Birth rate and offspring survival in a free-ranging wild boar Sus scrofa population

Náhlik András; Sándor Gyula; Tari Tamás

Bulletin of Forestry Science / Volume 3 / Issue 1 / Pages 261-269
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Birth rate and offspring survival in a free-ranging wild boar Sus scrofa population

András Náhlik, Gyula Sándor & Tamás Tari

Correspondence

Correspondence: Náhlik András

Postal address: H-9400 Sopron, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 4.

e-mail: nahlik[at]emk.nyme.hu

Abstract

We have estimated birth rate in wild boar Sus scrofa by counting embryos in the uterus of females killed in the course of individual or drive hunts. Counting corpora lutea in the ovaries gave information, on embryo/corpus luteum rate, which can be useful for estimating birth rate in early stages of pregnancy. In the latter cases we multiplied the number of corpus luteum by the embryo/corpus luteum rate to estimate the birth rate. Birth rate was estimated in different age groups, separately. Age was estimated by means of teeth wear. Survival was estimated by direct observations counting the piglet/female ratio in matrilineal groups. The method is suitable for assessing summer survival only, as 8–9 month after birth matrilineal groups begin to disintegrate. Average estimated birth rate was 6.7 (N=51). We found positive linear relationship between conception rate and age of female, conception rate and body mass, respectively. In late stages of pregnancy, embryo/ corpus luteum rate proved to be 0.83±0,15. Recruitment of piglets to the female population was low: more than half of them perished by the end of September. The highest mortality rate occurred in the first weeks of the piglets’ lives.

Keywords: birth rate, piglet survival, pre-natal mortality, recruitment, wild boar

