scholarly journals Performance and behaviour of rabbit does in a group-housing system with natural mating or artificial insemination

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 677-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorine M. Rommers ◽  
Cristiano Boiti ◽  
Ingrid De Jong ◽  
Gabrielle Brecchia
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Natural Mating

scholarly journals Levels of testosterone, progesterone and oestradiol in pregnant-lactating does in relation to aggression during group housing

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-261
Author(s):  
Michèle Braconnier ◽  
Gabriela González-Mariscal ◽  
Jella Wauters ◽  
Sabine G. Gebhardt-Henrich
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Hormonal Regulation ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Maternal Behaviour ◽  
Agonistic Behaviour ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Anogenital Distance ◽  
Blood Sucking ◽  
Weak Influence

The neuroendocrine regulation of rabbit maternal behaviour has been explored in detail. However, little is yet known about the hormonal regulation of aggression in concurrently pregnant-lactating does, a reproductive condition that prevails during group housing of rabbits on farms. Therefore, in this study we determined the relation between a) the levels of progesterone, testosterone, and oestradiol during lactation; b) the anogenital distance at artificial insemination; and c) the timing of grouping with the intensity of agonistic behaviour, published previously. We performed four consecutive trials, where three groups of eight does each were artificially inseminated on day 10 postpartum (pp) and grouped on either day 12, 18 or 22 pp. Using Dipetalogaster maxima, a reduviid blood-sucking bug, we collected blood samples during the pregnant-lactating phase (days 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 pp) on one or two randomly chosen does per treatment group. Testosterone levels varied little across the pregnant-lactating phase, agreeing with results from pregnant-only rabbits, while progesterone levels increased from day 3 (=13 dpp) to day 7 (=17 dpp) and remained unchanged until day 13 (=23 dpp) of pregnancy. All oestradiol concentrations fell below the limit of detection. Overall, all concentrations were slightly lower in comparison to rabbit studies with pregnantonly does. The agonistic behaviour was not related to the respective hormonal concentrations at grouping. In conclusion, the time point of grouping does after artificial insemination (AI) in the semi-group housing system only had a weak influence on aggression and the hormonal profile did not indicate an optimum time for grouping.

COMPARISON OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION AND NATURAL MATING ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF FIVE STRAINS OF SHEEP DURING THE ANESTROUS SEASON IN AN INTENSIVE SYSTEM

1979 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 675-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. HACKETT ◽  
H. A. ROBERTSON ◽  
E. K. INSKEEP ◽  
J. N. B. SHRESTHA ◽  
M. S. WOLYNETZ
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Hormone Treatment ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Natural Mating ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
Mating Method ◽  
Intensive System

Synchronized estrus and ovulation were induced during the anestrous season (April–May 1974) in 373 ewes of three synthetic (one sire and two dam) strains and two unselected (Suffolk and Finnish Landrace) purebred strains by treatment with 30 mg fluorogestone acetate (FGA) impregnated in polyurethane intravaginal sponges for 12 days. Following sponge removal each ewe received 500 IU pregnant mares’ serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) IM. Of these, 167 were bred by artificial insemination (AI) at 48 and 60 h post sponge removal with 0.2 ml raw unextended semen collected by electroejaculation (EE). Five days after AI, ewes were exposed to a follow up ram for 16 days for subsequent mating if a second estrus occurred. The remaining 206 were exposed to rams for a period of 22 days for natural mating. Blood samples were collected from 69 ewes, 9, 19 and 27 days post sponge removal and analyzed for progesterone to ascertain if corpora lutea were formed and whether the ewes recycled. The age of ram by mating method interaction significantly affected both fertility and fecundity mainly because some of the younger rams lacked libido and experience for natural mating. There were no significant differences in prolificacy due to any of the main effects tested. Among the 69 ewes examined for progesterone levels, 93% had formed corpora lutea after hormone treatment and 16% recycled. Only 16 of the 255 ewes that did not conceive to the synchronized estrus lambed to the subsequent estrus.

