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Effect of Sow Body Weight at First Service on Body Status and Performance during First Parity and Lifetime. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12233399. [PMID: 36496921 PMCID: PMC9740068 DOI: 10.3390/ani12233399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In this retrospective study, we aimed to assess the effect of body weight (BW) at first service on body status development and sow performance during first parity and lifetime efficiency. A total of 360 DanBred gilts were used, which we categorized into three groups according to their BW: (1) Small sows (<135 kg BW; n = 108); (2) Medium sows (135−150 kg BW; n = 155); (3) Large sows (>150 kg BW; n = 63). We studied the gilts from first insemination to first weaning, and then monitored until culling. Sow body status, litter size and weight, farrowing rate, weaning-to-conception interval, lifetime performance, and hormones linked to metabolism were recorded. Sows in the Small group had the lowest body weight, backfat thickness, and loin depth during gestation. Moreover, they had the smallest number of total piglets born and longest weaning-to-conception interval at first parity. The Small sows also had, on average, one less piglet born during their productive life, and they tended to have a higher culling rate over three parities. For immunoglobulins, insulin, cortisol, and IGF-I levels, no differences were found. In conclusion, achieving optimal body weight at first service is essential for maximizing the sow’s lifetime performance.
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Guan R, Gao W, Li P, Qiao X, Ren J, Song J, Li X. Utilization and reproductive performance of gilts in large-scale pig farming system with different production levels in China: a descriptive study. Porcine Health Manag 2021; 7:62. [PMID: 34903304 PMCID: PMC8667386 DOI: 10.1186/s40813-021-00239-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study was to investigate the utilization and reproductive performance of gilts in large-scale pig farms. Data of this descriptive study included 169,013 gilts of 1540 gilts’ batches on 105 large-scale pig farms from April 2020 to March 2021. According to the upper and lower 25th percentiles of piglets weaned per sow per year (PSY) during the research stage, pig farms were divided into three productivity groups: high-performing (HP), intermediate-performing (IP) and low-performing (LP) farms. On the basis of breeds, LP (LP-Total) farms was further divided into LP-breeding pig (LP-BP) and LP-commercial pig (LP-CP) groups. Average utilization, estrus and first mating data was collected from a total of 1540 gilts’ batches. The age-related factors (introduction age, age at first estrus and age at first mating) and litter production (total number of piglets, number of piglets born alive and number of weaned piglets, as well as their proportion distribution) among HP and LP groups were compared. The litter production in different age groups were also analyzed. Results The introduction age, mortality and culling rate of HP farms were lower compared with LP farms. Total number of piglets per litter, number of piglets born alive per litter and number of weaned piglets per litter in HP farms were significantly more than those of LP groups, respectively. The proportion distribution peaks of litter production in HP farms were shifted about two more than those in LP groups, respectively; and the proportion of low litter production (eight per litter or less) was lower than that in LP groups. The results of different age groups showed that total number of piglets per litter and number of piglets born alive per litter in 220–279 d were the most, while that of 370 d was the least. Conclusions The overall utilization and reproductive performance of gilts in HP farms was better than those of LP farms. The difference in utilization was reflected in introduction source, culling rate and mortality. While the age at first estrus and first mating, breeds and litter production were the main differences for reproductive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Guan
- Shandong New Hope Liuhe Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Co., Ltd, 6596 Dongfanghong East Road Yuanqiao Town, Dezhou, 253000, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenchao Gao
- Shandong New Hope Liuhe Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Co., Ltd, 6596 Dongfanghong East Road Yuanqiao Town, Dezhou, 253000, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Li
- Shandong New Hope Liuhe Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Co., Ltd, 6596 Dongfanghong East Road Yuanqiao Town, Dezhou, 253000, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuwei Qiao
- Sichuan New hope Animal Husbandry Technology Co., Ltd., of 4th Floor Building 1 No. 7, Hangkong Road Wuhou District, Chengdu, 610100, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Ren
- Shandong Swine Herd Health Big Data and Intelligent Monitoring Engineering Laboratory, Dezhou University, Dezhou, 253000, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Song
- Shandong Swine Herd Health Big Data and Intelligent Monitoring Engineering Laboratory, Dezhou University, Dezhou, 253000, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowen Li
- Shandong New Hope Liuhe Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Co., Ltd, 6596 Dongfanghong East Road Yuanqiao Town, Dezhou, 253000, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
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Mixing aggression intensity is associated with age at first service and floor type during gestation, with implications for sow reproductive performance. Animal 2021; 15:100158. [PMID: 33573987 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2020.100158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggression resulting from mixing to establish a dominance hierarchy is a major welfare concern for group-housed sows. The associated stress can negatively impact aspects of reproductive performance. Objectives of this study were to investigate associations between 1) age at first service (AFS) and mixing aggression intensity in first parity sows, 2) mixing aggression intensity and reproductive performance within and between parity one and parity two, and 3) mixing aggression intensity, floor type during gestation and reproductive performance. Gilts (n =160, hereafter referred to as sows) were mixed into stable groups of eight unfamiliar individuals approximately 4 days after artificial insemination, housed on fully slatted concrete (CON; n =80) floor uncovered or covered with rubber slat mats (RUB; n =80), and followed through two parities. Skin lesions (SLMIX; a proxy for the intensity of mixing aggression), were scored post mixing in each parity according to severity (0=no lesions to 5=severe lesions) on five body regions (ear, neck, hindquarter, rump, and belly) on the left and right sides, and at the tail/anogenital region. Total SLMIX score was calculated for each sow. Data on reproductive performance traits were acquired retrospectively from farm records for both parities. Two analyses were performed: 1) data from each parity were analysed separately and 2) SLMIX score in parity one was used to predict reproductive performance in parity two. Lower AFS was associated with a lower SLMIX score in parity one (P =0.031). There was no association between SLMIX score and reproductive performance in parity one, while sows with higher SLMIX score in parity two had a higher proportion of piglets dead during lactation (P =0.027) and a longer cycle length (P =0.003) in parity two. Sows with higher SLMIX scores in parity one had more non-productive days (P <0.001) in parity two. Concrete sows had a higher SLMIX score than RUB sows in parity one (P =0.015), but not in parity two. In addition, CON sows had a higher proportion of piglets born dead (P =0.013) compared with RUB sows in parity two. Mixing aggression has a negative influence on reproductive performance within parities, and it may also have a long-term negative carry-over effect on reproductive performance in subsequent parities. Serving gilts at younger ages could help to minimize the intensity of aggression at mixing, while housing on rubber flooring has beneficial implications for their reproductive performance.
