Body weight, litter size, and energetics of reproduction in Clethrionomys gapperi and Microtus pennsylvanicus

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 785-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan G. L. Innes ◽  
John S. Millar
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Clethrionomys Gapperi ◽  
Field Vole ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Postpartum Weight

A forest vole, Clethrionomys gapperi, and a field vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, were examined for differences in a number of reproductive traits, including the energy required to raise a litter. Average postpartum weight, litter weight, and neonate weight of C. gapperi were significantly less than those of M. pennsylvanicus. Although C. gapperi had a significantly larger litter size than M. pennsylvanicus, the latter species used more energy to raise a litter than C. gapperi. Only one of three measures of physiological reproductive effort showed a significant difference between species. We conclude that there is no clear pattern between reproductive traits and habitat. Many traits appear to vary with body weight.

Reproduction in laboratory colonies of Clethrionomys gapperi and Microtus pennsylvanicus: a comparison between species and among populations

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 995-1001
Author(s):  
Duncan G. L. Innes ◽  
John S. Millar
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Clethrionomys Gapperi ◽  
General Hypothesis ◽  
Litter Mass ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Weaning Age ◽  
Laboratory Colonies

Reproduction in laboratory colonies of Clethrionomys gapperi and Microtus pennsylvanicus was examined by comparing six populations (three per species) to test the general hypothesis that populations subject to the lowest temperatures and the shortest breeding seasons would be at the "fast" end of the "fast–slow" continuum. All colonies were derived from three sites in western Canada from females that were inseminated in the wild. Postpartum mass, mass of adult females during lactation, litter size, litter and neonate masses at birth, litter mass at weaning, age when the eyes opened, and age at weaning as well as two variables describing the energetics of reproduction were examined between species and among populations within species. Three indices of physiological reproductive effort were also compared. Only neonate mass, age when eyes were open, and one index of reproductive effort differed between species. In C. gapperi, litter mass, litter size, age when the eyes opened, age at weaning, and one index of reproductive effort differed among populations. In M. pennsylvanicus, postpartum, litter (at birth and weaning), and neonate mass, age when eyes open, age at weaning, and maintenance costs during lactation were different among populations. In both species, some differences could be attributed to sampling biases, while others were simply a consequence of differences in maternal mass. In both species, the maximum difference in the age at weaning and the age when the eyes opened was less than 2 days. Differences among populations did not appear to be related to meteorological conditions, and populations in either species could not be ranked on a continuum.

Altitudinal variation in reproductive strategy of the toad-headed lizard, Phrynocephalus vlangalii in North Tibet Plateau (Qinghai)

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 509-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan-Ting Jin ◽  
Nai-Fa Liu
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Tibet Plateau ◽  
Sand Lizard ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
The Common ◽  
Anatomical Constraints

Abstract Phrynocephalus vlangalii, a toad-headed viviparous sand lizard, is endemic in the Northern Tibet (Qinghai) Plateau in China. Lizards were collected from 14 localities along the large altitudinal gradient (2289-4565 m a.s.l) to analyze the variation of reproductive traits among localities. Both litter size and mean offspring (scaled embryo) mass were positively correlated with female snout-vent length (SVL). Females produced fewer and larger offspring with increasing elevation when the effect of body size (SVL) was removed. This strategy may possibly be correlated with early survival and growth of offspring. The decreased litter size cline along altitudinal gradient might be correlated with more anatomical constraints at higher altitudes. The lizard has lower coefficient of variation (CV) of litter size at higher environments. Moreover, females from higher elevations had less reproductive investment (relative litter mass, RLM). Study concluded that P. vlangalii fit into the common pattern of higher elevation animals that have smaller clutches of larger offspring and lower reproductive effort.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Association Study for Reproductive Traits in a Duroc Pig Population

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhang ◽  
Chen ◽  
Ye ◽  
He ◽  
Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Association Study ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome

In the pig industry, reproductive traits constantly influence the production efficiency. To identify markers and candidate genes underlying porcine reproductive traits, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed in a Duroc pig population. In total, 1067 pigs were genotyped using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips, and four reproductive traits, including litter size at birth (LSB), litter weight at birth (LWB), litter size at weaning (LSW), and litter weight at weaning (LWW), were examined. The results showed that 20 potential SNPs reached the level of suggestive significance and were associated with these traits of interest. Several important candidate genes, including TXN2, KCNA1, ENSSSCG00000003546, ZDHHC18, MAP2K6, BICC1, FAM135B, EPHB2, SEMA4D, ST3GAL1, KCTD3, FAM110A, TMEM132D, TBX3, and FAM110A, were identified and might compose the underlying genetic architecture of porcine reproductive traits. These findings help to understand the genetic basis of porcine reproductive traits and provide important information for molecular breeding in pigs.

