International Journal of Animal Science, Husbandry and Livestock Production (IJASHLP) (2141-5191), Vol. 7(4), pp. 398-346, May, 2021.© Advanced Scholars Journals

Full length Research paper

Evaluation of the Reproductive Performances of local Sows in Southern Benin

Omoegiu MO^1&2*, Adoligbé MC², Tobada P², Amagnidé GA¹, Osei-Amponsah R³, Edénakpo KA¹ and Koudandé OD¹

¹National Agricultural Research Institute of Benin (INRAB), Benin.

²University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin.

³Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana,P. O. Box, LG 226, Legon, Accra, Ghana.

Corresponding author E-mail:  [email protected]

Accepted 25^th January, 2021.

Abstract 

Native sows contribute to a large extent to food security and poverty alleviation in Benin. However, their reproductive performances particularly under extensive systems are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to fill this knowledge gap by selecting 284 multiparous sows based on hair colour and some reproductive parameters. The results showed that native sows of Southern Benin can be clustered into three groups with group 3 showing the best reproductive performances - highest average litter size (10.31 piglets), live-born piglets (10.31 piglets), number of functional teats (10.94) and shorter average farrowing interval (6 months). The analysis of sows’ performances based on their origin revealed that sows from agro-ecological Zone 8 have the highest number of live-born piglets and the lowest age at first mating and first farrowing. The analysis of sows’ performances via to hair colour showed that those with black hair have the biggest litter size and the highest number of live-born piglets. This study showed that Benin’s native sows have good reproductive ability with enough variation to allow for their selection and conservation for sustainable use for protein food security and wealth creation.

Keywords: conservation, litter size, local pigs, selection, teat number.