Use of an anti-GnRF vaccine to suppress estrus in crossbred Iberian female pigs

Dalmau, Antoni; Velarde, Antonio; Rodríguez, P.; Pedernera, C.; Llonch, Pol; Fàbrega, E.; Casal, N.; Mainau, Eva; Gispert, M.; King, Vickie L.; Slootmans, Nathalie; Thomas, Anne; Mombarg, Mark

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.03.025

Cited by 23 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, ovary size was minor (p < 0.0001) and length of uterine horns (p < 0.0001) was shorter in IG than in EG. These results agree with others found in the literature [11,28,30], corroborating that immunocastration suppresses the development of reproductive organs. Within IG groups, no differences (p > 0.05) were found in the size and weight of the reproductive organs.…”

Section: Reproductive Tractssupporting

confidence: 93%

“…All gilts presented basal concentrations of progesterone (<1 ng/mL) throughout the trial (Table S1). In Iberian x Duroc gilts, in which at least three doses are required because they are slaughtered at around 160 kg, Dalmau et al [28] found no differences between EG and IG until the third vaccination (at 238 days of age). However, from that moment onwards, IG showed lower progesterone concentration than EG.…”

Section: Serum Sex Hormonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is worth noting that one gilt belonging to the IG-9 group presented some follicles of 7-8 mm. Zeng et al [22] and Dalmau et al [28] also detected two and one gilt, respectively, to which the doses of immunization against GnRF would have been injected, but that presented mature follicles at slaughter. This could be explained by the fact that these animals did not respond to immunocastration or that some of the doses were not injected correctly [22,34].…”

Section: Reproductive Tractsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Immunocastration in Gilts: A Preliminary Study of the Effect of the Second Dose Administration Time on Growth, Reproductive Tract Development, and Carcass and Meat Quality

Pérez-Ciria

Carcò

Miana-Mena

et al. 2021

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Increasing fatness and avoiding puberty are desirable in gilts intended for high-quality dry-cured ham production. A total of 48 Duroc x (Landrace x Large White) females of 26.5 ± 3.70 kg body weight (BW) were used to evaluate the impact of immunocastration and to find the optimum application time of the second dose for immunocastration on growth; sex hormones; reproductive tract development; and carcass, meat, and fat quality. Gilts were allocated to four experimental treatments (n = 12): control (entire gilts, EG) and immunocastrated gilts (IG), providing the second dose at 12, 9, or 7 weeks before slaughter (with approximately 60, 75, or 90 kg BW, respectively). Mean slaughter BW was 125 kg. Immunocastrated gilts had lighter reproductive tracts and greater fat thickness than EG. Fat from IG was more saturated and less polyunsaturated than that from EG. Numerically, gilts immunocastrated 9 and 12 weeks before slaughter presented higher fatness than those immunocastrated 7 weeks before slaughter. In conclusion, immunocastration is a good strategy to improve the fatness of gilts destined to dry-cured ham elaboration, with the optimum time for the second dose application seemingly between 9 and 12 weeks before slaughter.

show abstract

Section: Reproductive Tractssupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Serum Sex Hormonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Reproductive Tractsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Immunocastration in Gilts: A Preliminary Study of the Effect of the Second Dose Administration Time on Growth, Reproductive Tract Development, and Carcass and Meat Quality

Pérez-Ciria

Carcò

Miana-Mena

et al. 2021

Animals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the production of traditional high quality pork products such as dry-cured hams and shoulders, animals are slaughtered at higher live weights [10,45]. In Iberian high quality production systems, boars and gilts are castrated surgically either to prevent boar taint or undesirable performance losses in female animals during estrus [76], or in extensive free-ranging housing systems in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies during fattening [77,78]. However, castration of females jeopardizes animal welfare and increases production costs and infection risks [76,79].…”

Section: Suitability Of Immunocastration For Alternative and High Quamentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainability of Pork Production with Immunocastration in Europe

