Resumen:
To test whether a group of sows odoriferously detect the genetically farthest (less related) males through odors, salivary and preputial secretions were obtained from four stallions of the Duroc, Landrace, Yorkshire and Pietrain breeds. The samples were collected manually in sterile gauze, by continuous rubbing for ten seconds, minutes before being presented to the females. Subsequently, the gauze was placed on the tips of a metal rod. The results indicate that Duroc females spent more time sniffing both salivary and preputial secretions from the male Yorkshire. Landrace females spent more time sniffing both salivary and preputial secretions of the male Yorkshire. The female Pietrain invested more time towards the male Yorkshire, concerning the preputial and salivary secretions. Finally, the Yorkshire females before the saliva and foreskin sample invested more time in the samples of the male of the Duroc breed. The preference pattern found in the present study shows that females of the Duroc, Landrace and Pietrain breeds show preference towards Yorkshire, while Yorkshire females did so towards the Duroc male which would support a possible European origin of the Pietrain breed. Our results also provide evidence that through the odors detected in the secretions, the choice of females can be discriminated against one of the males for reproductive purposes presumably by choosing males with greater genetic variability.