The reproductive performance and maternal abilities of 16 Large White (LW) and 16 Meishan (MS) gilts were compared in a loose-housing system from farrowing to weaning. Females were inseminated with semen from the other breed in order to produce LWxMS litters in both groups. Sow behaviour was analysed over the first three hours of farrowing and during six hours on day 6 of lactation, by use of video recordings. LW gilts produced larger (15.2 vs 12.9 piglets born in total; P<0.05) and more heterogeneous litters (within-litter standard deviation of birth weight of 0.28 vs 0.19 kg; P<0.01), as well as heavier piglets at birth (1.33 vs 1.13 kg; P<0.05). The number of stillbirths, farrowing duration and birth to weaning survival did not differ between breeds (0.6 stillborn piglet/litter in both breeds; 3.1 vs 3.5 h, P=0.56; 90.3 vs 84.5 %, P=0.15, in MS and LW gilts, respectively). Litter weight gains showed that LW gilts had a similar colostrum production, but produced more milk than MS gilts. MS and LW did not differ in the number of postural changes and time spent lying at farrowing, but MS gilts spent more time standing, performed more nesting behaviour and had more nose contacts with their piglets than LW gilts, which spent more time sitting. The frequency and duration of nursing events did not differ between breeds, but LW gilts spent more time sitting and lying on the belly and initiated a higher proportion of nutritive nursings.