Abstract:
The study was carried out between June 2016 – May 2017 in a private unit in Tulcea County, and involved 60 sows and gilts of different ages. The animals were divided into two experimental groups: group I involved 30 F1 gilts (20 gilts LWxL and 10 gilts LWxD) aged between 7-8 months and group II had 30 F1 sows (20 sows LxLW and 10 sows LWxL) aged between 28-36 months. Gilts were checked for estrus twice daily and were artificially inseminated. For the first group the mean value of piglets born alive was beetwen 7.9±3.84 for LWxL gilts and 9.85±2.73 for LWxD gilts. In group II the data recorded were 9±3.98 piglets for LxLW and 9.6±3.20 piglets for LWxL sows. Good results in terms of weaned piglets were recorded for LWxL gilts (9.7±2.73) and LWxL sows (9.1±2.96). In group II there were 13 cases of piglet mortality. The results of our study indicate that gilts presented higher values of the fertility parameters such that age is an important index to take into consideration.
