The effect of protein restriction during the rearing period and age on reproductive function in the gilt

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 155-155
Author(s):  
VL Glasgow ◽  
SA Edwards ◽  
TG McEvoy ◽  
M Shanks
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Present Experiment ◽  
Protein Quality ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Protein Restriction ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Early Embryo Development

Reproductive performance of gilts/sows can be influenced by metabolic state at crucial points in the reproductive cycle and indeed at a crucial age. It has generally been found that moderate to severe protein restriction has no effect on litter size or embryo survival at day 28 (Pharazyn et al, 1991) when given to gilts over the gestation period. However protein quality and quantity can affect reproductive performance in gilts when imposed over the prepubertal period as indicated previously by lower ovulation rate at an induced puberty and poorer expression of a second oestrus (Cia et al, 1996). In the present experiment the effects of two diets differing in lysine:energy ratio on body composition and subsequent oestrus response, ovulation rate and early embryo development in gilts of two different ages were studied.

The effect of protein restriction during the rearing period and age on reproductive function in the gilt

1998 ◽  
Vol 1998 ◽  
pp. 155-155
Author(s):  
VL Glasgow ◽  
SA Edwards ◽  
TG McEvoy ◽  
M Shanks
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Present Experiment ◽  
Protein Quality ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Protein Restriction ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Early Embryo Development

Reproductive performance of gilts/sows can be influenced by metabolic state at crucial points in the reproductive cycle and indeed at a crucial age. It has generally been found that moderate to severe protein restriction has no effect on litter size or embryo survival at day 28 (Pharazyn et al, 1991) when given to gilts over the gestation period. However protein quality and quantity can affect reproductive performance in gilts when imposed over the prepubertal period as indicated previously by lower ovulation rate at an induced puberty and poorer expression of a second oestrus (Cia et al, 1996). In the present experiment the effects of two diets differing in lysine:energy ratio on body composition and subsequent oestrus response, ovulation rate and early embryo development in gilts of two different ages were studied.

scholarly journals Effects of flush feeding strategy before breeding on reproductive performance of modern replacement gilts: impacts on ovulation rate and litter traits

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
André L Mallmann ◽  
Lidia S Arend ◽  
Gabriela S Oliveira ◽  
Ana P G Mellagi ◽  
Rafael R Ulguim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Breeding Cycle ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Estrous Cycles ◽  
Litter Traits

Abstract AbstractThe effects of two feed levels offered during two estrous cycles before insemination were evaluated on the reproductive performance of gilts. A total of 93 gilts (PIC Hendersonville, TN) were individually housed and manually fed twice a day with 2.1 or 3.6 kg/d of a corn and soybean meal-based diet (3.15 Mcal ME/kg and 0.64% standardized ileal digestible lysine), during two estrous cycles before breeding (cycle 1, between first and second estrus; cycle 2, between second and third estrus). Gilts were weighed at the beginning of the experiment, at second and third estrus, and at slaughter (30.2 ± 1.2 d of gestation). Follicles were counted at second estrus, and the embryo-placental units and the corpora lutea were individually counted, measured, and weighed at slaughter. Gilts fed 3.6 kg/d had greater BW gain during cycle 1 and cycle 2 (P < 0.001; + 9.8 kg and + 10.0 kg, respectively) becoming heavier at second and third estrus (P < 0.001). At second estrus, gilts fed 3.6 kg/d had 1.6 more medium-large follicles (P = 0.074) but no difference in follicle size (P = 0.530) was observed. Gilts fed 3.6 kg/d in cycle 1 or cycle 2 had a greater ovulation rate at third estrus (P < 0.016) than those receiving 2.1 kg/d. Also, 3.6 kg/d in cycle 2 increased early embryo mortality (P = 0.006; 2.3 vs. 1.1 dead embryos) and consequently reduced total embryo survival (P = 0.002; 84.6 vs. 90.1%). Gilts fed 3.6 kg/d during cycle 1 had two more total embryos (P < 0.001; 17.2 vs. 15.1) and two more vital embryos on day 30 (P < 0.001; 16.7 vs. 14.5) in comparison with gilts fed 2.1 kg/d. The coefficient of variation for placental length was greater for gilts fed 3.6 kg/d during cycle 1 (P = 0.003). No further significant effects of feeding levels were observed on embryo and placental traits (P ≥ 0.063). These results suggest that the feeding level during the first cycle after pubertal estrus is crucial to set ovulation rate and potential litter size for breeding at next estrus. However, flush feeding gilts before insemination can negatively impact litter size by reducing embryo survival when breeding at third estrus.

