Abstract
The experiment was carried out in a pig farm to evaluate the reproductive performance under production conditions. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the seminal parameters (sperm vitality, sperm DNA fragmentation, sperm abnormalities and number of spermatozoa), season (summer, autumn, winter, spring), parity and boar genetic line (male or female genetic line) on the reproductive performance of the sows and gilts. A total of 348 double artificial inseminations (AI) performed with the same ejaculated were evaluated. Farrowing rate (FR), weaning-estrus interval (WEI), weaning-conception interval (WCI), total piglets born (TPB) and piglets born alive (PBA) were recorded. Simple means (standard error) for FR, WEI, WCI, TPB and PBA, were 83.3% (1.90), 4.6 days (0.33), 6.5 days (0.77), 12.3 (0.16) and 11.2 (0.16) respectively. A positive significant correlation (b= 0.150) between FR and sperm vitality was observed. The FR also was affected by season: inseminations performed in summer resulted in the lowest values, and was different from the others seasons. The females in the first two farrowings had lower FR. The male genetic line affected the FR and TPB. TPB and PBA were affected by parity: both were lower in the 2nd farrowing and higher in the 4th-5th farrowing. We conclude that under the conditions of temperate climate parity was the most important factor influencing reproductive performance. It affected both the farrowing rate and total number of piglets born. Season affected farrowing rate, but not litter size.

Keywords
reproduction performance, pig, sow, boar, environment

Cite this paper
Hugo Petrocelli, Carlos Batista, Sow reproductive performance: effect of seminal parameters, season and parity under farm conditions , SCIREA Journal of Agriculture. Volume 4, Issue 4, August 2019 | PP. 61-75.

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