WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS
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Transcript of WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS
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WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS
Kim Marie Tolson, ULM James M. LaCour, LDWF
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Misconceptions in the Media
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Misconceptions in the Media
“Adult sows can produce three litters a year.”
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Misconceptions in the Media
“Adult sows can produce three litters a year.”
“one female can have 300 piglets in two years”
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BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS•Habitat generalists• Low natural mortality•Opportunistic omnivores•High reproductive potential
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BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS•Habitat generalists• Low natural mortality•Opportunistic omnivores•High reproductive potential
![Page 7: WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022070400/568134f3550346895d9c3798/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS•Habitat generalists• Low natural mortality•Opportunistic omnivores•High reproductive potential
![Page 8: WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022070400/568134f3550346895d9c3798/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS•Habitat generalists• Low natural mortality•Opportunistic omnivores•High reproductive potential
![Page 9: WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS](https://reader035.fdocuments.in/reader035/viewer/2022070400/568134f3550346895d9c3798/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS•Habitat generalists• Low natural mortality•Opportunistic omnivores•High reproductive potential
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Wild Pig Breeding Biology• Early reproductive maturity• Gestation period ~114 days– 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days– potential multiple litters/yr
• Capability to produce large litters
HIGH REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL!!
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OBJECTIVES
• Characterize the breeding biology of wild pigs in Louisiana– Determine average litter size– Calculate reproductive efficiency– Determine peak breeding dates– Compare data with other populations of feral hogs
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METHODS
• Collection May 2010 to June 2011• Reproductive tracts removed: ovaries & uterus•
- Collection Date- Location (Parish)- Weight- Notes- Tracts frozen
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METHODS
• OVARIES– Preserved in 10% buffered formalin– Sliced in 1-2 mm sections– Presence/number of follicles or corpora lutea (CL)
Ovary with follicles Ovary with CLPhotos courtesy Meg O’Boyle
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METHODS
• UTERI– Number and gender of fetuses– Crown-rump measurements (avg. for litter)– Extrapolate breeding and farrowing dates
(Henry 1968)
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RESULTS
• 87 Reproductive Tracts– 80 Adults + 7 Sub-adults– 47 lb. sow with follicular development
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RESULTS
• 87 Reproductive Tracts– 80 Adults + 7 Sub-adults– 47 lb. sow with follicular development
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RESULTS
• 35 Pregnant 43.75%• 40 Developing follicles 50.00%• 2 CL in ovaries 2.50%• 3 No repro activity 3.75% 80 Adult sows
(77/80 showed repro activity in ovaries)
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RESULTS
• 35 Pregnant 43.75%• 40 Developing follicles 50.00%• 2 CL in ovaries 2.50%• 3 No repro activity 3.75% 80 Adult sows
(77/80 showed repro activity in ovaries)
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RESULTS
CL Fetuses RE*__Sum 229 176 76.85%----------------------------------------------------------------Mean 6.54 5.03----------------------------------------------------------------Range (4-10) (2-10)----------------------------------------------------------------*RE = (# fetuses / # CL) x 100
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COMPARISON OF LITTER SIZE_____________________________________________________________________________________________Location n Mean # of fetuses (range) Reference_____________
Louisiana 35 5.03 (2-10) Tolson and LaCour (2013) Georgia 17 6.20 (?-9) Hagen and Kephart (1980) (penned) Georgia 35 5.89 (3-11) Jolley (2007) (free ranging) South Carolina 8 7.40 (5-12) Sweeney et al. (1979) Tennessee 20 4.65 Henry (1968) Texas 64 5.40 (2-11) Delgado-Acevedo et al. (2010) (southern and central counties) Texas 21 6.30 Taylor et al. (1998) -South Texas Plains (western) Texas 18 5.60 Taylor et al. (1998) -Gulf Coast Prairie (eastern) New Zealand 291 6.20 (1-11) Dzieciolowski et al. (1992) Spain 52 3.58 (1-7) Fernandez-Llario and Mateos-
Quesada (1998)__________
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Conception Dates
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Farrowing Dates
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Breeding Biology of Wild Pigs in Louisiana
• Average litter size is 5-6• Conception and farrowing occurs year round• Two peaks in conception:– Broad peak from Sept. through Dec.– Narrow peak in Feb. – Mar.
