THE INFLUENCE OF FEEDING LEVEL DURING LACTATION ON THE OCCURRENCE AND ENDOCRINOLOGY OF THE POSTWEANING ESTRUS IN SOWS

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. KIRKWOOD ◽  
S. K. BAIDOO ◽  
F. X. AHERNE ◽  
A. P. SATHER
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Sow Lactation ◽  
Estradiol 17Β

Two experiments were performed with 78 second parity Lacombe sows to determine the influence of nutrition on reproductive performance. During a lactation of 35 d sows were fed daily either 3 (L) or 6 kg (H) of a diet having 16% crude protein and 12.5 MJ DE kg−1. For exp. 1, six L- and six H-fed sows were given an intravenous injection of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) at 21 d of lactation and blood was sampled at −30, −10, 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 90 and 120 min from the time of injection. Prestimulation luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were lower for L-fed than for the H-fed sows (1.34 ± 0.1 vs. 1.93 ± 0.2 ng mL−1' P < 0.02). Peak LH levels achieved after UnKH injection, however, did not differ significantly (5.0 ± 0.6 and 5.8 ± 0.5 ng mL−1 for L and H sows, respectively). In exp. 2, 38 sows were fed the H and 40 fed the L level of feed throughout a 5-wk lactation. As expected, low-level feeding in lactation resulted in a greater body weight and backfat loss (17.4 ± 1.6 vs 41.2 ± 2.3 kg and 3.2 ± 0.4 vs. 6.3 ± 0.1 mm; P < 0.001 for both). Low-level feeding also resulted in an increased incidence of anestrus (15.0 vs. 0.0%) and an extended remating interval (140.7 ± 11.7 vs. 103.4 ± 2.1 h; P < 0.05). At the postweaning estrus, sows were inseminated with either fresh (F) or thawed (T) semen. Treatment groups were thus HF, LF and LT. Pregnancy rate was influenced by both feed level and semen type (90, 72, 69 and 39% for groups HF, HT, LF and LT, respectively). Ovulation rate was unaffected by feed intake (18.7 ± 0.9 vs. 18.2 ± 0.5 for L and H sows, respectively) but embryo survival was influenced by both feed intake and semen type (82.7 ± 2.5, 46.4 ± 9.7, 68.3 ± 9.6 and 53.7 ± 9.8% for groups HF, HT, LF and LT respectively). Eight H and twelve L-fed sows were blood-sampled via indwelling vena caval cannulae at 6-h intervals from weaning until the end of estrus. No treatment effect was noted for plasma levels of LH, growth hormone, estradiol-17β or testosterone during this period. It was concluded that low-plane feeding in lactation and the consequent increased weight and backfat loss reduce reproductive performance of sows. However, the mechanism(s) controlling this effect remain to be fully elucidated. Key words: Sow, lactation, nutrition, estrus

EFFECT OF LACTATION FEED INTAKE AND GONADOTROPHIN-RELEASING HORMONE ON THE REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF SOWS

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. KIRKWOOD ◽  
E. S. LYTHGOE ◽  
F. X. AHERNE
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Intramuscular Injection ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Releasing Hormone ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Estrus Detection ◽  
Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone ◽  
In Pregnancy

Twenty-four first parity and 48 multiparity crossbred sows (Yorkshire × Landrace) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design involving high (H) or low (L) lactation feed intakes and the intramuscular injection, or not, of 50 μg of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) at the onset of the first postweaning estrus. All sows were weighed at farrowing and weaning. The H feed intake entailed feeding sows at levels of 10, 13, and 14% of each sow's immediate postfarrowing metabolic weight during weeks 1, 2, and 3–4 of lactation, respectively. Low-fed sows received 50% of the H feed level. The diet contained 12.5 MJ DE kg−1 and 16% crude protein. Between weaning and mating, and following mating, all sows were fed 2.25 kg daily of the lactation diet. After weaning, sows were exposed to a boar twice daily to facilitate estrus detection. GnRH was administered at the onset of standing heat. All sows were slaughtered 25 d after mating at which time the reproductive tracts were removed and examined to determine the number of ovulations and the number of viable embryos. Low-level feeding resulted in an extension of the remating interval (5.9 ± 0.3 vs. 4.5 ± 0.2 d; P < 0.05), an increased incidence of anestrus (16.7 vs. 3.6%; P > 0.1) and a reduction in pregnancy rates (69.7 vs. 81.6%; P > 0.1). Interactions were noted between lactation feeding level and GnRH injection (P < 0.05) and between parity and GnRH injection (P < 0.05) for number of viable embryos. The data obtained suggest that both low level of feeding during lactation and a young age are associated with decreased embryo numbers, but this situation is alleviated by the administration of GnRH. Key words: Sows, feed intake, estrus, GnRH

