Influence of gilt age and body composition at first breeding on sow reproductive performance and longevity.

Abstract

Regression analysis was used to evaluate the effects of gilt age and body composition at first breeding on sow performance over three parities. Eighty-seven Yorkshire x Landrace F1 gilts were used. Variation in age and body composition at first breeding was obtained by breeding gilts at puberty, second, or third estrus and by providing those gilts bred after puberty one of four nutritional regimens from puberty until breeding: 1) 2.7 kg/d of a 14.3% CP, 3.5 Mcal ME/kg diet (H), 2) maintenance ME and CP/d (M), 3) half-maintenance ME and CP/d (1/2M), and 4) M or 1/2M until anestrus, then 2.27 kg/d of a 14.0% CP corn-soybean meal diet until first breeding. Body composition at first breeding was determined using live weight, backfat thickness, and deuterium oxide space as variables in prediction equations. All females were treated similarly after first breeding. Age and body composition at first breeding were not related (P > .10) to litter size at birth or weaning in parities 1, 2, 3, or overall. Increasing age at first breeding was related to small increases in pig birth weights (P < .001) in parity 1 and average pig weaning weight (P < .001) in parities 1, 2, and overall. Body composition of gilts at first breeding was not related (P > .10) to pig birth weights and was inconsistently related to pig weaning weights in parities 2 and 3 (P < .001). Females heavier at first breeding remained heavier (P < .01) throughout the experiment. Age and body composition at first breeding were not different (P > .10) for gilts completing three parities (n = 53) compared with gilts failing to complete three parities (n = 34). Results show no large effects of gilt age or body composition at first breeding on sow productivity and longevity over three parities.

Longevity, Lifetime Pig Production and Productivity, and Age at First Conception in a Cohort of Gilts Observed over Six Years on Commercial Farms.

“…This observation is not consistent with reports showing positive effects in parity 1 and/or 2 sows [1,9]. However, the range of age at first conception in our study was older (10 and 90 percentiles: 227 to 322 days) than in previous studies that used relatively young age ranges between 180 and 245 days [1], 200 and 280 days [9], and 138 and 279 days [7]. It is possible that age at first conception within the relatively old ages (approximately 230 to 320 days) does not affect litter size at parity 1 because ovaries and uterus have been developed.…”

“…Age at first conception is a possible factor affecting longevity [7] and lifetime pig production. Previous research on age at first mating has not examined farrowing rate at parity 0 (gilts).…”

Effects of meloxicam (Metacam®) on post-farrowing sow behaviour and piglet performance

“…Piglet weights at birth and at weaning and ADG in this study are similar (Johansen et al, 2004) or slightly higher (Rozeboom et al, 1996;Quiniou et al, 2002;Deen and Bilkei, 2004) than values reported in other studies. Moreover, fostering strategies could lead not only to lower pre-weaning mortality, but also to higher daily gain in litters with similar BW (Deen and Bilkei, 2004).…”

Appropriate level of gilt fatness and muscularity during insemination can improve the efficiency of piglet production

“…As a result, gilts retrieving the feed continue to use the feed for stock collection and use fat reserves as a source of components necessary for the production of milk. Rozeboom et al (1996) suggested that the weaker pregnancy anabolism probably slows lactation in sows, which may result in the reduction of the number of piglets weaned, as a result of the insufficient production of milk. Holm et al (2004) found that the backfat thickness, which is considered a source of energy for sows, may also have an important role in the subsequent reproductive cycles.…”