EN
The purpose of the study was to assess the seasonality of wild boar reproduction and the weight of wild boar carcasses obtained in the hunting district of Lublin in the years 2012-2017. The study was based on the measurement of the weight of wild boar carcasses obtained by hunting and delivered to collection centres or kept by hunters for their own use. The animals were weighed upon evisceration. After determining the weight of the carcass, the age of the animal was determined on the basis of the growth and replacement of particular groups of deciduous teeth by permanent teeth as well as changes in the permanent dentition of the mandible. The seasonality of reproduction was then assessed on the basis of the estimated age and the length of pregnancy. The results show clear disturbances in reproductive seasonality. Less than 40% of farrowings occurred in the hitherto typical period, that is, in March and April. In fact, the farrowings took place in all months of the year, with the fewest in January and September. Body mass increased in the individual’s life, thus the highest growth rate of over 400% occurred in the youngest wild boars. The carcass weights in particular age groups (piglets, yearlings, 2-year-olds and older) were significantly higher than those recorded elsewhere in Poland. The piglets weighed on average 37.0 kg, yearlings 65.5 kg, and the oldest group 100.3 kg. The results show that the improvement in habitat conditions, combined with progressive climate changes, results in an earlier somatic and sexual maturation. This, in turn, results in higher reproduction rates and a dynamic population growth, leading to greater damage caused by this species in field crops.