A comparison of ovulation rate and late embryonic mortality in ewe lambs and ewes and the rôle of late embryo loss in ewe lamb subfertility

1996 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. F. G. Beck ◽  
M. C. G. Davies ◽  
B. Davies
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Embryonic Mortality ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Ewe Lambs ◽  
Ewe Lamb ◽  
Late Embryo

AbstractAn investigation was conducted to compare late embryonic losses in ewe lambs and ewes and to determine the effect of inducing embryonic mortality on day 15 of pregnancy on reproductive function in ewe lambs. Ovulation rate and embryo survival were determined, at 15 and 30 days after mating, in a total of 83 ewe lambs and 67 ewes. Ovulation rate was lower, at spontaneous oestrus, in ewe lambs (1·07) than in ewes (1·25; P < 0·05). There was no difference in embryo survival at day 15, as 79% of ewe lambs and 80% of ewes contained expanded conceptuses. However, embryo survival was lower in ewe lambs (69%) than ewes (88%) at day 30 (P < 0·05). Embryonic mortality was induced in an additional 18 ewe lambs with an intrauterine injection of colchicine on day 15 post mating. Four of these animals had normal length oestrous cycles, six had inter-oestrus intervals ranging from 22 to 35 days and eight did not return to oestrus. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that low ovulation rate and late embryonic losses make a significant contribution to subfertility in ewe lambs. Moreover, conceptus death is associated with luteal persistence, which may reduce reproductive performance by preventing remating.

A note on the reproductive performance of greyface ewes in moderately fat and very fat condition at mating

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Rhind ◽  
R. G. Gunn ◽  
J. M. Doney ◽  
I. D. Leslie
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Expected Time ◽  
Lambing Rate

ABSTRACTOestrous activity, ovulation rates and embryo survival rates were investigated in Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface (Greyface) ewes with condition scores of approximately 2·75 (moderately fat) or 3·5 (very fat) at mating. Four of a group of 20 very fat ewes failed to show oestrus at the expected time. Very fat ewes had a higher mean ovulation rate (3·36 v. 2·33; P < 0·05) but a slightly lower potential lambing rate (1·10 v. 1·42 lambs born per ewe put to ram) than the moderately fatewes.

The effects of previous ovarian status on ovulation rate and early embryo development in response to superovulatory FSH treatments in sheep

2005 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1973-1983 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Veiga-Lopez ◽  
A. Gonzalez-Bulnes ◽  
R.M. Garcia-Garcia ◽  
V. Dominguez ◽  
M.J. Cocero
Keyword(s):  
Embryo Development ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Early Embryo Development ◽  
Ovarian Status

scholarly journals Effects of selection on growth, body composition and food intake in mice: II. Correlated responses in reproduction

1984 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Forbes D. Brien ◽  
Gillian L. Sharp ◽  
William G. Hill ◽  
Alan Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Primary Reason ◽  
Correlated Responses ◽  
Fat Percentage

SummaryFemale reproductive performance is reported in mice selected for ten generations for one of three criteria: either appetite (A), fat percentage (F) or total lean mass (P). For each criterion lines were selected for high (H) or low (L) performance, with contemporary unselected controls (C). In the A and P lines, litter size changed in the direction of the selected criterion, the changes being larger and more rapidly established in the A than in the P lines. At generation 10, the differences in litter size between high and low lines were 2·6 live young born in the A lines, and 1·0 live young born in the P lines. The differences in 6-week weight between the high and low lines were 3·5 g in the A lines, 6·5 g in the P lines. Changes in ovulation rate were the primary reason for changes in litter size, the differences between the high and low lines being 3·8 corpora lutea for the A lines, and 3·1 corpora lutea for the P lines. Fitting body weight at mating as a covariate within lines in the analysis of ovulation rate and live foetus number removed the differences between the high and low selected P lines, but not those in the A lines. The high and low selected A and P lines did not differ in prenatal survival. There were no consistent differences in litter size, ovulation rate or pre-natal survival in the F lines.

