Lifetime reproductive performance in female pigs having distinct reasons for removal

Selection for increased litter size have generated hyper-prolific sows that nurses large litters, however limited knowledge is available regarding the connection between milk production, feed intake and body mobilization of these modern sows. The aim of the current study was to determine what characterized sows with high milk production and nursing large litters, differences between sows of different parities and effects of lactational performance on next reproductive cycle. In total 565 sows (parity 1 to 4) were studied from 7 days before farrowing until weaning. On day 2 postpartum litters were standardized to 14 piglets. Weight and back fat thickness of sows were measured at day 7 prepartum, day 2 postpartum and at weaning. Litters were weighed at day 2 and at weaning. Pearson correlation coefficients between variables were calculated and regression models were developed. The average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the sows was 6.1 ± 1.1 kg/day, average daily gain (ADG) of the litter was 2.92 ± 0.53 kg/day and sows weaned 13.0 ± 1.1 piglets. First parity sows generally had a lower ADFI and milk production and a decrease in total born piglets in next litter compared with parity 2 to 4 sows, which could be explained by a relatively higher proportion of their body reserves being mobilized compared with multiparous sows. The ADG of the litter was positively related by ADFI of the sows, litter size and BW loss and increasing the ADFI with 1 kg/day throughout lactation likely increased the ADG of the litter with 220 to 440 g/day in parity 1 to 4, respectively. Increasing the ADFI by 1 kg/day reduced the BW loss with 6.6 to 13.9 kg of parity 1 to 4 sows, respectively, during lactation, whereas increasing the average milk yield with 1 kg/day raised the BW loss with 4.3 to 21.0 kg of the four parities during lactation. The number of total born piglets in the next litter was positively related to the number of piglets born in the previous litter. In conclusion, both a high feed intake and a high mobilization of body reserves was a prerequisite for a high milk production. The sows might be very close to the physical limit of what they can ingest and future research should therefore, focus on optimizing the dietary energy and nutrient concentrations of diets for lactating hyper-prolific sows and herein distinguish between primiparous and multiparous sows.Keywords: body mobilization, feed intake, milk production, reproduction, sow ImplicationsTo obtain a high litter weight at weaning the sow must consume high amounts of feed, but a high milk yield often causes a high BW loss. Counterproductive, body mobilization is positive for the offspring, but might be harmful to the sow. This study showed that sows with the highest milk production and litter gain had both a high feed intake and large mobilization. The sows might have reached their upper physical limit for how much feed they could ingest and therefore future research should focus on correct nutrient concentrations of lactation diets of hyper-prolific sows. IntroductionMilk...

Section: Sow Body Mobilization During Lactationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sows with high milk production had both a high feed intake and high body mobilization

Strathe

Bruun

Hansen

2017

“…Increased sow longevity results in improved use of fewer animals, which reduces the costs in piglet production and thereby increasing net income for the farmers. In Sweden, 50% of the commercial crossbred sows are annually removed (Engblom et al, 2007), which is similar to Europe and North America (Boyle et al, 1998;Lucia et al, 2000;RodriguezZas et al, 2003). In addition, mainly young animals are removed; about 15% to 20% of the removed sows have produced only one litter (Ló pez-Serrano et al, 2000;Lucia et al, 2000;Engblom et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…In addition, mainly young animals are removed; about 15% to 20% of the removed sows have produced only one litter (Ló pez-Serrano et al, 2000;Lucia et al, 2000;Engblom et al, 2007). The main reason for removal is reproductive failure, accounting for 30% of the removal, and most of this is in low parity numbers (Boyle et al, 1998;Lucia et al, 2000;Engblom et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetics of crossbred sow longevity

Engblom

Lundeheim

Schneider

et al. 2009

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for longevity from Swedish crossbred sows to investigate the possibilities of selecting for this trait. Data were collected from 16 commercial piglet-producing herds, on crossbred (Landrace 3 Yorkshire) sows farrowing in the period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2004. The data set with records on 10 373 sows was split into two sets according to the breed of the sire, i.e. Landrace sires (LS) or Yorkshire sires (YS). Removal hazard during productive life (PL) was analysed with survival analysis, using a sire model. Stayability from first to second litter (STAY12), stayability from first to third litter (STAY13), length of productive life (LPL) and lifetime production (LTP) were analysed with linear models, using an animal model. Females after the worst sire had 1.7 times higher (progeny of LS) and 2.4 times higher (progeny of YS) risk of removal than females after the best sire. Heritability for PL was estimated at 0.06 (LS) and 0.12 (YS). The heritabilities for the linear longevity traits ranged from 0.03 to 0.08. Genetic correlations between the four linear longevity traits were all high and positive (0.6 to 1.0), as were the phenotypic correlations (0.5 to 0.8). The correlations (Spearman rank) between the sire's estimated breeding values for all the five longevity traits were all significant (P , 0.001) and moderate to strong in both data sets. Estimated breeding value (EBV) correlations between the five longevity traits and traits included in the present Swedish breeding evaluation (Quality Genetics (QG)) were significant in a few cases. Significant and favourable EBV correlations were found between age at first farrowing and both STAY12 and STAY13 (20.20 and 20.31), as well as between litter weight at 3 weeks and LPL and LTP (0.13 to 0.20). Significant and unfavourable EBV correlations were found between age at 100 kg and STAY12 (0.32), as well as between the exterior conformation score from testing station and PL (20.20). The level of the estimated heritabilities for longevity indicates that genetic improvement of sow longevity would be possible. However, overall, there was no strong indirect selection for sow longevity with the current Swedish breeding evaluation (QG).

“…Leg disorders are important problems of reproductive females all over their life and are one of the major causes for culling, especially in gilts and primiparous sows (Lucia et al, 2000). The reasons for lameness have been studied, and in many reports, OCD is the most important cause (Dewey et al, 1993;Heinonen et al, 2006).…”

Section: Reproductive Sows and Suckling Pigletsmentioning

confidence: 99%

High physiological demands in intensively raised pigs: impact on health and welfare

Prunier

Heinonen

Quesnel

2010

Genetic selection and better control of the environment of the pigs have resulted in increased production levels concerning both reproduction and growth. Such high performances imply high physiological demands that may deteriorate health and welfare. The aims of this paper are to review the physiological challenges that pigs are facing, to identify possible consequences on health and welfare, to propose ways of detecting and correcting problems whenever possible. At weaning, piglets are submitted to abrupt changes in food supply, housing and social environment. Behavioural changes and efficient adaptations of the digestive tract are critical for their health and welfare. Physiological demands to support these adaptations and risks of failure are inversely related to the age of the pigs. During fattening, modern pigs have high daily weight gain especially of lean tissue as well as elevated feed conversion rate. These high growth performances are suspected to favour stress and disease susceptibility, undesirable behaviours as well as leg weakness, but further experimental data are necessary to validate these effects and find their origin. In reproductive females, high prolificacy generates elevated foetal demands for nutrients and space that are not fully met as shown by an increased number of light piglets having difficulties to adapt successfully to the neonatal life. During lactation, sows with high milk production have high nutrient requirements leading to intense catabolism that may affect their health, welfare and future reproductive abilities.