Cortisol levels and health indicators of sows and their piglets living in a group-housing and a single-housing system

2018 ◽  
Vol 216 ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.G.E. Grimberg-Henrici ◽  
K. Büttner ◽  
R.Y. Ladewig ◽  
O. Burfeind ◽  
J. Krieter
Keyword(s):  
Health Indicators ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Cortisol Levels

scholarly journals Behaviour and skin injuries of sows kept in a novel group housing system during lactation

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 749-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilith Schrey ◽  
Nicole Kemper ◽  
Michaela Fels
Keyword(s):  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Skin Injuries

Generation intervals in Canadian dairy cattle herds

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-183
Author(s):  
Bernard Ato Hagan ◽  
Roger Cue
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Path Selection ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Genetic Progress ◽  
Brown Swiss ◽  
Holstein Breed ◽  
Cattle Herds

Genetic evaluation records for the Canadian Holstein, Ayrshire, Jersey, and Brown Swiss bulls and cows born from 1950 and 1960, respectively, were used to study the generation intervals (L) along the four-path selection model. The objectives of the study were to determine the L in the four dairy cattle breeds and the effects of some environmental factors and variations among herds or artificial insemination (AI) studs on the L achieved. Total L of the four selection paths was reduced by 55% from 29.2 yr in 1980 to 13.2 yr in 2016 in the Holstein breed. Substantial reductions in total L were also observed in the Ayrshire, Jersey, and Brown Swiss populations between 1980 and 2016. Unlike progeny year of birth, housing system, agricultural region in Québec (region) — as well as their interaction — were not important on realised L of sires and dams used on Canadian dairy farms. There were significant variations among herds and AI studs on the age of sires and dams used for breeding. The considerable variations in realised L among herds and AI studs offer opportunities to increase the annual rate of genetic progress in the four Canadian dairy cattle populations.

scholarly journals Prevalence and risk factors of claw lesions and lameness in pregnant sows in two types of group housing

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Pluym ◽  
A. Van Nuffel ◽  
J. Dewulf ◽  
A. Cools ◽  
F. Vangroenweghe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Free Access ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
Individual Housing ◽  
Claw Lesions ◽  
Locomotor Disorders

Claw lesions and lameness in sows are an important welfare concern as well as a cause of considerable economic loss. These problems are more common in group housing than in individual housing systems. Given that group housing for gestating sows will become mandatory in the EU from 2013 onwards, the aim of the present study was: (1) to determine the prevalence of lameness and claw lesions in sows housed in groups during gestation, and (2) to analyze whether the type of group housing system and sow-related factors were associated with lameness and claw lesions. Eight Belgian pig herds with group housing of gestating sows were selected. Four herds used pens with electronic sow feeders (dynamic groups), the other four herds kept their sows in free access stalls (static groups). All sows were visually examined for lameness at the end of gestation. Claw lesions were scored after parturition. Information about feed, housing conditions and culling (strategy) was collected, as well as information about parity and breed. Of all 421 assessed sows, on average 9.7% (min. 2.4%, max. 23.1%) were lame. Almost 99% of the sows had one or more claw lesion with overgrowth of heel horn (93%) and cracks in the wall (52%) as the most prevalent lesions. Neither for lameness nor claw lesions was significant differences found between the two types of group housing. Lameness decreased while the mean claw lesion score increased with ageing. These results suggest that lameness can be caused by reasons other than claw lesions, especially in older sows. Although no difference was found between the two types of group housing, a huge variation between herds was observed. Moreover, as the prevalence of lameness and claw lesions in group housing is quite high and group housing will become mandatory in 2013, further investigation on risk factors of locomotor disorders in sows is necessary.

scholarly journals Assessing the Preference of Rabbit Does to Social Contact or Seclusion: Results of Different Investigations

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Dal Bosco ◽  
Alice Cartoni Mancinelli ◽  
Steffen Hoy ◽  
Melania Martino ◽  
Simona Mattioli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Contact ◽  
Aggressive Response ◽  
Good Combination ◽  
The Other ◽  
Housing System ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Group Housing ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Recognition Systems

The aim of this study was to verify the motivation of rabbit does to social contact or seclusion. The results of two different research activities assessed in Italy (experiment 1) and Germany (experiment 2) through the use of motivational cages are reported. In experiment 1, only the average time of occupation of the group or seclusion zone was recorded of four nulliparous does, while, in experiment 2, the group-housing system provided space for does with kits and consisted of four single areas (nest boxes with individual electronic nest box recognition systems). Experiment 1 showed that does spent a similar amount of time in seclusion or in group (49.61% vs 50.39%, respectively). On the contrary, in experiment 2, does with kits appeared to prefer spending time alone (71.90%) rather than in groups. The presence of kits probably stimulates a hierarchical and aggressive response of the dominant does, with the low-ranking does staying secluded to avoid violent interactions. In fact, in each reproductive cycle, one doe did stay in the group area whereas the other three does used this area in different percentages of time. Further researches are needed to find a good combination of the cage with the does’ physiological phases.

The performance of gilts in a new group housing system: endocrinological and immunological functions1

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 2714-2721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eberhard von Borell ◽  
James R. Morris ◽  
J. Frank Hurnik ◽  
Bonnie A. Mallard ◽  
Mary M. Buhr
Keyword(s):  
Housing System ◽  
Group Housing
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