The influence of fatness at parturition. nutrition during lactation and litter size on the performance of breeding sows

1988 ◽  
Vol 1988 ◽  
pp. 40-40
Author(s):  
C.T. Whittemore ◽  
H. Yang ◽  
P. Phillips ◽  
P.R. Eastham
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Large White ◽  
Daily Feeding ◽  
Company Limited ◽  
Ad Libitum

The influence of fatness at parturition, nutrition during lactation and the size of litter upon changes in backfat depth, live weight and conformation of sows over four parities has been presented in the first report. The present report will deal with the consequences for reproductive performance and production efficiency.One hundred and two Large White x Landrace Fl hybrid gilts were purchased from the Cotswold Pig Development Company Limited at about 30 kg live weight. At mating, animals were allocated at random to one of B treatments comprising: two levels (fat and thin) of target backfat thickness at parturition (10-14 mm. T vs 20-24 mm. F): two daily feeding levels (high and low) during 4-week lactation (3 kg. L vs ad libitum to a maximum of 7 kg. H): and two sizes of sucking litter (5 vs 9 in parity 1, and 6 vs 10 in parities 2, 3 and 4).

The Influence of Fatness at Parturition. Nutrition during Lactation and Litter Size on the Performance of Breeding Sows

1988 ◽  
Vol 1988 ◽  
pp. 39-39
Author(s):  
H. Yang ◽  
P. Phillips ◽  
C.T. Whittemore ◽  
P.R. Eastham
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Fatty Tissue ◽  
Large White ◽  
F1 Hybrid ◽  
Daily Feeding ◽  
Company Limited ◽  
Ad Libitum

To help resolve the dynamics of fatty tissue mobilisation, and interactions with milk yield and reproductive performance, the experiment reported here takes gilts and sows over four parities to one of two levels of strategic fatness at parturition, and then studies the consequences of high or low lactation feed intakes in conjunction with strong or weak milk withdrawal potentials as achieved by manipulation of litter size.One hundred and two Large White x Landrace F1 hybrid gilts were purchased from the Cotswold Pig Development Company Limited at about 30 kg live weight. At mating, animals were allocated at random to one of B treatments comprising: two levels [fat and thin) of target backfat thickness at parturition (10-14 mm. T vs 20-24 mm. F): two daily feeding levels (high and low) during 4-week lactation [3 kg, L vs ad libitum to a maximum of 7 kg. H): and two sizes of sucking litter (5 vs 9 in parity I. and 6 vs 10 in parities 2. 3 and 4).

A note on the performance, carcass and muscle quality characteristics of pigs sired by Poland China and Large White boars

1973 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-328
Author(s):  
J. P. Chadwick ◽  
W. C. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Muscle Quality ◽  
Drip Loss ◽  
Large White ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Ad Libitum

SUMMARYTwo Poland China boars were mated with 12 Large White females and two Large White boars were used on the same number of females of similar background. In the post-weaning period a trial was conducted to compare the performance of purebred and crossbred progeny given a grower's diet on an ad libitum scale of feeding over the live-weight range 28 to 66 kg. Breed of boar did not influence litter size nor total litter weight at either birth or weaning. Poland China crosses compared with Large Whites grew more slowly to slaughter (10 %) but with equal efficiency of live-weight gain. Cross-breds had higher carcass yields (4 %), shorter (3 %) and deeper (2 %) carcasses, lower depths of mid-line and internal fat (11 %) and larger eye-muscle areas (22%). Breed of boar had little influence on joint proportions and no effect on carcass cut-out value. The eye muscles of crossbred carcasses were paler in colour and had higher transmission values but drip loss from the meat was not different.

Effect of feeding level during rearing and mating strategy on performance of Swedish Yorkshire sows. 2. Reproductive performance, food intake, backfat changes and culling rate during the first two parities

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Le Cozier ◽  
E. Ringmar-Cederberg ◽  
L. Rydhmer ◽  
N. Lundeheim ◽  
J. Y. Dourmad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Mating Strategy ◽  
Factorial Experiment ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Effect Of Feeding