Effects of age and its relationship with body size on reproductive performance in Scottish Blackface ewes

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 279-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. Gunn ◽  
J. M. Doney ◽  
W. F. Smith ◽  
D. A. Sim
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Genetic Difference ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Size Limitation ◽  
Pregnant Ewe ◽  
Effect Of Age

ABSTRACTOn a hill farm, the reproductive performance of Scottish Blackface ewes increases annually with increasing age up to 6 years and is positively related to pre-mating live weight. A group of Scottish Blackface ewe lambs was, from 5 months of age, preferentially managed over a 2-year period to accelerate the achievement of mature size, in order to study the relative importance of age and size to reproductive performance. Ovulation rate and early embryo mortality of these ewes at 31 months of age were compared with those of adult ewes of similar body size and condition at 79 months of age which had been reared conventionally in the same hill flock. Two comparisons were made, one between different age groups in the same year and the other retrospectively between different ages of the same age group. In the first comparison, the adult ewes had a slightly greater reproductive response which suggested a small effect of age per se but there was also the possibility of a genetic difference. In the second comparison, there was no difference in ovulation rate or potential lambing rate per pregnant ewe, but a trend towards greater wastage of twin-shed ova in the heavier and fatter younger ewes again suggested a small effect of age. At both ages, however, these ewes performed close to their adult genetic potential which suggested that the treatment of the young ewes was sufficient to overcome most of the limitations associated with age or size. Reproductive performance normally associated with young animals is therefore mainly an expression of their size relative to their maturity and the removal of the size limitation by higher levels of nutrition and more rapid growth can largely eliminate their poorer performance.

scholarly journals The effect of reproductive loss on the performance of a research flock

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul R Shorten ◽  
Sara J Edwards ◽  
Jenny L Juengel
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Sheep Flock ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Reproductive Loss ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Lamb Survival ◽  
And Performance

Abstract The reproductive performance of a sheep flock is dependent on a multitude of complex interacting factors. Achieving optimal flock performance requires knowledge of the reproductive steps and how these are linked and related to available measurements of the state and performance of the flock. The goal was to use previously collected data from a research flock that had undergone selection for fecundity (11,369 lambing records), to model the key reproductive steps affecting flock reproductive performance. The model was used to investigate how changes in liveweight, age, ovulation rate, number of fetuses at midpregnancy, number of lambs born, and birthweight affect the number of lambs weaned and the weaning weight of each lamb in this flock. The data available from the research flock were used to parameterize models of each reproductive step and assess the role of ewe age and premating liveweight on each reproductive step. These models were then linked together as a simulation tool to assess the role of different parameters on flock reproductive performance, which was defined as the total weight of lambs weaned per ewe exposed to the ram. Flock elasticities were calculated that characterize the relative importance of the effect of average premating ewe liveweight (0.81), average ovulation rate (0.33), variance in ovulation rate (−0.095), embryo survival (0.72), lamb survival (1.03), conception failure (0.35), and average ewe age (0.056) on the total kilograms of lamb liveweight at weaning per ewe exposed to the ram. The largest elasticity for lamb survival indicated that a 1% increase in lamb survival is expected to have a 1.03% increase in the total kilograms of lamb liveweight at weaning per ewe exposed to the ram in this flock. Assuming similar costs, interventions to increase lamb survival for this flock will provide the largest increase in the total kilograms of lamb liveweight at weaning per ewe exposed to the ram, which is a key metric of flock performance.

The effect of feeding a diet high in fibre during the rearing period on reproduction in gilts

1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 ◽  
pp. 67-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.L. Glasgow ◽  
S.A. Edwards ◽  
T.G. McEvoy ◽  
M. Shanks
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Embryo Viability ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Flat Rate ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Effect Of Feeding

Feeding diets high in fibre to breeding sows has been found to have a positive effect on reproductive performance. Danske Slagterier (1994) found a significant increase in litter size when sows were fed a diet containing high levels of unmolassed sugar beet pulp (USBP) during pregnancy and lactation. Litter size is influenced by two main factors; ovulation rate and embryo survival. Glasgow et al (1996) found no increase in ovulation rate in gilts fed high USBP diets. This experiment was designed to assess the effect of feeding a high USBP diet on endocrinology and early embryo viability.The experiment was of a randomised block design incorporating two diets; a cereal based diet (C) and a diet containing 50% unmolassed sugar beet (HF). 72 gilts of lean genotype (Newsham Hybrids) were allocated to treament at 138 days of age, housed in groups of 6 and had liveweight and backfat thickness recorded fortnightly. For the first 8 weeks, HF gilts were fed ad-libitum and C gilts were pair fed to the same daily energy intake. Subsequently, gilts were floor fed isoenergetically at a flat rate of 2.8 kg/d (HF) and 2.3 kg/d (C).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document