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Piñán J, Alegre B, Kirkwood RN, Soriano-Úbeda C, Maj M, Domínguez JC, Manjarín R, Martínez-Pastor F. Effect of Season and Parity on Reproduction Performance of Iberian Sows Bred with Duroc Semen. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:3275. [PMID: 34828007 PMCID: PMC8614353 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Iberian pig is an autochthonous breed from the Iberian Peninsula highly valued for its meat. The sows are often bred as Iberian × Duroc crossings for increased efficiency. Since sow parity and season affect the reproductive performance, we evaluated two-year records from a commercial farrow-to-finish farm (live, stillborn, and mummified piglets after artificial insemination, AI). A total of 1293 Iberian sows were inseminated with semen from 57 boars (3024 AI). The effects of parity (gilts, 1, 2-4, 5-10, and >10 farrowings) and season were analyzed by linear mixed-effects models (LME). The data were fitted to cosinor models to investigate seasonal effects within parity groups. The effects of maximum daily temperature (MDT) and day length change (DLC) during spermatogenesis, pre-AI, and post-AI periods were analyzed with LME. The 2-4 group was the optimal one for parity. A seasonal effect was evident between spring-summer (lower fertility/prolificacy) and autumn-winter (higher). Cosinor showed that the seasonal drop in reproductive performance occurs earlier in Iberian sows than in other breeds, more evident in gilts. MDT negatively affected performance in all periods and DLC in spermatogenesis and pre-AI. These results are relevant for the improvement of Iberian sows' intensive farming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Piñán
- Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (J.P.); (B.A.); (C.S.-Ú.); (J.C.D.); (F.M.-P.)
- Department of Animal Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy (Animal Medicine and Surgery), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Beatriz Alegre
- Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (J.P.); (B.A.); (C.S.-Ú.); (J.C.D.); (F.M.-P.)
- Department of Animal Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy (Animal Medicine and Surgery), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Roy N. Kirkwood
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5317, Australia;
| | - Cristina Soriano-Úbeda
- Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (J.P.); (B.A.); (C.S.-Ú.); (J.C.D.); (F.M.-P.)
| | - Magdalena Maj
- Department of Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, One Grand Ave., Bldg. 10, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA;
| | - Juan Carlos Domínguez
- Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (J.P.); (B.A.); (C.S.-Ú.); (J.C.D.); (F.M.-P.)
- Department of Animal Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy (Animal Medicine and Surgery), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Manjarín
- Animal Science Department, California Polytechnic State University, One Grand Ave., Bldg. 10, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
| | - Felipe Martínez-Pastor
- Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (J.P.); (B.A.); (C.S.-Ú.); (J.C.D.); (F.M.-P.)
- Department of Molecular Biology (Cell Biology), Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
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The Suinfort ® Semen Supplement Counters Seasonal Infertility in Iberian Sows. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113176. [PMID: 34827908 PMCID: PMC8614245 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Efficient pork production relies on a predictable supply of market pigs. Seasonal infertility caused by heat stress decreases fertility in sows during the summer months, impacting breeding targets and decreasing the efficiency of pork production. The present study examined the effect of a seminal additive containing caffeine, oxytocin, and lecirelin on the fertility and prolificacy of Iberian sows during two consecutive years. The results confirmed that inclusion of the additive in semen prior to AI decreased the seasonality effect, increasing the percentage of pregnant Iberian sows throughout the year. Abstract Suinfort®, a commercial semen supplement demonstrated to increase fertility and litter size in commercial sows, was tested to improve reproductive performance in Iberian sows. A total of 1430 Iberian sows were artificially inseminated (AI) with semen from Duroc boars and assigned by parity to receive the seminal additive Suinfort® containing 2 IU oxytocin, 5 µg lecirelin, and 2 mM caffeine (SF; n = 1713 AI), or to serve as non-supplemented controls (CON; n = 2625 AI). CON showed a lower fertility comparing to winter for spring (p = 0.001) and summer (p < 0.001); summer was lower than autumn (p = 0.012). SF removed this seasonal effect (p > 0.05). Fertility was significantly higher for SF sows during summer (p = 0.025) and autumn (p = 0.004). Total born, live-born, stillborn, and mummified piglets did not differ between CON and SF but were impacted by the season, with total and live-born decreasing in summer compared with autumn (p < 0.001) and winter (p = 0.005). In conclusion, seminal supplementation with Suinfort® improved the fertility of Iberian sows during periods of seasonal infertility.
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López-Arjona M, Padilla L, Roca J, Cerón JJ, Martínez-Subiela S. Ejaculate Collection Influences the Salivary Oxytocin Concentrations in Breeding Male Pigs. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10081268. [PMID: 32722376 PMCID: PMC7460095 DOI: 10.3390/ani10081268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This study aimed to evaluate how the process of ejaculate collection affects oxytocin concentrations in saliva of boars used in artificial insemination. Saliva samples of 33 boars were collected the day before ejaculate collection, during the ejaculation time, and two hours after ejaculate collection. Free oxytocin and oxytocin linked to proteins were quantified in these saliva samples. Oxytocin concentrations during the ejaculation time were higher than the day before with oxytocin linked to proteins showing higher differences. In addition, younger boars, boars with higher libido intensity and boars of the Pietrain breed showed higher values of oxytocin in saliva during ejaculation than the day before. This study demonstrated that ejaculation influences the salivary oxytocin concentrations boars. Abstract The objective of the present study was to evaluate the possible changes of oxytocin concentrations in saliva during and after ejaculate collection in breeding boars usually used in artificial insemination programs. Saliva samples of 33 boars were collected the day before ejaculate collection (DB), during the ejaculation time (T0) and two hours after ejaculate collection (T2). Free oxytocin and oxytocin linked to proteins concentrations were measured by two methods previously developed and validated for saliva of pigs. Younger boars, boars with higher libido intensity and boars of the Pietrain breed showed higher values of oxytocin in saliva during ejaculation than the day before. In addition, boars with higher libido showed higher concentrations two hours after ejaculate collection than during the day before. These changes were of higher magnitude and significance when oxytocin linked to proteins was measured. In conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time that ejaculation influences the salivary oxytocin concentrations in breeding boars, although this influence varies according to age, libido and breed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina López-Arjona
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain; (M.L.-A.); (S.M.-S.)
| | - Lorena Padilla
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (L.P.); (J.R.)
- IMIB-Arrixaca, Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (L.P.); (J.R.)
- IMIB-Arrixaca, Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - José Joaquín Cerón
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain; (M.L.-A.); (S.M.-S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-868884722
| | - Silvia Martínez-Subiela
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of the University of Murcia (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain; (M.L.-A.); (S.M.-S.)
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