Galemys

Wild boar’s reproductive 13 in

aspects (nºCentral
especial), 2001
Portugal

MONTHLY BIRTH DISTRIBUTION OF THE WILD BOAR

(Sus scrofa L.) IN CENTRAL PORTUGAL

C. FONSECA1, J. SOUSA1, J. VINGADA2, J. CANCELA3 Y A. M. V. M. SOARES1

1. Depto. Biologia, Univ. Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago,

P-3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. ([email protected])
2. Depto. de Biologia, Univ. Minho, Campus Universitário, P-4710 Braga, Portugal
3. Direcção Regional de Agricultura da Beira Litoral, Av. Fernão de Magalhães, 465,
P-3000-177 Coimbra, Portugal

ABSTRACT
The knowledge of the reproductive events in game animal populations contributes to a more
efficient species management. Problems regarding the overlapping of hunting and breeding season on
wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) are very common in almost all European countries. In Portugal, despite the wild
boar’s demographical increase, the information about the characteristics of its reproduction and other
ecological aspects is very scarce or absent. The wild boar population from central Portugal was monitored
during the last four hunting seasons (1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99). Several reproductive
parameters were studied. Frequency of pregnancy was greater in older classes and the average litter size
of harvested pregnant females was low (4,14 ± 1,15) in relation with other populations from northern
Europe. The influence of litter size on the age of females and its geographical variability are discussed.
One reproduction period is observed with the peak of births in March. According to the obtained
reproductive season, several considerations about wild boar population hunting and management in
the centre of Portugal are presented.
Key words: Central Portugal, game management, Reproduction, wild boar.

RESUMEN
Distribución de los meses de nacimiento del jabalí (Sus crofa L.) en el centro de Portugal
El conocimiento de los eventos reproductivos en las especies ciengéticas contribuye a una gestión
más eficiente de las mismas. Los problemas relacionados con el solapamiento del periodo de caza y del
reproductor en el jabalí (Sus scrofa L.) son frecuentes en la mayoría de los países europeos. En Portugal,
pese al incremento demográfico del jabalí, la información existente sobre la reproducción y otros as-
pectos ecológicos es muy escasa o incluso ausente. Las poblaciones de jabalí del centro de Portugal
fueron censadas durante las cuatro últimas estaciones de caza (1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99) y se
analizaron diversos parámetros reproductivos. El porcentaje de hembras gestantes fue mayor en las
clases de edad más viejas y el número de embriones en las hembas cazadas fue bajo (4,14 ± 1,15) en
comparación con el de otras poblaciones situadas más al norte de Europa. Se discute la influencia de la
edad de la hembra sobre el tamaño de la camada, así como la variabilidad geográfica. Se detecta un
periodo de reproducción con un máximo de nacimientos en marzo. A partir de los datos obtenidos
sobre la reproducción de la especie se efectúan algunas consideraciones sobre la caza y gestión de las
poblaciones salvajes de jabalí en el centro de Portugal.
Palabras clave: gestión cinegética, jabalí, Portugal Central, reproducción.

INTRODUCTION
Problems regarding the overlapping of hunting and breeding season on wild
boar (Sus scrofa L.) are very common in almost all European countries. In Portugal,

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despite the wild boar demographical increase (Fonseca, 1999), the information about
the characteristics of its reproduction is very scarce or absent.
The wild boar population from central Portugal was monitored during the last
four hunting seasons (Oct.1995/Feb.96 - Oct.1998/Feb.99) and 149 females were
analysed. The following reproductive parameters were studied: percentage of
pregnant females, timing of puberty, birth dates and average litter size.
Therefore, the knowledge of the wild boar’s reproductive potentialities may be
used in a more efficient and sustainable game management.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All harvested animals were aged by tooth eruption patterns and wear according
to Matschke (1967) and ONC (1995). Three age classes were considered: Piglets (up
to 12 months), Yearlings (between 12 and 24 months) and Adults (above 24 months).
The following female biological parameters were collected: age, weight, reproductive
status, number of embryos or placental scars and ovaries activity.
The minimum weight at which the first reproduction occurs in females was
determined.
Birth dates have been deduced from the age of the embryos or foetuses
determined using the Henry (1968) and Vericad (1983) formulas. The gestation period
was taken to be 120 days (Mauget 1982, Sáez-Royuela y Telleria 1987, Vericad 1983).

R ESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Breeding status
86 (57,7%) of the 149 female pigs studied were pregnant or showed placental
scars indicating that more than half were involved in breeding.
Figure 1 shows the proportion of breeding females in the considered age classes.
No piglet females were pregnant. However, six young wild boar females (about 40%
of the examined piglet females), weighting in average more than 34,5 Kg (dressed
weight) presented ovarian activity.
As described by the following authors, Aumaitre et al (1982) (20 Kg), Rosell (1998)
(30kg), Mauget & Pepin (1991) (30–35kg), a minimum body weight must be reached
before puberty appearance. In sampled animals, this weight seems to be around 35
Kg, although the availability of food resources in conjunction with natural
photoperiodism might affect directly the occurrence of the first reproduction.
64,6% and 83,0% of yearling and adult females, respectively, were pregnant,
revealing that a large number of mature females are pregnant during the most
important period of the wild boar’s hunting season (October-February).

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Figure 1. Percentages of Breeding (pregnant females or females with

recent placental scars) and Not pregnant wild boar’s females
Porcentajes de hembras reproductoras (hembras gestantes y hembras con
máculas uterinas recientes) y hembras no gestantes de jabalíes

Females reproduction phenology

The results obtained for the central Portuguese population of wild boar seem
to show the occurrence of a marked birth period that extends from January to May
(Figure 2).

Figure 2. Monthly birth distribution from the embryos obtained during the hunting season
Distribución de los meses de nacimiento de los embriones obtenidos durante el periodo de caza

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Very similar data were obtained in the two seasons of study. The peak parturition
month was March with 45% of births in 1997/98 and 57% in 1998/99. Based on
present data, one can assume that the mating season starts in September (Autumn)
and the births take place in the Spring.
The main wild boar hunting pressure in central Portugal occurs during the
mating season of this species, creating several management problems and ethical
questions. For instance, between 1997-1999, the big number of pregnant females
killed during January and February in a central Portuguese mountainous region
contributed to the reduction of wild boar local population until the present time.
The pronounced seasonality of the wild boar’s sexual activity presented in this
study can help in future decisions about wild boar management in the centre of
Portugal.

Litter size
The number of foetuses per wild boar varied from 2 to 6 (4 most frequently)
among the 73 pregnant females (Figure 3). The obtained results follow a normalized
distribution ( Anderson-Darling test, p=0,667) with an average of 4,14 (± 1,15 SD)
piglets per female.

Figure 3. Distribution of the litter size

Dsitribución del tamaño de camada

The litters’ average is smaller in yearling females (3,65 ± 1,10 SD) than adult
females (>2 years old) (4,56 ± 1.02 SD). The reproductive capacity of central

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Portuguese wild boars appears to fall within the range of Iberian Peninsula
populations, such as 4,30 in Northern Spain (Sáez-Royuela & Telleria, 1987), 4,10 in
Southeast Spain (Abaigar, 1992), 3,60 and 4,06 in two regions of Catalunia (Rosell,
1998). The litter size values obtained in Iberian wild boar populations are smaller
when compared with other European countries boar’s populations. In fact it can be
observed a gradient of reproductive potential across European countries.

CONCLUSIONS
The following general conclusions may be defined from the obtained data:
More than half of females harvested between October and February were
involved in breeding;
For females captured in the wild, puberty was attained at approximately 35 Kg
dressed body weight;
One reproduction period was observed, with the peak of births in March, from
the analysis of the material obtained during the hunting season (October to
February) although another birth period may occur (ONC, 1995). However we
couldn’t access to wild boar’s reproductive samples from other months of the year.
Average number of foetuses is 4,14. The number of foetuses per litter increases
with the female age;
The Iberian wild boar population’s litter size is smaller when compared to other
European populations.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The present work was supported by the FCT (Science and Technology Foundation) by a PhD grant
to Carlos Fonseca (PRAXIS XXI –BD–13 348/97).

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