AbstractA 2 x 2 factorial experiment was designed in order to study the effects of feeding level during rearing and of mating policy on the reproductive performance and food intake of first- and second-litter sows. Gilts were offered food during rearing eitherad libitum(AL) or at 0·8 of the AL level (R) and served either at first (E1) or third (E3) detected oestrus. A total of 160 out of the 243 animals that started the experiment were culled by the end of the second lactation, with significantly more R than AL animals (71 and 60%, respectively). During the first pregnancy, the R sows gained more live weight (LW) and backfat thickness (BF) than their AL contemporaries (+5 kg and +1.2 mm, respectively) and lost less BF during the first lactation (1.2 mm less). At weaning, no difference remained in LW or BF between AL and R sows (174 kg LW on average). The E3 females gained less LW during both pregnancies compared with those on the E1 treatment, but they remained heavier until the second weaning (208 kg, on average). During the first lactation, R consumed more food during the weeks 2 and 3 (by 0·5 kg/day, on average) than those reared previously on the AL regime, and no difference was observed between E3 and E1 females. No difference in food consumption was noted during parity two. However, when measured over the first two parities, lean animals consumed more food than fat animals. The size and the weight of the litter at birth or at weaning were not influenced by the treatment prior to service. The weaning-to-oestrus interval was longer during parity one than during parity two (5·7 and 5·0 days, respectively;P< 0·01) but it was not affected by feeding or mating treatment.

The effect of nutrition on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows 1. Feeding level during lactation, and between weaning and mating

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. King ◽  
I. H. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Factorial Experiment ◽  
Daily Food Intake ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Lactation Length ◽  
Daily Food ◽  
Ad Libitum

ABSTRACTA factorial experiment was conducted with 80 first-litter sows and involved two levels of feeding during lactation (ad libitum or 2·0 kg/day), and two levels of feeding between weaning and mating (4·0 or 1·5 kg/day).Average lactation length was 32·2 days. Sows given 2·0 kg/day during lactation lost more backfat (6·3 v. 0·9 mm; P < 0·05) and more live weight (36·8 v. 9·1 kg; P < 0·05) during lactation than sows fed ad libitum and whose average daily food intake was 4·47 kg. Sows receiving 20 kg/day during lactation took longer to return to oestrus after weaning. Within 8 days of weaning more sows fed ad libitum during lactation ovulated (0·90 v. 0·40; x2 = 20·0; P < 0·001) and exhibited oestrus (0·78 v. 0·38; x2 = 12·8; P < 0·001) than sows whose food intake throughout lactation was restricted. Ovulation rate, subsequent litter size and embryonic mortality were not significantly affected by feeding level during lactation.Post-weaning feeding level did not affect the interval between weaning and oestrus. However, sows receiving 4·0 kg/day between weaning and mating had higher ovulation rates (14·8 v. 13·0; P < 0·05) and a greater litter size (10·0 v. 8·8; P < 0·1) at the subsequent farrowing.

scholarly journals 43 Correlates of reproductive tract anatomy and uterine histomorphometrics with fertility in swine

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
J. D'Ambrosio ◽  
M. Malopolska ◽  
R. Tuz ◽  
T. Schwarz ◽  
L. Ekanayake ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Endometrial Thickness ◽  
Reproductive Value ◽  
Size Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Large White

Economic potential of the swine industry hinges upon the reproductive performance of sows, which may be enhanced by improving uterine capacity, a component trait of litter size and piglet productivity. Previous attempts at characterising morphological traits indicative of high uterine volume have not been completely successful, resulting in the continued need for a reliable method of predicting reproductive value to improve production efficiency of the sow. Hence, the main objective of this study was to scrutinize macro- and micro-morphology of the sow’s reproductive tract for quantitative correlations with fertility indices. Reproductive records from Polish Landrace×Polish Large White sows (mean±s.e.m. parity: 4.3±0.6, range: 2–8) were used to examine the associations between fertility and ovarian/uterine morphology (n=34) or uterine histomorphometry (n=10) posthumously. Simple linear regression was performed to determine the relationship between anatomical or histological parameters and various measures of reproductive performance. Several measures related to the ovary, including right and left ovarian weight (r=0.50, P=0.005, and r=0.49, P=0.006, respectively), were positively correlated with the litter size, whereas left ovarian number of corpora lutea (r=−0.38, P=0.04) was negatively correlated with the mean litter size. Analysis of histomorphological characteristics of the uterine wall collected during the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle revealed correlations between mean litter size and myometrial vascular content (r=0.75, P=0.03), the proportion of myometrial stroma (r=−0.68, P=0.03), and the variability of endometrial thickness (r=−0.72, P=0.02) in sows. Eight ovarian, vaginal, and uterine characteristics were significantly correlated with mean lifetime numbers of live born and stillborn piglets/litter or the last litter size before slaughter. In conclusion, several anatomical and histomorphological metrics that relate to reproductive performance of swine may be used to inform production protocols and as a tool for selection of elite breeding sows, warranting future research into noninvasive or minimally invasive techniques for obtaining such measures.

