mm. PSE meat or DFD meat was undetected.In addition to the observation above, the affection of sow body conditions on reception rate (RR), total number of piglets born (TNB) and total number of piglets bom alive (TNBA) were investigated. It has been shown that the moderate body condition would gave an excellent performance of 82.26% RR, 13.67 TNB and 12.41TNBA, while too thin body condition would decrease the sow's reproductivity with only 61.54% RR, 8.88 TNB and 6.50 TNBA, moderate to fat body condition would have 72.92% RR, 9.14 (TNB) and 8.26 (TNBA), and moderate to thin body condition would have 75.86% RR, 10.18 (TNB) and 9.27 (TNBA) respectively.