scholarly journals Effect of dietary l-carnitine supplementation to sows during gestation and/or lactation on sow productivity, muscle maturation and lifetime growth in progeny from large litters

2020 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Hazel B. Rooney ◽  
K. O’Driscoll ◽  
P. Silacci ◽  
G. Bee ◽  
J. V. O’Doherty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Muscle Development ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Carnitine Supplementation ◽  
Semitendinosus Muscle ◽  
Myosin Heavy Chain Genes ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
Size At Birth

AbstractGenetic selection for increased sow prolificacy has resulted in decreased mean piglet birth weight. This study aimed to investigate the effect of l-carnitine (CAR) supplementation to sows during gestation and/or lactation on sow productivity, semitendinosus muscle (STM) maturity and lifetime growth in progeny. Sixty-four sows were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments at breeding until weaning: CONTROL (0 mg CAR/d), GEST (125 mg CAR/d during gestation), LACT (250 mg CAR/d during lactation) and BOTH (125 mg CAR/d during gestation and 250 mg CAR/d during lactation). The total number of piglets born per litter was greater for sows supplemented with CAR during gestation (17·3 v. 15·8 (sem 0·52); P < 0·05). Piglet birth weight (total and live) was unaffected by sow treatment (P > 0·05). Total myofibre number (P = 0·08) and the expression level of selected myosin heavy chain genes in the STM (P < 0·05) were greater in piglets of sows supplemented with CAR during gestation. Pigs from sows supplemented with CAR during gestation had lighter carcasses at slaughter than pigs from non-supplemented sows during gestation (83·8 v. 86·7 (sem 0·86) kg; P < 0·05). In conclusion, CAR supplementation during gestation increased litter size at birth without compromising piglet birth weight. Results also showed that the STM of piglets born to sows supplemented with CAR during gestation was more developed at birth. However, carcass weight at slaughter was reduced in progeny of sows supplemented with CAR during gestation. The CAR supplementation strategy applied during gestation in this study could be utilised by commercial pork producers to increase sow litter size and improve offspring muscle development.

scholarly journals Genetic Analysis Of Rabbit Litter Traits At Birth And Weaning

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 64-69
Author(s):  
I. K Odubote ◽  
B. Somade
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Genetic Analysis ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Litter Traits ◽  
Genetic And Phenotypic Correlations ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Size At Birth

Data on 260 litters were used to provide therefore to estimate the heritability and estimates of heritability, repeatability, genetic and phenotypic correlations for litter traits at birth and at weaning. Breed, sire within breed and doe within sire effects were found to be significant, (P<0.05) for litter size at birth and at weaning and for litter weight at birth and at weaning. Heritability estimates of 0.33±0.08, 0.38±0.02, 0.03±0.02 and 0.16±0.05 were obtained for litter birth weight, litter size at birth, litter size at weaning and litter weaning weight, respectively. Repeatability estimates were found to be generally moderate to high. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were positive and significant (P<0.01). Selection for litter size at birth and litter birth weight are likely to result in improved litter size at weaning and litter weaning weight respectively.

Indices of cellular development in muscles of lambs are influenced by sire estimated breeding values and pastoral nutritional system

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 651 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. Greenwood ◽  
G. E. Gardner ◽  
R. S. Hegarty
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Growth ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Semitendinosus Muscle ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Breeding Values ◽  
Sire Group ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Estimated Breeding Values

This study examined influences of sire (n = 9) estimated breeding values (EBVs), sire-group (Muscle, Growth, and Control), and nutrition (low and high quality and availability pasture) from birth to slaughter at ~8 months of age on indices of muscle cellularity and transcriptional and translational capacity in 56 castrate lambs. Effects of nutritional systems to 8 months of age were greater, overall, than those due to EBVs or sire-group. Amount of DNA increased with increasing EBV for post-weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD or Muscle EBV) in longissimus but not in semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles, while Muscle EBV also had an inverse association with concentration of DNA. Protein to DNA and RNA to DNA were related positively to Muscle EBV, the associations being strongest for the semitendinosus muscle. Post-weaning weight (PWWT or Growth) EBV correlated positively with the RNA to DNA ratio and, among high but not low nutrition lambs, was inversely related to concentration of muscle DNA, whereas post-weaning fat depth (PFAT or Fat) EBV was correlated positively with RNA concentration. Overall, the magnitude of effects of sire-group was less than for sire EBVs, presumably due to differing selection pressures for muscling, fatness, and growth. High nutrition lambs had more protein to DNA than low nutrition lambs in the longissimus and semitendinosus muscles, but not in the semimembranosus muscle. In low compared with high nutrition lambs, concentration of DNA was greater in the longissimus and semitendinosus muscles. Total amount of DNA was reduced by more in low compared with high nutrition in the longissimus and semimembranosus than in the semitendinosus, and amount of protein was reduced by more in low compared with high nutrition in the longissimus than in the other two muscles. We conclude that genetic selection for eye muscle depth in sheep has differing effects on cellular characteristics of the longissimus, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus muscles, and has greater effects on muscle cellular characteristics than genetic selection for post-weaning weight or fat depth.

