Avaliação da relação entre níveis de ração escore corporal sobre desempenho reprodutivo de matrizes suínas

Abstract

The reproductive efficiency of sow herds is one of the main determinants of productivity in swine production and represents an activity of great economic relevance in the state of Maranhão, especially on the island of São Luís, where family-based production systems predominate. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between different feed levels and body condition score (BCS) on the reproductive performance of sows in natural mating systems on family farms in the rural area of São 10 Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The experiment was conducted on a swine farm with an average herd of 36 crossbred sows (Landrace × Large White), arranged in a 2×2×3 factorial design (two feed levels, two body condition scores, and three parity orders), with three replications. Body condition score was assessed using visual and tactile methods with the aid of a caliper at different stages of the productive cycle. Reproductive parameters evaluated included the number of piglets born alive, stillborn, and mummified. Data were subjected to normality analysis, ANOVA, and Tukey’s test. The results showed no significant differences among treatments and body condition scores. However, sows with body condition scores within the range considered ideal tended to present a higher number of piglets born alive and lower reproductive losses, regardless of the feeding treatment. It is concluded that although a slight reduction in the mean number of stillborn and mummified piglets was observed, unsatisfactory reproductive performance rarely has a single cause, being the result of multifactorial origins, which makes its diagnosis unstable and highlights the need for stricter experimental control of variables.