Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis ›› 2026, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (8): 1529-1538.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-1524.20250514

• Animal Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of backfat caliper score at 110 days of gestation and parity on reproductive performance of backcross binary sows

LI Xiaoxia1(), WANG Gangfeng2, WANG Dayi2, CAO Pinghua1   

  1. 1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, Henan, China
    2 New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd., Beijing 100102, China
  • Received:2025-07-29 Online:2026-08-25 Published:2026-09-14

Abstract:

Production records of 1 072 backcross binary sows from a breeding farm in Guizhou Province were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and correlation regression to evaluate the effects of backfat caliper score at day 110 of gestation and parities on reproductive performance of sows. The practical utility of the caliper scoring system in sow production management was further evaluated. The results showed that: 1) Parity significantly (p<0.05) influenced the reproductive performance of backcross binary sows, with optimal performance observed in parities 1-4 and marked declines after parity 7. 2) In primiparous sows, the group of caliper score ≤17 demonstrated the highest total number of born, number of born alive, and number of healthy born. This group also had significantly greater litter birth weight and weaning weight of piglets than the >22 group. Both the (17, 20) and [20, 22] groups exhibited significantly higher average piglet birth weight compared with the other groups. Additionally, their litter birth weight and piglet weaning weight were also significantly greater than those observed in the >22 group. For multiparous sows, the group of caliper score ≤17 had the highest reproductive performance, followed by the (17, 20) group. 3) Extremely significantly (p<0.01) negative correlations were observed between backfat caliper scores and litter birth weight, birth weight, and weaning weight of the piglets in primiparous sows, with optimal reproductive performance achieved at scores of 19-21. Whereas, the number of born alive and litter birth weight of piglets were significantly negatively correlated with the caliper score of multiparous sows, and the scores were better at 18-20 points. In conclusion, the reproductive performance of backcross binary sows is optimal during parities 1-4, and culling is recommended after parity 7; the backfat caliper score for primiparous sows should be maintained within 19-21, while that for multiparous sows should be kept at 18-20.

Key words: parity, caliper score, binary backcross sow, reproductive performance

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