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Mallmann AL, Arend LS, Oliveira GS, Mellagi APG, Ulguim RR, Bernardi ML, Bortolozzo FP, Knox RV. Effects of flush feeding strategy before breeding on reproductive performance of modern replacement gilts: impacts on ovulation rate and litter traits. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:skaa186. [PMID: 32506131 PMCID: PMC7447920 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractThe effects of two feed levels offered during two estrous cycles before insemination were evaluated on the reproductive performance of gilts. A total of 93 gilts (PIC Hendersonville, TN) were individually housed and manually fed twice a day with 2.1 or 3.6 kg/d of a corn and soybean meal-based diet (3.15 Mcal ME/kg and 0.64% standardized ileal digestible lysine), during two estrous cycles before breeding (cycle 1, between first and second estrus; cycle 2, between second and third estrus). Gilts were weighed at the beginning of the experiment, at second and third estrus, and at slaughter (30.2 ± 1.2 d of gestation). Follicles were counted at second estrus, and the embryo-placental units and the corpora lutea were individually counted, measured, and weighed at slaughter. Gilts fed 3.6 kg/d had greater BW gain during cycle 1 and cycle 2 (P < 0.001; + 9.8 kg and + 10.0 kg, respectively) becoming heavier at second and third estrus (P < 0.001). At second estrus, gilts fed 3.6 kg/d had 1.6 more medium-large follicles (P = 0.074) but no difference in follicle size (P = 0.530) was observed. Gilts fed 3.6 kg/d in cycle 1 or cycle 2 had a greater ovulation rate at third estrus (P < 0.016) than those receiving 2.1 kg/d. Also, 3.6 kg/d in cycle 2 increased early embryo mortality (P = 0.006; 2.3 vs. 1.1 dead embryos) and consequently reduced total embryo survival (P = 0.002; 84.6 vs. 90.1%). Gilts fed 3.6 kg/d during cycle 1 had two more total embryos (P < 0.001; 17.2 vs. 15.1) and two more vital embryos on day 30 (P < 0.001; 16.7 vs. 14.5) in comparison with gilts fed 2.1 kg/d. The coefficient of variation for placental length was greater for gilts fed 3.6 kg/d during cycle 1 (P = 0.003). No further significant effects of feeding levels were observed on embryo and placental traits (P ≥ 0.063). These results suggest that the feeding level during the first cycle after pubertal estrus is crucial to set ovulation rate and potential litter size for breeding at next estrus. However, flush feeding gilts before insemination can negatively impact litter size by reducing embryo survival when breeding at third estrus.
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Affiliation(s)
- André L Mallmann
- Departamento de Medicina Animal/Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Lidia S Arend
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana
| | - Gabriela S Oliveira
- Departamento de Medicina Animal/Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ana P G Mellagi
- Departamento de Medicina Animal/Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Rafael R Ulguim
- Departamento de Medicina Animal/Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Mari L Bernardi
- Departamento de Zootecnia/Faculdade de Agronomia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Fernando P Bortolozzo
- Departamento de Medicina Animal/Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Robert V Knox
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana
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Che L, Yang Z, Xu M, Zhang Z, Liu P, Xu S, Che L, Lin Y, Fang Z, Feng B, Li J, Wu D. Dietary energy intake affects fetal survival and development during early and middle pregnancy in Large White and Meishan gilts. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 1:152-159. [PMID: 29767162 PMCID: PMC5945974 DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2015.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This experiment was designed to determine the effects of variations in dietary energy intake on reproductive performance and gene expression of luteal and endometrium tissues in Large White (LW) and Meishan (MS) gilts during early and middle pregnancy. After insemination, 32 LW gilts were assigned to high and low (HEL and LEL, 14.23 and 12.56 MJ DE/kg, respectively) diet treatment groups, while 32 MS gilts were allocated to HEM and LEM (12.56 and 10.88 MJ DE/kg) groups. Gilts were slaughtered on days 35, 55 and 90 of gestation. The fetal survival and luteal progesterone (P4) concentration in the HEL group were higher on day 35 but lower on day 90 of gestation compared with the LEL group (P < 0.05) for LW gilts. However, fetal survival and luteal P4 concentration on day 35 of gestation were greater (P < 0.05) in the LEM group than in the HEM group for MS gilts, but no significant difference in mid-gestation was showed. The fetal weights of both breeds were higher for the high energy diets compared with the respective control group on day 90 of gestation (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA levels of P4 synthesis-related proteins had correlated with luteal P4 concentration in both breeds. Further, endometrial levels of uteroferrin (ACP5), retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) mRNA were upregulated in the HEL group on day 35 of gestation but ACP5 and SPP1 were downregulated on day 55 of gestation compared with the LEL group (P < 0.05) for LW gilts. In MS gilts, diet only affected the expression of SPP1 (P < 0.05). Our results revealed the differential sensitivity of LW and MS breeds to variations in dietary energy intake. For LW gilts, the HEL group improved fetal survival on day 35 but a sustained high energy diet decreased fetal survival on day 90 of gestation. The differences in dietary energy intake did not influence fetal survival on day 90 of gestation but the higher energy diet did increase fetal weight in the MS breed compared with the lower energy intake diet. These results may be due to differential luteal secretion activity and endometrium gene expression in these two breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Che
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Zhenguo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Mengmeng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Ziyun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Peilin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Shengyu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Lianqiang Che
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Yan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Zhengfeng Fang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Bin Feng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - Jian Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
| | - De Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition and Feed Science, Ministry of Agriculture, PR China.,Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya׳an, 625014, PR China
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