References31

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2.	Ahmad E., Brooks J. E., Hussain I. and Khan M. H. 1995: Reproduction in Eurasian wild boar in central Punjab, Pakistan. Acta Theriologica, 40 (2):163–173. DOI: 10.4098/at.arch.95-17
3.	Ahrens, M. 1984: A study on wild boar reproduction. Beitr. Jagd-Wildforsch., 13: 231–243.
4.	Andrzejewski, R. and Jezierski, W. 1978: Management of a wild boar population and its effects on commercial land. Acta Theriologica, 23: 309–339. DOI: 10.4098/at.arch.78-23
5.	Aumaitre, A., Quere, J. P. and Peiniau, J. 1984: Influence du milieu sur la reproduction hivernale et la prolificité de la laie. Reproduction and prolificacy of European wild sow in France: effect of location and nutritional conditions.) – In: INRA Publ. (Ed.); Symposium international sur la Sanglier, Toulouse, France, pp. 69–78.
6.	Bieber, C. and Ruf, T. 2005: Population dynamics in wild boar Sus scrofa: ecology, elasticity of growth rate and implications for the management of pulsed resource consumers. Journal of Applied Ecology, 42(6): 1203–1213. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.01094.x
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8.	Boitani, L.; Trapanese, P. and Mattei, L. 1995: Demographic patterns of a wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) population in Tuscany, Italy. Journal of Mountain Ecology 3: 197–201.
9.	Briedermann, L. 1971: Zur Reproduktion des Schwarzwildes in der Deutschen Demokratische Republik. Tag. Ber. Akad. Landwirtsch. Wiss. Berlin., 113: 169–186.
10.	Ditchkoff S. S., Jolley D. B., Sparklin B. D., Hanson L. B., Mitchell M. S. and Grand J. B. 2012: Reproduction in a Population of Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa) Subjected to Lethal Control. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 76(6): 1235–1240. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.356
11.	Fernández-Llario P. and Mateos-Quesada P. 1998: Body size and reproductive parameters in the wild boar Sus scrofa. Acta Theriologica, 43(4): 439–444. DOI: 10.4098/at.arch.98-54
12.	Gaillard, J-M.; Brandt, S. and Jullien, J-M. 1993: Body weight effect on reproduction of young wild boar (Sus scrofa) females: a comparative analysis. Folia zoologica, 42(3): 204–212.
13.	Gaillard, J.-M. ; Vassant, J. and Klein, F. 1987: Quelques caractéristiques de la dynamique des populations de sangliers (Sus scrofa) en milieu chassé. Some characteristics of the population dynamics of wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) in a hunted environment.) Gibier Faune Sauvage, 4: 31–47.
14.	Garzon-Heydt, P. 1992: Study of a population of wild boar Sus scrofa castillianus Thomas, 1912 in Spain, based on hunting data. Global trends in wildlife management. Transactions of the 18th Congress of the IUGB, Krakow, Poland 2: 489–492.
15.	Groot Bruinderink, G.V.T. & Hazebroek, E. 1994: Diet and condition of wild boar, Sus scrofa, without supplementary feeding. Journal of Zoology, 233: 631–648. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05370.x
16.	Habermehl, K-H. 1985: Alterbestimmung bei Wild- und Pelztieren. Verlag Paul Parey, Hamburg-Berlin
17.	Heltay I.; Mátrai G.; Sugár L. és Kovács I. 1981: A vaddisznó szaporodási vizsgálata disznóskertben és szabad területen. Nimród Fórum, 9: 18–23.
18.	Jezierski, W. 1977: Longevity and mortality rate in a population of wild boar. Acta Theriologica, 22: 337–348. DOI: 10.4098/at.arch.77-31
19.	Kőhalmy T. 1979: Adatok a vaddisznóállomány értékeléséhez. Nimród Fórum 24(9).
20.	Linderoth, P. 2010: Energieversorgung und Reproduktion einer Schwarzwildpopulation. Wildforschung in Baden-Württemberg (9) Schwarzwildseminar in der Schwäbischen Bauerschule.
21.	Martys, M. 1982: Gehegebeobachtungen zur Geburts- und Reproduktionsbiologie des Europäischen Wildschweines (Sus scrofa). Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 42: 100–113.
22.	Mauget, R. 1972: Observations sur la reproduction du sangiler (Sus scrofa) a l état sauvage. Observations on wild-pig (Sus scrofa L.) reproduction.). Annales de Biologie animale, Biochimie, Biophysique, 12(2): 195–202. DOI: 10.1051/rnd:19720201
23.	Mauget, R. 1980: Regulations ecologiques comportementales et physilogiques (fonction de reproduction de l’adaptation du sanglier Sus scrofa L. au milieu . C.N.C.R.
24.	Melis, C.; Szafranska, P.A.; Jedrzejewska, B. and Barton, K. 2006: Biogeographical variation in the population density of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in western Eurasia. Journal Biogeography, 33: 803–811. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2006.01434.x
25.	Merta, D.; Albrycht, M.; Frackowiak, W.; Furtek, J. and Mamok, T. 2011: Reproductive parameters, birth date-effect and body condition of wild boars (Sus scrofa) inhabiting forest and forest-farmland environments in Poland. 8th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference, 233–234.
26.	Faragó S. és Náhlik A. 1997: A vadállományok szabályozása, Mezőgazda Kiadó, p. 263.
27.	Pedone, P.; Mattioli, L.; Mattioli, S.; Siemoni, N.; Lovari, C. and Mazzarone, V. 1991: Body growth and fertility in wild boars of Tuscany, Central Italy. In: Csányi, S. and Ernhaft, J. (eds.); Transactions of the XXth Congress of the IUGB. Gödöllő, Hungary, 604–609.
28.	Sáez-Royuela, C. and Tellería, J.L. 1987: Reproductive trends of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Spain. Folia Zoologica, 36: 21–25.
29.	Spitz, F. 1992: General model of the spatial and social organization of the Wild Boars (Sus scrofa L.). In: Spitz, F.; Janeau, G.; Gonzales, G. and Aulagnier, S. (eds.); Proceedings of the International Symposium „Ongulés / Ungulates 91” Toulouse-France. 385–389.
30.	Vericad, R. 1983: Estimacion de la edad fetal y periodos de conception y parto del jabali (Sus scrofa) en los Pirineos occidentalis. In: Acta del XV. Congreso Int. Fauna Cinegetica y Silvestre 1981. pp. 811–820.
31.	de Vos, von A. and Sassani, A. 1977: Eine Studie der Population des Schwarzwildes (Sus scrofa) in dem Mohammad Reza hah Nationalpark. A wild boar (Sus scrofa) population study in Mohammad Reza Shah National Park). Zeitschrift für Jagdwissenschaft, 23: 113–125.