FAILURE OF A 16 h L:8 h D or AN 8 h L:16 h D PHOTOPERIOD TO INFLUENCE LACTATION OR REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN SOWS

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. G. GREENBERG ◽  
J. P. MAHONE
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Light Treatment ◽  
Short Photoperiod ◽  
Reproductive Efficiency ◽  
Natural Lighting ◽  
Long Photoperiod ◽  
Size At Birth

Forty-one sows were divided into two groups where animals were either exposed to a long photoperiod (16 h L:8 h D) or a short photoperiod (8 h L:16 h D) 1 mo before parturition. One month prior to the following parturition, sows were switched to the opposite light treatment and maintained on this treatment until the following estrus. Birth weight and litter size at birth of piglets conceived under natural lighting (15.4 h L) did not significantly differ from piglets conceived under a 16 h L or 8 h L photoperiod. Litter size at weaning and weight of piglets did not significantly differ for receiving a 16 h L or an 8 h L regime followed by the opposite treatment. The length of time to return to heat from weaning to next estrus was unaffected by photoperiod. The results from this experiment indicate that photoperiods of 16 h L:8 h D or 8 h L:16 h D have no influence on reproductive efficiency or lactation in sows. Key words: Light, photoperiod, production, swine, sows

A note on the relationship between litter size at birth and litter weight at weaning in domesticated and feral mice

1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-222
Author(s):  
W. R. Congleton
Keyword(s):  
Assortative Mating ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Indirect Selection ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Size At Birth

ABSTRACTThe relationship between litter size at birth and litter weight at weaning is curvilinear, with an intermediate litter size resulting in the heaviest litter weight at weaning. Relative to feral mice, the mean and variation for litter size at birth was larger for domesticated mice which had been selected for fertility and crossbred. Consequently, some of the litters from the crossbred domesticated mice were larger than the litter size at birth which optimized litter weight at weaning, primarily due to increased pre-weaning mortality. If litter weight at weaning is to be optimized by indirect selection for litter size at birth, the variation around an intermediate optimum litter size at birth could be most effectively reduced by negative assortative mating.

Performance of Hereford and crossbred Hereford cattle in the subtropics of New South Wales: genetic analyses of pre-weaning performance of first-cross calves

1980 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Barlow ◽  
GH O'Neill
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Environmental Variation ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Weaning Weight ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Sire Breed ◽  
Size At Birth

First-cross calves of Simmental (S), Friesian (F), and Brahman (B) sires were compared with straight-bred calves of Hereford (H) sires over 5 years at Grafton, N.S.W. There was a total of 775 calves sired by 205 bulls with complete records of performance from conception to weaning. Analyses were conducted to determine sire breed and sire breed x environment effects, and to provide paternal half-sib estimates of heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations. Various models were used to ascertain the sensitivity of genetic parameters to the removal of different sources of variation. Among females, S x H were heaviest at birth, while among males, B x H were heaviest. The regression coefficient of birth weight on gestation length was significantly greater for B x H calves than for other crosses. All crosses grew significantly faster to weaning and were significantly heavier at weaning than H x H calves. However, there were a number of significant interactions between sire breed and environmental variables for measures of pre-weaning growth. S x H and F x H calves appeared most sensitive to environmental variation, while B x H appeared least sensitive. The significance of this is discussed. Estimates of heritability for most traits were high. Values derived by using simple models were: gestation length, 0.68; birth weight, 0.56; average daily gain (ADG) to weaning, 0.47; weaning weight, 0.54; eyelid pigmentation, 0.50. Heritabilities of birth weight and ADG during the early pre-weaning period appeared most sensitive to the amount of environmental variation removed in the model. Gestation length was positively correlated with size at birth but negatively correlated with growth to weaning. There were large positive genetic correlations among various measures of size at birth, and among various measures of growth to weaning. When compared with ADG to weaning, weaning weight was more strongly correlated with birth weight, but less strongly correlated with gestation length. The results also indicated that selection for gain over a fixed time period, immediately prior to weaning, would be as efficient as direct selection for total ADG to weaning.