Effect of feed intake during lactation and after weaning on sow reproductive performance

1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 911-917 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Baidoo ◽  
F. X. Aherne ◽  
R. N. Kirkwood ◽  
G. R. Foxcroft
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Factorial Design ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Vena Cava ◽  
Restricted Feeding ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Blood Samples

To study the effects of feed intake during lactation and after weaning on reproductive performance, 89 second-parity Lacombe sows were allowed 6 kg feed d−1 (H) or were restricted to 3 kg feed d−1 (R) during lactation and during the weaning to estrus interval (WEI); this resulted in a 2 × 2 factorial design (groups HH, HR, RH and RR). To minimize the confounding effects of duration of WEI on sow performance, the experiment was terminated 10 d after weaning. The diet was formulated to provide 12.4 M J ME kg−1 and 16% crude protein. Restricted feeding during lactation resulted in a longer (P < 0.05) WEI (7.3 d vs. 5.9 d). WEI was not affected by feed intake after weaning. Fewer (P < 0.05) sows feed restricted during lactation exhibited estrus by 10 d from weaning (31.8% vs. 88.9%). Ovulation rate was not affected by lactation or postweaning feed intake. However, embryo survival at 25 d of gestation was influenced (P < 0.05) by feed intake during both periods. The highest embryo survival (85%) was in HR sows, and the lowest (64%) was in RR sows. Blood samples were taken from 12 sows from each of the four treatments by means of indwelling vena cava cannulae at 6-h intervals from weaning until 24 h after mating or 10 d after weaning, whichever came first. Plasma gonadotrophin concentrations were reduced (P < 0.05) by low feed intake during lactation but were unaffected by postweaning feed intake. Peak preovulatory LH surge concentrations were highest (9.5 ng mL−1) in HR sows and lowest (7.6 ng mL−1) in RR sows (P < 0.05). These data confirm the adverse effects of restricted feeding during lactation on the reproductive performance of sows and indicate that such effects may be mediated through changes in plasma LH concentrations. No significant effect of post-weaning feed intake on any measured factor was observed. Key words: Sow, feed intake, reproductive performance

509 Late-Breaking: Effect of a Sensory Additive on Sow Reproductive Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 206-206
Author(s):  
Nathan Davis ◽  
Tsungcheng Tsia ◽  
Benjamin Bass ◽  
Gemma Tedo ◽  
Sofia Morais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Body Weight Change ◽  
Lactation Performance ◽  
Thickness Change ◽  
Breaking Effect ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Sow Lactation ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The addition of a sensory additive to sow diets during the summer improved feed intake during lactation, and litter performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the sensory additive on sow lactation performance during cooler temperatures. Three consecutive groups (n = 61 total) of sows were farrowed during winter (October, December and January). Sows were weighed, and back fat depth was measured, at 110 d of gestation prior to entering the lactation room, and again at weaning. The sows were sorted by parity, and then allotted by BW at d 110 to Control or 0.075% sensory additive (Luctamax® SowVive, Lucta S.A., Spain). Experimental diets were offered upon entry to the lactation room and fed through weaning. Feed disappearance was recorded every three days. Sows were fed 2.72 kg/head/day until farrowing, and then allowed to eat ad libitum from 24 hours post-farrowing until weaning. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS as an RCBD with treatment as the fixed effect and group as a random effect. No differences were observed on sows feed intake (P &gt; 0.4), 10th rib backfat thickness change (P = 0.632) and body weight change from d 110 of gestation to weaning (P = 0.65, Table 1). Sows fed the sensory additive lowered preweaning mortality by 4.9% (P = 0.051), and weaned an additional 1.42 piglets (P = 0.026) with similar weaning weights (P = 0.86) when compared to control. In conclusion, in the current study, lactation diets supplemented with a sensory additive improved litter performance and helped maintain sow body condition.