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Immunocastration, a technique to replace surgical castration of piglets, consists of two consecutive vaccinations to induce antibodies which transiently suppress testicular functions and avoid boar taint. It is a method to ensure both a high product quality and a high level of animal welfare. The impact of immunocastration on the three pillars of sustainability has been studied extensively. While all aspects of sustainability have been studied separately, however, a contemporary global overview of different aspects is missing. In immunocastrates, performance results are better than in barrows, but worse than in boars. The environmental impact of pork production with immunocastrates is lower than with barrows, but higher than with boars. The level of aggression is considerably lower in immunocastrates compared to boars. Societal concerns are mainly related to food safety, and are not supported by scientific evidence. After second vaccination, immunocastrates switch from a boar- to a barrow-like status. Therefore, the timing of second vaccination is a fine-tuning tool to balance advantages of boars with environmental and economic benefits against increased risk of welfare problems and boar taint. Nevertheless, both synergic and conflicting relationships between the pillars of sustainability must be communicated along the value chain to produce tailored pork products.

show abstract

“…An effect of season/age (P = 0.0147) was found for group composition, autumn, with the lowest percentage of mixed groups (15,33, and 52% of female, male and mixed groups, respectively), being statistically different from summer (12,23, and 65% of female, male and mixed groups, respectively) and winter (16,21, and 63% of female, male and mixed groups, respectively). In addition, spring (15,25, and 61% of female, male and mixed groups, respectively) was different from summer.…”

Section: Type and Composition Of The Groupsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Sex Differences in Group Composition and Habitat Use of Iberian Free-Range Pigs

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The aim of the present work was to study group size, group composition and habitat use of Iberian pigs along the year when reared outdoor. This consists of a regimen in which animals are reared free range from 2 months of age until at least 14 months of age. In a first stage, animals are supplemented with concentrates, and in a second, called montanera, pigs eat just natural resources in areas with no more than two pigs per hectare. In these systems, males are castrated to avoid boar taint and females spayed to avoid the attraction and mounting by wild boars. The study was carried out in five different farms allocated in the south-west of Spain during 2 consecutive years, from March 2012 to February 2014, under the montanera regimen, and with a total of 995 animals observed (498 males and 497 females). The data were analyzed with SAS by means of general models and proc mixed. Mean group size along the year was of 17 ± 12.9 individuals, but this was significantly lower (P < 0.05) during the montanera (12 ± 0.8) and at midday (13 ± 0.8). Groups were bigger (P < 0.05) when they were more than 50 m from a tree (23 ± 1.8), or <10 m from the shelter (25 ± 1.5), the feeding area (31 ± 3.1) and the water-bath area (25 ± 1.5). Nine percent of the groups were solitary animals, being higher (P = 0.0286) during the montanera (11%) than the rest of the year (8%) and being formed in 68% by males. Males were less involved in mixed groups than were females (75% vs. 91%), especially in spring, where the largest (P < 0.0001) male groups were found. Female groups were less frequent and smaller (P < 0.0001) than were male and mixed groups. In conclusion, although males were castrated at a very young age, they showed a different behavior than females, forming in bachelor groups during the spring and being less involved in mixed groups and with more solitary animals. During the montanera, when animals were feeding on acorns and other natural resources, groups were smaller and closer to the trees, solitary males reaching a maximum percent.

show abstract

Use of an anti-GnRF vaccine to suppress estrus in crossbred Iberian female pigs

Cited by 23 publications

References 16 publications

Immunocastration in Gilts: A Preliminary Study of the Effect of the Second Dose Administration Time on Growth, Reproductive Tract Development, and Carcass and Meat Quality

Immunocastration in Gilts: A Preliminary Study of the Effect of the Second Dose Administration Time on Growth, Reproductive Tract Development, and Carcass and Meat Quality

Sustainability of Pork Production with Immunocastration in Europe

Sex Differences in Group Composition and Habitat Use of Iberian Free-Range Pigs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About