Abaigar, T. 1992: Paraméters de la reproduction chez le sanglier (Sus scrofa) dans le sud-est de la péninsule iberique. Mammalia, 56(2): 245–250. DOI: 10.1515/mamm-1992-0208

Ahmad E., Brooks J. E., Hussain I. and Khan M. H. 1995: Reproduction in Eurasian wild boar in central Punjab, Pakistan. Acta Theriologica, 40 (2):163–173. DOI: 10.4098/at.arch.95-17

Ahrens, M. 1984: A study on wild boar reproduction. Beitr. Jagd-Wildforsch., 13: 231–243.

Andrzejewski, R. and Jezierski, W. 1978: Management of a wild boar population and its effects on commercial land. Acta Theriologica, 23: 309–339. DOI: 10.4098/at.arch.78-23

Aumaitre, A., Quere, J. P. and Peiniau, J. 1984: Influence du milieu sur la reproduction hivernale et la prolificité de la laie. Reproduction and prolificacy of European wild sow in France: effect of location and nutritional conditions.) – In: INRA Publ. (Ed.); Symposium international sur la Sanglier, Toulouse, France, pp. 69–78.

Bieber, C. and Ruf, T. 2005: Population dynamics in wild boar Sus scrofa: ecology, elasticity of growth rate and implications for the management of pulsed resource consumers. Journal of Applied Ecology, 42(6): 1203–1213. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.01094.x

Boisaubert, B. and Klein, F. 1984: Contribution á l’étude de l’occupation de l’espace chez le sanglier (Sus scrofa) par capture et recapture. In: INRA Publ. (Ed.); Symposium international sur la Sanglier, Toulouse, France, 135–150.

Boitani, L.; Trapanese, P. and Mattei, L. 1995: Demographic patterns of a wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) population in Tuscany, Italy. Journal of Mountain Ecology 3: 197–201.

Briedermann, L. 1971: Zur Reproduktion des Schwarzwildes in der Deutschen Demokratische Republik. Tag. Ber. Akad. Landwirtsch. Wiss. Berlin., 113: 169–186.

Ditchkoff S. S., Jolley D. B., Sparklin B. D., Hanson L. B., Mitchell M. S. and Grand J. B. 2012: Reproduction in a Population of Wild Pigs (Sus scrofa) Subjected to Lethal Control. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 76(6): 1235–1240. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.356

Fernández-Llario P. and Mateos-Quesada P. 1998: Body size and reproductive parameters in the wild boar Sus scrofa. Acta Theriologica, 43(4): 439–444. DOI: 10.4098/at.arch.98-54

Gaillard, J-M.; Brandt, S. and Jullien, J-M. 1993: Body weight effect on reproduction of young wild boar (Sus scrofa) females: a comparative analysis. Folia zoologica, 42(3): 204–212.

Gaillard, J.-M. ; Vassant, J. and Klein, F. 1987: Quelques caractéristiques de la dynamique des populations de sangliers (Sus scrofa) en milieu chassé. Some characteristics of the population dynamics of wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa) in a hunted environment.) Gibier Faune Sauvage, 4: 31–47.

Garzon-Heydt, P. 1992: Study of a population of wild boar Sus scrofa castillianus Thomas, 1912 in Spain, based on hunting data. Global trends in wildlife management. Transactions of the 18th Congress of the IUGB, Krakow, Poland 2: 489–492.