The effects of food level during lactation and early gestation on the reproductive performance of mature sows

1993 ◽  
Vol 57 (03) ◽  
pp. 437-445
Author(s):  
P. E. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Food Level ◽  
Concentration Data ◽  
Large White ◽  
Plasma Progesterone ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Early Gestation

AbstractSeventy-six Large White × Landrace sows from parities 2 to 6 were allocated to one of four treatments at day 110 of gestation on a parity and live-weight basis. The four treatments involved food levels of either 3 or 6 kg/day during a 28-day lactation followed by either 1·75 or 3·50 kg/day during the first 28 days of gestation. Litter size suckled was standardized at 10 piglets wherever possible. Live weight and backfat changes were monitored in all sows and litter growth and survival rates were recorded. Post weaning all sows were given daily boar contact and mated twice at the first observed oestrus. A single blood sample was collected from each sow at days 7, 14, 21 and 28 of gestation for determination of plasma progesterone concentration. Data on litter size and piglet birth weights were collected at the subsequent parturition. Sows low-fed during lactation lost significantly more live weight (31·2v.5·8 kg,P&lt; 0·01) and P2 backfat (3·6v.1·9 mm,P&lt; 0·05) in lactation than did high-fed sows. Underfeeding the lactating sow also significantly reduced the weaning weight of the litter (62·3v.68·7 kg for low-v.high-fed sows,P&lt; 0·05), but did not significantly change either creep food intake by the litter or pre-weaning mortality rate. Parity 2 sows weaned significantly heavier piglets and litters than did sows from parities 3 to 6 (7·48 and 74·9 kgv.6·72 and 63·8 kg respectively,P&lt; 0·01). Food level in lactation did not significantly influence the length of the rebreeding interval (6·3v.7·3 days for high-v.low-fed sows) and although there was a two-fold difference in the proportion of sows failing to exhibit oestrus post weaning (0·08v.0·16 for high-v.low-fed sows) this difference was also not significant. Lactation food level did not significantly influence either sow live-weight or backfat change in gestation, plasma progesterone concentrations during early gestation or subsequent litter size. However, sows low-fed in lactation did tend to produce fewer piglets in the subsequent litter (9·54v.10·75 piglets born alive for low- and high-fed sows respectively,P= 0·062). Post-weaning reproductive performance was significantly affected by sow live weight (P&lt; 0·05) and backfat (P&lt; 0·01) at parturition, and live weight (P&lt; 0·01) and backfat (P&lt; 0·05) at weaning, but not by changes in these parameters during lactation. Food level in early gestation did not significantly influence either plasma progesterone concentrations, the size of the subsequent litter (10·09v.20·29 piglets born alive for high- and low-fed sows respectively) or mean piglet birth weight (1·27v.2·22 kg for high- and low-fed sows respectively). It is concluded that (1) both lactation food level and parity may alter pre-weaning piglet growth, and (2) the effects of lactation food level on the subsequent reproductive performance of mature sows appear to be different from those seen in parity 1 sows.

The effect of body reserves at farrowing on the reproductive performance of first-litter sows

1988 ◽  
Vol 1988 ◽  
pp. 41-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.P. Mullan ◽  
I.H. Williams
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protein Breakdown ◽  
Large White ◽  
Body Reserves ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Per Se

Recent work in the United States (Reese, Moser, Peo, Lewis, Zimmerman, Kinder and Stroup 1982) and in Australia (King and Williams, 1984) has clearly shown that nutrition during lactation can affect the fertility of young sows. If first-litter sows are restricted in food intake during lactation, so that they lose body weight and backfat, they take longer to return to oestrus after weaning than their counterparts fed ad libitum. To reproduce successfully the sow must have some mechanism(s) of monitoring its nutritional status, preferably before conception takes place. It is difficult to imagine mechanisms capable of monitoring body reserves per se. It is more likely that the sow can monitor changes in its body reserves, for example, by measuring the rate of lipid mobilized from adipose tissue or the rate of protein breakdown from muscles, or both.Crossbred gilts (Landrace x Large White) were selected at about 45 kg body weight (approx 3 months of age) and allocated to treatment according to litter and live weight. A total of 22 groups each of 24 animals was selected. Within each group gilts were fed (13.0 MJ DE/kg, 160 g/kg CP) either ad libitum (High), 2.0 kg/day (Medium) or 1.8 kg/day (Low) from selection through until mating.