Reproductive attributes of local pig (Votho) of Nagaland, India

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Savino ◽  
Z. Chusi ◽  
A. Dhali ◽  
P. Perumal
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Field Survey ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Size At Birth ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Age At First Farrowing

The present study was conducted to measure the reproductive attributes of Naga local pigs (Votho) in Kohima, Peren and Phek district of Nagaland. The reproductive parameters were measured through field survey and reproductive records of owner. The reproductive parameters such as age at first fertile service (AFFS), age at first farrowing (AFF), gestation length, farrowing interval, litter size at birth, litter size at weaning, litter weight at birth, litter weight at weaning, mortality rate and stillbirth rate were measured. The result revealed that there was a significant difference among the different districts of Nagaland in AFFS, AFF and litter weight at birth. Parameters such as AFFS, AFF and litter weight at birth were significantly higher and gestation length, farrowing interval, litter size at weaning, litter weight at birth, litter weight at weaning were non-significantly higher in Kohima than in Peren and Phek District. Similarly, parameters such as litter size at birth, mortality rate were non-significantly higher in Peren district and stillbirth was non- significantly higher in Phek district than other districts of Nagaland. These reproductive attributes analyses may be useful in selection of breeding stock for future parents and select the place for breeding programme for indigenous local Naga pigs.

Growth and its relationship to the initial annual cycle of the golden-mantled ground squirrel, Spermophilus lateralis

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (6) ◽  
pp. 865-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Ground Squirrel ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Ground Squirrels ◽  
Active Season ◽  
Spermophilus Lateralis ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Two Populations

Thirty-eight litters of golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis), from two populations that experienced different lengths of active season, were born and raised in the laboratory. Growth and development in young were inversely related to litter size. Offspring from smaller litters were both able to attain their prehibernation peak of body mass sooner and hibernate after fewer days of homeothermy than squirrels from larger litters. Young that remained homeothermic throughout the initial overwintering period were always from large litters and among the slowest growing littermates. Fecundity was lower in females from the temporally compressed environment. There was no significant difference between populations in the nutrition provided by mothers to their litters. The results suggest that reproductive effort is more conservative in populations of ground squirrels that experience short seasons of activity, yet this conservatism allows the offspring of those populations to reach independence and attain the prehibernation state of preparedness at an earlier age than their counterparts from populations of more moderate climates.

scholarly journals COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE INDIGENOUS AND EXOTIC SOWS IN NIGERIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 26-32
Author(s):  
O. A. Adebambo ◽  
A. E. Dettmers
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Large White ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Effi Ciency ◽  
Average Litter Size ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Positive Correlations

THE indigenous sow of Nigeria which is about half the size of the exotic large white, Landrace or crossbred pigs at maturity (60 vs 128-141kg) has an average milk yield of 75kg as compared to 130 148kg of the exotic breeds during an eight week lactation. Peak production was reached between the third and fifth weeks of lactation by the impor ted, while the native sow showed quite a slight peak but with greater persistency. For all geno types compared, milk yield was lower in the dry season (P< 0.05) than in the wet season (123 vs 134kg) and higher for sows (P < 0.05) than for gilts (135 vs 121kg). With an average litter size of 5-8 pigs, available milk per piglet was between 16kg in the Indigenous SOW and 28kg in the Landrace soWS (P < 0.05) and a significant difference (P < 0.05) in effi ciency of milk utilization by the piglets in the range of Crossbred, followed by the purebreds, the indigenous being the least efficient in relation to unit metabolic size Milk production did not differ among the genotypes. The high positive correlations (P < 0.05) between milk yield and body weight at farrow and the unit metablie size as well as between milk intake and litter size might serve as a useful tool in selection for the Nigerian Indigenous pigs as the higher body weight tend to be correlated to a higher milk yield and a correspondingly large litter size.

Inbreeding effects on some reproductive traits in Markhoz goats

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (12) ◽  
pp. 2178 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Mahmoudi ◽  
A. Rashidi ◽  
M. Razmkabir
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Inbreeding Depression ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Information Criterion ◽  
Inbreeding Coefficient ◽  
Regression Coefficients ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
Inbreeding Coefficients ◽  
Poisson Models ◽  
The Individual