EFFECT OF NUTRITIONAL FLUSHING, SUPPLEMENTAL FAT AND SUPPLEMENTAL LYSINE FROM PUBERTY TO BREEDING AND DURING EARLY GESTATION ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF GILTS

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 941-951 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. GRANDHI
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Allantoic Fluid ◽  
Progesterone Level ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Early Gestation ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Animal Fat ◽  
Supplemental Fat

Four experiments were conducted, using a total of 356 Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred gilts, to determine the influence of flushing, supplemental fat and supplemental lysine fed from puberty to breeding (exps. 1 and 2) and from puberty through early gestation (exps. 3 and 4) on the reproductive performance of gilts. All gilts were housed in total confinement and fed ad libitum a 16% protein swine grower diet until 150 d of age. The diet was then restricted to 2 kg d−1 until puberty. The treatment diets fed from puberty to breeding in exps. 1 and 2 were: (1) control, a 12% protein barley-soybean meal gestation diet fed at 2 kg d−1 (24.4 MJ DE d−1); (2) flushing, control diet fed at 3 kg d−1 (36.6 MJ DE d−1; (3) animal fat, control diet fed at 2 kg d−1 plus 622 g of fat premix (36.6 MJ DE d−1; and (4) lysine, control diet with supplemental lysine (14 g d−1) fed at 2 kg d−1 (24.4 MJ DE d−1). After breeding, all gilts were fed control diet at 2 kg d−1 until approximately 30 d at gestation. In exps. 3 and 4, the same treatment diets were used except flushing was omitted and they were fed from puberty to approximately 30 d of gestation. No significant differences (P > 0.05) among the treatment groups were found in any of the experiments for the number of corpora lutea and normal embryos, and ovarian, uterine, and fetal weights. In exp. 2, the embryo survival rate (%) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the flushing (81.7 ± 3.3) and animal fat (78.3 ± 3.3) groups than in the control (92.9 ± 3.0); however, the lysine (88.8 ± 3.5) group did not differ significantly from the other groups. The embryo survival rate was also reduced (P < 0.05) by supplemental fat (81.5 ± 2.7) when compared to the control (86.8 ± 3.0) and lysine (88.8 ± 2.7) diets in exp. 3 but not in exp. 4. The serum progesterone level (ng/mL−1) was lower (P < 0.05) in the animal fat group (4.1 ± 0.6) than in the control (6.3 ± 0.6) and lysine (6.1 ± 0.6) groups in exp. 4. However, progesterone level of allantoic fluid in exp. 4 and estrone sulfate levels of both serum and allantoic fluid in exps. 3 and 4 were similar for the three treatment groups. The overall results indicated that flushing, supplemental fat or supplemental lysine fed from puberty to breeding, and supplemental fat or supplemental lysine fed from puberty through early gestation did not improve the ovulation rate, embryo survival or fetal development in gilts. Key words: Ovulation rate, embryo survival, flushing, fat, lysine, hormones, gilts

The effect of feeding level during a 12-day progesterone-priming period on the viability of embryos collected from superovulated ewes.

1993 ◽  
Vol 1993 ◽  
pp. 57-57
Author(s):  
T.G. McEvoy ◽  
J.J. Robinson ◽  
R.P. Aitken ◽  
C.E. Kyle ◽  
I.S. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Concentration ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Priming Phase ◽  
Effect Of Feeding

Several studies have shown that the level of peri- and post-ovulatory progesterone in ewes can critically influence embryo survival (Ashworth, Sales & Wilmut, 1989; Parr, 1992). However, the effect of altering pre-ovulatory progesterone concentrations in superovulated sheep has not been fully investigated. In view of the inverse relationship between the plasma concentration of progesterone and food intake (McKelvey & Robinson, 1986; Parr, 1992), the present study was carried out to determine the effect of altering feed intake on progesterone concentrations during the pre-ovulatory priming phase and on the subsequent viability of ova collected from superovulated ewes.