The response of sows to increased nutrient intake during mid to late gestation

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. King ◽  
P. J. Eason ◽  
R. J. Smits ◽  
W. C. Morley ◽  
D. J. Henman
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Subsequent Fertility ◽  
Dietary Treatments

Five hundred and ten multiparous sows were allocated at 66 days after mating to one of 6 dietary treatments that were imposed for the subsequent 35 days. The dietary treatments were 5 feeding levels of 2.2, 2.6, 3.0, 3.4, and 3.8 kg/day of a gestation diet containing 12.9 MJ DE/kg, 127 g crude protein/kg, and 5.6 g lysine/kg, plus a protein intake treatment where sows received 2.8 kg/day of a lactation diet containing 13.8 MJ DE/kg, 168 g crude protein/kg, and 8.3 g lysine/kg. After the treatment period, all sows were offered the lactation diet at the common feeding level of 3.0 kg/day and after farrowing, all sows were offered this diet ad libitum throughout lactation. Increasing feeding levels between Day 66 and Day 101 of pregnancy increased (P < 0.001) liveweight gain prior to farrowing but increased (P < 0.001) liveweight loss during lactation. The majority of the extra maternal energy intake during mid to late gestation was deposited as maternal gain. These linear weight responses during lactation were explained by the significant inverse relationship between voluntary daily feed intake in lactation (FI) and average daily digestible energy intake in the previous gestation (DE): Neither increasing the feeding level during mid to late gestation nor increasing the protein content of the diet had any significant effect on litter birth weight, average piglet birth weight, or the standard deviation of individual piglet birth weight within the litter. In addition, there were no significant effects of gestation feeding treatments on litter size weaned or weaning weight. Furthermore, neither increasing the feeding level during mid to late gestation nor increasing the protein content of the gestation diet had any significant effect on subsequent fertility or litter size. In conclusion, when average individual piglet birth weight is already well in excess of 1.5 kg, there is no significant response to feed intake levels between 2.2 and 3.8 kg/day when offered between Day 66 and Day 101 of gestation.

scholarly journals PSII-10 Effect of gilt feeding level and length of increased feeding level in late gestation on piglet birth weight

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 233-233
Author(s):  
James K Quick ◽  
Mark Knauer
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Dietary Treatment ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of increasing gilt feeding level in late gestation, for different durations, on piglet quality. Gilts (n = 472) were allocated to one of five dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial + control design at a commercial farm in eastern North Carolina. Hence gilts were fed 1.82 kg of feeding until farrowing (Control) or feeding level was increased by either 0.68 or 1.36 kg at either day 93 (d93) or 100 (d100) of gestation. Treatments were randomly assigned by pen (5 to 6 gilts per pen). The gestation diet contained 2,979 Kcal/kg ME and 0.58% SID lysine. Gilt body condition score was captured at day 93 of gestation using a sow body condition caliper (thin = < 12, ideal = 12 to 15, fat = > 15). Piglet birth weights were captured within 24 h of farrowing and piglets were ear notched by treatment prior to cross-fostering. Data were analyzed using PROC GLM with fixed effects of dietary treatment, contemporary group and covariates of litter size and sow functional teat number when applicable. Average gilt caliper score at d 93 of gestation was 17.0. Gilt caliper score did not differ (P > 0.05) across dietary treatments. Mean piglet birth weight did not differ (P > 0.05) between the five dietary treatments or the main effects of feeding level or length of feeding level. A one piglet increase in litter size reduced (P < 0.01) mean piglet birth weight by 30 g. An increase of one functional sow teat increased (P < 0.05) litter size at weaning of the biological sow by 0.28 piglets. Results suggest increasing gilt feeding level in late gestation does not impact mean piglet birth weight when gilts are over conditioned.

Opportunities and possible methods to improve reproduction in the pig

1988 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 221-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodger K. Johnson ◽  
Steven M. Neal
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Reproductive Maturity ◽  
Lean Meat ◽  
Pig Production ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The Cost

Genetic selection for litter size received little attention either by scientists or commercial pig breeders until recently. Low heritability of litter size, its sex-limited expression and the fact that it cannot be measured until reproductive maturity are often given as reasons. But the major reason may be that the reproductive rate of pigs is already quite high, and the economic value of genetic changes in litter size have been small relative to those of efficiency and composition of growth.The economics of pig production have changed and technological and biological advances have caused us to re-examine the economic value of traits. Reducing fat in the carcass and more efficient conversion of feed to lean meat have always been, and will continue to be, high priority selection objectives for pig breeders. But expensive, environmentally controlled gestation, farrowing and nursery houses are the norm of modern pig production and increasing litter size will result in a significant reduction in the cost of producing lean meat (Tess et al., 1983).

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