In order to obtain knowlege on swine secondary sex ratio, the data obtained from the Takikawa Animal Husbandry Experiment Station at Takikawa, Hokkaido, were examined as representative of the Hokkaido district. The animals used in this study totaled 21, 346. They consisted of 17, 606 Yorkshire (Y), 1, 813 Landrace (L), 618 Hampshire (H), 581 Berkshire (B), and 728 hybrid (Hyb) swine of these breeds. Sex ratios were analyzed following various conditions and the results obtained can be summarized as follows.
1) Total (Tab. 1): The sex ratio of the 5 groups as a whole was high (52%), with a significance level at 0.01 (1% level). The sex ratio of the Y and L groups was high at a 1% and 5% level, respectively, and that of the B group low at a 5% level. No definite tendency of sex ratio was shown in the H or Hyb group. The difference of sex ratio was significant between the B and any other group, but was insignificant between any two of the other four groups.
2) Boar and sow (Tab. 2 and Fig. 1): In some cases, the sex ratio of offspring from the individuals of both boar and sow showed an shift to both sexes. Boars showing a high sex ratio numbered 8 (Y) and those showing a low ratio 1 (B), that is, 16.07% of the boars showed an shift to male or female. Sows which showed a high sex ratio numbered 17 and 3 in the Y and L group, respectively, and those showing a low sex ratio 9 and 2 in the Y and B group, respectively.
These boars and sows were examined for pedigree. The results gave no exact evidence for any genetical phenomenon.
3) Litter series (Tab. 3): The sex ratio was high in some order of parturition and also in some groups of order of parturition in all the 5 groups. The Y group showed almost the same results as the total groups. The L, H, and Hyb groups showed no definite shift to any sex. Only the B group showed a low sex ratio both in some orders and in some groups of order of parturition. Results varied widely with the breed. Therefore, the relationship between the order of parturition and the sex ratio cannot be expained clearly.
4) Litter size (Tab. 4): The sex ratio showed the same tendency in all the 5 groups as in the Y group. It was high in four grades of litter size and also in two groups classified by litter size. Results varied with the breed. The sex ratio of the B group was low in some grades of litter size. Therefore, the relationship between litter size and secondary sex ratio connot be explained clearly.
5) Seasonal change (Tab. 5): The primary and secondary sex ratios showed the same tendency in all the 5 groups as in the Y group. They were high in every season, showing no significant differences among the seasons. The sex ratio of the L group was high in one season, exhibiting no significant differences among the seasons. There were no seasonal shift or sig- nificant seasonal differences in the H or Hyb group. The primary and secondary sex ratios of the B group, however, were low in some seasons, revealing significant seasonal differences among some seasons.
There were significant differences in secondary sex ratio between the B and any other group in summer and autumn, and also in primary sex ratio between the same groups in spring and summer. Therefore, the difference in secondary sex ratio between the B and any other group, as mentioned in paragraph (1), was observed only in two seasons (summer and autumn).
6) Natural mating and artificial insemination (Tab. 6): In the case of natural mating, the secondary sex ratio was high in all the 5 groups and the Y group, but it showed no definite shift in any other group. In the case of the artificial insemination, the five, Y, and L groups showed a high ratio. The difference in sex ratio was insignificant between natural mating and artificial insemination.
7) Age of boar (Tab. 7): Boar at mating ranged from 7 months to 10 years and 8 months of age. The sex ratios of the five and Y groups were high at 1 to 4 years of age.
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