• Results not unexpected – parallels other hog populations across the south.
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Reproductive Potential
• Age of Reproductive Maturity – around 6 months– 47 pounds!
• Number of Litters per Year– Commonly reported = 2/12 mos.– Actually = 2/15-18 mos.
• Number of offspring per Litter– Average = 5 to 6
Wildpiginfo.msstate.edu
www.flickr.com
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Reproductive PotentialComparison of Large Mammals
White-tail Deer Wild PigReproductive maturity
Avg. # offspring
Frequency of breeding
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Reproductive PotentialComparison of Large Mammals
White-tail Deer Wild PigReproductive 18 mo. ~ 6 mo. maturity
Avg. # offspring
Frequency of breeding
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Reproductive PotentialComparison of Large Mammals
White-tail Deer Wild PigReproductive 18 mo. ~ 6 mo. maturity
Avg. # offspring 1.5 5-6
Frequency of breeding
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Reproductive PotentialComparison of Large Mammals
White-tail Deer Wild PigReproductive 18 mo. ~ 6 mo. maturity
Avg. # offspring 1.5 5-6
Frequency of breeding 1/12 mo. 1/8-9 mo.
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REPRODUCTIVE FACTS
• Both sexes can live 10-14 yrs (avg. is 4-8 yrs)• No reproductive senescence has been noted• Litters can be sired by more than 1 male• Males produce viable sperm year round• Synchronous estrous by females in a sounder
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REPRODUCTIVE FACTS
• Both sexes can live 10-14 yrs (avg. is 4-8 yrs)• No reproductive senescence has been noted• Litters can be sired by more than 1 male• Males produce viable sperm year round• Synchronous estrous by females in a sounder
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REPRODUCTIVE FACTS
• Both sexes can live 10-14 yrs (avg. is 4-8 yrs)• No reproductive senescence has been noted• Litters can be sired by more than 1 male• Males produce viable sperm year round• Synchronous estrous by females in a sounder
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REPRODUCTIVE FACTS
• Both sexes can live 10-14 yrs (avg. is 4-8 yrs)• No reproductive senescence has been noted• Litters can be sired by more than 1 male• Males produce viable sperm year round• Synchronous estrous by females in a sounder
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REPRODUCTIVE FACTS
• FEMALES:– Lactation may inhibit estrous for up to 2 months– May experience anestrous period in hot/dry mos.– Anestrous also reported in years of mast failure– Food resources can influence reproduction
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REPRODUCTIVE FACTS
• FEMALES:– Lactation may inhibit estrous for up to 2 months– May experience anestrous period in hot/dry mos.– Anestrous also reported in years of mast failure– Food resources can influence reproduction
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REPRODUCTIVE FACTS
• FEMALES:– Lactation may inhibit estrous for up to 2 months– May experience anestrous period in hot/dry mos.– Anestrous also reported in years of mast failure– Food resources can influence reproduction
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REPRODUCTIVE FACTS
• FEMALES:– Lactation may inhibit estrous for up to 2 months– May experience anestrous period in hot/dry mos.– Anestrous also reported in years of mast failure– Food resources can influence reproduction
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CONCLUSIONS
• Wild pigs may not be as prolific as they are often made out to be in the media
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CONCLUSIONS
• Wild pigs may not be as prolific as they are often made out to be in the media
• BUT, their reproductive potential is greater than native large mammals
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CONCLUSIONS
• Wild pigs may not be as prolific as they are often made out to be in the media
• BUT, their reproductive potential is greater than native large mammals
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CONCLUSIONS
• Wild pigs may not be as prolific as they are often made out to be in the media
• BUT, their reproductive potential is greater than native large mammals
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• Dr. James LaCour• Meghan O’Boyle• ULM Biology graduate students• USDA/APHIS-Wildlife Services personnel• LDWF personnel• USFWS personnel at Lake Ophelia NWR and
Upper Ouachita NWR• Barksdale AFB personnel