The objective of this study was to estimate the inbreeding coefficient and its effects on reproductive traits in Markhoz goats. The pedigree file included 5351 kids produced by 234 bucks and 1470 does. Average inbreeding coefficient for the whole population was 2.68%, and the minimum and maximum inbreeding coefficients were 0.05% and 31.25%, respectively. Average coefficient of inbreeding for inbred population was 5.17% and the number of inbred animals in the population was 2777. For investigating effects of inbreeding coefficient on reproductive traits, 3443 records were available for litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB) and mean of litter weight at birth (MLWB). Furthermore, available records for total litter weight at weaning (TLWW) and mean of litter weight at weaning (MLWW) were 2918. Inbreeding depression was estimated as the linear regression of performance on the individual inbreeding coefficient of kids and dams using the most appropriate animal model based on Akaike’s information criterion. Furthermore, inbreeding depressions for LSB and LSW were estimated using threshold and Poisson models. Regression coefficients of LSB, LSW, TLWB, TLWW, MLWB and MLWW on inbreeding coefficient of kids were –0.035, –0.019, –0.077 kg, –0.782 kg, –0.009 kg and –0.332 kg, respectively. Furthermore, regression coefficients of LSB, LSW, TLWB, TLWW, MLWB and MLWW on inbreeding coefficient of dams were 0.064, –0.013, 0.241 kg, 0.638 kg, 0.028 kg and –1.783 kg, respectively. The obtained results from this study showed that inbreeding depression is controlled by an appropriate mating system policy.

scholarly journals CORRELATED RESPONSES IN MALE REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN MICE SELECTED FOR LITTER SIZE AND BODY WEIGHT

Genetics ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 99 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 513-524
Author(s):  
E J Eisen ◽  
B H Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Correlated Response ◽  
Testis Weight ◽  
Correlated Responses ◽  
Large Litter

ABSTRACT Correlated responses in male reproductive traits were determined at 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age in lines of mice selected for large litter size (L+), large 6-week body weight (W+), large litter size and small body weight (L+W-) and small litter size and large body weight (L-W+), and in an unselected control (K). Concentration of serum testosterone and weights of testes, seminal vesicles, epididymides and adrenal glands increased with age. Line differences in testosterone concentration were not detected. L+ and W+ males exhibited positive correlated responses in testes, epididymides and seminal vesicle weights. Testis weight adjusted for body weight was significantly larger for L+ than controls and approached significance for Wf . Realized genetic correlation betestis weight and litter size was 0.60± 0.04, and the realized partial genetic correlation holding body weight constant was 0.42. Therefore, pleiotropic loci, acting viathe hypothalamic-pituitary axis, affect testis weight and litter size independently of body weight. Additionally, genes influencing overall growth have a pleiotropic effect on testis weight and litter size in mice; the realized genetic correlations of body weight with testis weight and with litter size were 0.60 ± 0.03 and 0.52 ± 0.10. Testis weight increased in both L+W- and L-W+ males. The positive correlated response in L+W- may have resulted from changes in frequency of genes controlling reproductive processes; whereas, in L-W+ it could have been the result of changes in the frequency of genes associated with body weight.

scholarly journals Factors affecting gestation length in small sized breeds of dogs.

2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinaykumar R. H. ◽  
Gleeja V. L. ◽  
Gleeja V. L. ◽  
Gleeja V. L. ◽  
Gleeja V. L. ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Gestational Length ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Age Limit ◽  
French Bulldog

A large variation in the gestation length can be expected when the gestation is calculated from the day of mating to birth. The present study was designed to assess the influence of different factors like litter size, breed, parity and age on gestation length in bitches. A total of 89 small sized bitches of different breeds having different age, parity and body weight, were selected for the study. The mean age, body weight and parity of the animals included in the present study were 3.00 ± 0.15 years (1 to 8 years), 9.9 ± 0.25 Kg (6 to 15kg) and 1.14 ± 0.10 (0-4th parity) respectively. The mean gestation lengths observed in different small sized breeds were 60.68 ± 0.55, 59.82 ± 0.54, 60.78 ± 1.74, 58.83 ± 1.35 and 58.17 ± 0.74 in the Pug, Beagle, Dachshund, French Bulldog and the Spitz, respectively. The mean litter size in the study was 4.34 ± 0.13 with a range of 2-8. The mean gestational length in animals having ? 3 litter size was 60.83 ± 0.64 days and 59.90 ± 0.43 days in animals having >3 litter size. Age limit of the animals ranged from 1 to 8 years with a mean of 3 ± 0.15 years. The mean gestation length in bitches aged ?3 years was 60.21 ± 0.23 days (n=63) and this was 60.15 ± 0.3 (n=26) days in bitches in the >3 years group. Mean gestational length observed in nulliparous bitches was 60.86 ± 0.4 days (n=29), while in multiparous bitches it was 59.90 ± 0.5 days (n=60). From the present investigation it could be concluded that no significant difference exists in gestational length between different breeds, litter size, age group and parity.

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