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Craig A, Henry W, Magowan E. Effect of phase feeding and valine-to-lysine ratio during lactation on sow and piglet performance1. J Anim Sci 2016; 94:3835-3843. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2016-0648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A Craig
- Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute, Hillsborough, Northern Ireland
- Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - W Henry
- Rekify Ltd, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland
| | - E Magowan
- Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Roy C, Lavoie M, Richard G, Archambault A, Lapointe J. Evidence that oxidative stress is higher in replacement gilts than in multiparous sows. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2016; 100:911-9. [PMID: 27079824 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The recent success obtained in term of increasing the litter size of sows has not correlated with a reduction of replacement rate. There is thus an increased economic demand for gilts with optimal reproductive potential and longevity. Unfortunately, replacement gilts are known to be more susceptible to diseases and less productive than multiparous sows. Interestingly, reproductive performance, resistance to diseases and longevity could all be largely affected by oxidative stress. To investigate whether oxidative stress conditions could account for the poor longevity of gilts, three distinct groups of conventional Yorkshire × Landrace sows were formed based on their similar age and parity (gilts, second parity sows as well as fourth to fifth parity sows). All animals were slaughtered during the post-ovulatory period, and blood as well as tissue samples were collected. Biomarkers of oxidative damage to proteins (carbonyls) and DNA (8-OHdG) were analysed in samples. Specific mRNA expression of major antioxidants such as glutathione peroxidases 1, 3 and 4 (GPx1, GPx3, GPx4) as well as superoxide dismutases 1 and 2 (Sod1, Sod2) were monitored in liver and kidney samples by quantitative RT-PCR. Specific enzymatic activities of both GPx and SOD were measured by spectrophotometric assays. The plasma concentration of protein carbonyls was significantly different between the three groups with the highest concentration being observed in gilts (p ≤ 0.001). The mRNA expression levels of GPx1 and GPx4 were also significantly increased in the liver of gilts when compared to multiparous sows (p ≤ 0.05). SOD2 enzymatic activity was found to be higher in the liver of gilts than multiparous sows (p ≤ 0.05). Taken together, these results indicate that replacement gilts sustain significantly higher oxidative conditions than multiparous sows. Current findings may contribute to the design of nutritional regimens that will increase the productivity of gilts by counteracting oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Roy
- Dairy and Swine R & D Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - M Lavoie
- Dairy and Swine R & D Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - G Richard
- Dairy and Swine R & D Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - A Archambault
- Dairy and Swine R & D Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - J Lapointe
- Dairy and Swine R & D Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
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Lesskiu P, Bernardi M, Wentz I, Bortolozzo F. Effect of body development from first insemination to first weaning on performance and culling until the third farrowing of Landrace x Large White swine females. ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2015. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-6897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to verify the association of sow body weight development until the 1st weaning with reproductive performance, piglet production and culling rate until the 3rd farrowing in 196 primiparous sows using logistic regression models. Each 10kg increase in weight gain in the 1stpregnancy (OR= 0.63), weight at 1st farrowing (OR= 0.70), weight at the 1st weaning (OR= 0.73) or weight gain from the 1startificial insemination (AI) to the 1st weaning (OR= 0.67) decreased the percentage of primiparous sows with long weaning-to-oestrus interval - WOI (>5 days). An increasing lactation length and an increase in the number of weaned piglets were responsible for respectively decreasing (OR= 0.77-0.80, per day of lactation) and increasing (OR= 1.52-1.59, per piglet weaned) the percentage of sows with long WOI. Sows with <159.5kg at weaning had higher odds of non-farrowing (NFR) compared to sows with >170kg (OR= 4.73). Sows with <17.5kg of gain from the 1st AI to the 1st weaning had higher odds (OR= 4.88) of NFR than sows gaining >30kg. Each additional lactation day decreased the NFR (OR= 0.74). Females weighing <139kg at the 1st AI had higher percentages of small numbers of total born in the second parity (STB2, OR= 2.00) and over three parities (OR= 3.28) compared to those weighing ≥139kg. Sows with weight gain <25kg at the 1st pregnancy had higher odds of STB2 (OR= 3.01) compared to sows gaining >35kg. Each 10kg of increase in weight at the 1st weaning or in weight gain from the 1stAI to the 1stweaning decreased the total culling rate (OR= 0.71 and 0.73, respectively) and culling for reproductive reasons (OR= 0.57 and 0.61, respectively). The culling rate until the 3rdfarrowing was also increased in sows with a smaller first litter size. The results show that not only reaching a minimum weight at the 1st AI but also having an adequate body weight gain until the 1st weaning is important for the reproductive performance, productivity and retention of Landrace x Large White Danbred sows in the herd.
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Affiliation(s)
- P.E. Lesskiu
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | | | - I. Wentz
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
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