Embryo survival, but not first-parity litter size, is increased when gilts are fed diets supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Smits ◽  
B. G. Luxford ◽  
M. Mitchell ◽  
M. B. Nottle
Keyword(s):  
Fish Oil ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Partial Replacement ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Large White ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Early Gestation ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Farrowing Rate

The response in reproductive performance when pigs are fed diets supplemented with fats high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) has not been widely studied. Improved fertility has been reported in sows and other species fed diets with added fish oil, a rich source of omega-3 PUFA, but results are inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the duration and the level of supplementation of omega-3 PUFA from fish oil on the reproductive performance of gilts. In Experiment 1, 570 Large White and Landrace purebred gilts were fed ad libitum either an unsupplemented diet containing tallow (Control) or a diet containing 3 g fish oil/kg (Omega-3) as a partial replacement for tallow from 24 weeks (Omega-3 for 6 weeks) or 27 weeks of age (Omega-3 for 3 weeks) before mating. Liveweight and backfat gain between 24 weeks of age and mating were recorded. Gilts were then fed an unsupplemented diet during gestation and farrowing rate and first litter size were recorded. In Experiment 2, 356 Large White × Landrace F1 cross gilts were fed ad libitum diets containing either 0, 3 or 10 g fish oil/kg of diet as a partial replacement of tallow from 24 weeks of age and continued after mating at 2.2 kg/day until slaughter at 25 days of gestation. Pregnancy rate, ovulation and embryo survival were recorded. Data were analysed by general linear model ANOVA and Chi-square methods. In Experiment 1, there was no increase in farrowing rate or litter size born in gilts fed the omega-3-supplemented diet for either 3 or 6 weeks before mating compared with Control gilts. In Experiment 2, supplementation with omega-3 PUFA from 24 weeks of age through to mating and continued during early gestation did not increase ovulation rate but there was a trend (P < 0.10) for an increase in embryo survival measured at Day 25 of gestation in gilts fed diets containing fish oil. Embryo survival was higher in gilts fed diets containing 3 g fish oil/kg of diet than in those fed the Control diet (P < 0.05). Increasing the supplementation level to 10 g fish oil/kg did not increase embryo survival further. In both experiments, supplementation of omega-3 as fish oil did not affect the onset of oestrous, gilt removal and weight and backfat gain. In conclusion, supplementation of omega-3 PUFA before mating did not improve farrowing rate or litter size in gilts. It may be necessary to continue feeding diets with low concentrations of fish oil during early gestation to maximise the reproductive response to elevated omega-3 PUFA.

scholarly journals Relationships between backfat thickness and parameters of reproduction in the Czech Large White sows (short communication)

2006 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 363-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Čechová ◽  
Z. Tvrdoň
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Test Data ◽  
Performance Test ◽  
Short Communication ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Backfat Thickness ◽  
Large White

Abstract. Relationships between backfat thickness and litter performance for individual parities were analyzed on performance-test data under field conditions of 8,285 Large White sows from 39 farms. Backfat thickness measured by ultrasound was corrected for a live weight of 90 kg. Young gilts with a higher backfat thickness achieved higher litter performance and a higher number of litters. Litter size increased from the first until the fifth parity.

The relative performance and carcass characteristics of pigs sired by Hampshire and Large White boars

1973 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. C. Smith ◽  
J. N. Barkes ◽  
H. M. Tonks
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Large White ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Eye Muscle ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Bone Content ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Physical And Chemical

SUMMARYHampshire and Large White crosses were compared with purebred Large White pigs for litterproduction and post-weaning performance. Crossbreeding did not influence either litter size or total litter weight at birth but crossbred litters had 14 % more pigs at weaning than purebred litters. Total litter weight at weaning was 13 % greater i n crossbred litters. In two post-weaning trials (23 to 90 kg live weight), where feeding was either ad libitum or restricted according to live weight, Hampshire crosses had advantages over Large Whites in rate and efficiency of gain and killing-out percentage. The cross-breds had shorter carcasses but a greater eye-muscle area due primarily to a greater depth of lean in the muscle. All fat depth measurements indicated that the crossbreds were not significantly leaner than the purebreds and this was confirmed in the restricted trial when the carcasses were subjected to physical and chemical dissection. Hampshire carcasses did have a lower bone content than those of the purebreds, but crossbreeding did not influence joint proportions or lean distribution in the carcass.

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