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Page 1: WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA ……  JUST THE FACTS

WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA …… JUST THE FACTS

Kim Marie Tolson, ULM James M. LaCour, LDWF

Page 2: WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA ……  JUST THE FACTS

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

BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS•Habitat generalists• Low natural mortality•Opportunistic omnivores•High reproductive potential

Page 8: WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA ……  JUST THE FACTS

BIOLOGY OF WILD PIGS•Habitat generalists• Low natural mortality•Opportunistic omnivores•High reproductive potential

Page 9: WILD PIG REPRODUCTION IN LOUISIANA ……  JUST THE FACTS

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

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QUESTIONS?

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