Groot Bruinderink, G.V.T. & Hazebroek, E. 1994: Diet and condition of wild boar, Sus scrofa, without supplementary feeding. Journal of Zoology, 233: 631–648. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1994.tb05370.x

Habermehl, K-H. 1985: Alterbestimmung bei Wild- und Pelztieren. Verlag Paul Parey, Hamburg-Berlin

Heltay I.; Mátrai G.; Sugár L. és Kovács I. 1981: A vaddisznó szaporodási vizsgálata disznóskertben és szabad területen. Nimród Fórum, 9: 18–23.

Jezierski, W. 1977: Longevity and mortality rate in a population of wild boar. Acta Theriologica, 22: 337–348. DOI: 10.4098/at.arch.77-31

Kőhalmy T. 1979: Adatok a vaddisznóállomány értékeléséhez. Nimród Fórum 24(9).

Linderoth, P. 2010: Energieversorgung und Reproduktion einer Schwarzwildpopulation. Wildforschung in Baden-Württemberg (9) Schwarzwildseminar in der Schwäbischen Bauerschule.

Martys, M. 1982: Gehegebeobachtungen zur Geburts- und Reproduktionsbiologie des Europäischen Wildschweines (Sus scrofa). Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, 42: 100–113.

Mauget, R. 1972: Observations sur la reproduction du sangiler (Sus scrofa) a l état sauvage. Observations on wild-pig (Sus scrofa L.) reproduction.). Annales de Biologie animale, Biochimie, Biophysique, 12(2): 195–202. DOI: 10.1051/rnd:19720201

Mauget, R. 1980: Regulations ecologiques comportementales et physilogiques (fonction de reproduction de l’adaptation du sanglier Sus scrofa L. au milieu . C.N.C.R.

Melis, C.; Szafranska, P.A.; Jedrzejewska, B. and Barton, K. 2006: Biogeographical variation in the population density of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in western Eurasia. Journal Biogeography, 33: 803–811. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2006.01434.x

Merta, D.; Albrycht, M.; Frackowiak, W.; Furtek, J. and Mamok, T. 2011: Reproductive parameters, birth date-effect and body condition of wild boars (Sus scrofa) inhabiting forest and forest-farmland environments in Poland. 8th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference, 233–234.

Faragó S. és Náhlik A. 1997: A vadállományok szabályozása, Mezőgazda Kiadó, p. 263.

Pedone, P.; Mattioli, L.; Mattioli, S.; Siemoni, N.; Lovari, C. and Mazzarone, V. 1991: Body growth and fertility in wild boars of Tuscany, Central Italy. In: Csányi, S. and Ernhaft, J. (eds.); Transactions of the XXth Congress of the IUGB. Gödöllő, Hungary, 604–609.

Sáez-Royuela, C. and Tellería, J.L. 1987: Reproductive trends of the wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Spain. Folia Zoologica, 36: 21–25.

Spitz, F. 1992: General model of the spatial and social organization of the Wild Boars (Sus scrofa L.). In: Spitz, F.; Janeau, G.; Gonzales, G. and Aulagnier, S. (eds.); Proceedings of the International Symposium „Ongulés / Ungulates 91” Toulouse-France. 385–389.

Vericad, R. 1983: Estimacion de la edad fetal y periodos de conception y parto del jabali (Sus scrofa) en los Pirineos occidentalis. In: Acta del XV. Congreso Int. Fauna Cinegetica y Silvestre 1981. pp. 811–820.

de Vos, von A. and Sassani, A. 1977: Eine Studie der Population des Schwarzwildes (Sus scrofa) in dem Mohammad Reza hah Nationalpark. A wild boar (Sus scrofa) population study in Mohammad Reza Shah National Park). Zeitschrift für Jagdwissenschaft, 23: 113–125.

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Náhlik, A., Sándor, Gy. & Tari, T. (2013): Birth rate and offspring survival in a free-ranging wild boar Sus scrofa population. Bulletin of Forestry Science, 3(1): 261-269. (in Hungarian)

previous article |

Volume 3, Issue 1
Pages: 261-269

First published:
28 June 2013

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