The response of sows to increased nutrient intake during mid to late gestation

2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. King ◽  
P. J. Eason ◽  
R. J. Smits ◽  
W. C. Morley ◽  
D. J. Henman
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Subsequent Fertility ◽  
Dietary Treatments

Five hundred and ten multiparous sows were allocated at 66 days after mating to one of 6 dietary treatments that were imposed for the subsequent 35 days. The dietary treatments were 5 feeding levels of 2.2, 2.6, 3.0, 3.4, and 3.8 kg/day of a gestation diet containing 12.9 MJ DE/kg, 127 g crude protein/kg, and 5.6 g lysine/kg, plus a protein intake treatment where sows received 2.8 kg/day of a lactation diet containing 13.8 MJ DE/kg, 168 g crude protein/kg, and 8.3 g lysine/kg. After the treatment period, all sows were offered the lactation diet at the common feeding level of 3.0 kg/day and after farrowing, all sows were offered this diet ad libitum throughout lactation. Increasing feeding levels between Day 66 and Day 101 of pregnancy increased (P < 0.001) liveweight gain prior to farrowing but increased (P < 0.001) liveweight loss during lactation. The majority of the extra maternal energy intake during mid to late gestation was deposited as maternal gain. These linear weight responses during lactation were explained by the significant inverse relationship between voluntary daily feed intake in lactation (FI) and average daily digestible energy intake in the previous gestation (DE): Neither increasing the feeding level during mid to late gestation nor increasing the protein content of the diet had any significant effect on litter birth weight, average piglet birth weight, or the standard deviation of individual piglet birth weight within the litter. In addition, there were no significant effects of gestation feeding treatments on litter size weaned or weaning weight. Furthermore, neither increasing the feeding level during mid to late gestation nor increasing the protein content of the gestation diet had any significant effect on subsequent fertility or litter size. In conclusion, when average individual piglet birth weight is already well in excess of 1.5 kg, there is no significant response to feed intake levels between 2.2 and 3.8 kg/day when offered between Day 66 and Day 101 of gestation.

Single and choice-feeding of pigs as methods of investigating their ability to control protein intake

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 ◽  
pp. 9-9
Author(s):  
I. Kyriazakis ◽  
G.C. Emmans ◽  
C.T. Whittemore
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Growing Pigs ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Choice Feeding ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Control Protein

The experiment described here was designed to test the proposition that growing pigs can control their overall intake of protein: on a feed with a low level of crude protein (CP) by increasing their daily feed intake (up to a limit) and, given a choice of two feeds with different levels of CP, by selecting a diet with optimal protein content.

The influence of premating feeding level and exogenous insulin on the reproductive performance of sows

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 249-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. Kirkwood ◽  
P. A. Thacker
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Protein Diet ◽  
Exogenous Insulin ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Sow Nutrition ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Farrowing Rate

At weaning (day 0), 120 mixed parity Yorkshire × Landrace sows were allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to be fed a 16% crude protein diet at either 1.8 or 3.6 kg d−1 until breeding and to receive either no insulin or insulin (0.75 IU kg−1) on days 1–4, inclusively. There were no significant effects of dietary or insulin treatments on days to rebreeding, farrowing rate or subsequent litter size. Key words: Sow, nutrition, insulin, reproduction

scholarly journals Photostimulated changes in egg production and reproductive performance of the Guinea fowl in a sub-humid tropical environment.

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-320
Author(s):  
U. K. Oke ◽  
U. Herbert ◽  
K. Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Guinea Fowl ◽  
Egg Mass ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Light Regimes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Production Response

The effect of photo-induced changes on egg production and reproductive performance of female guinea fowl was studied by exposing the birds to three photo-regimens, namely natural daylight all day for 12 weeks (NDL), 8 hours of light per day for 8 weeks (8L-16D) plus supplementary light for 16 hours per day for 4 weeks (16L-8D) (RSL), and provided natural daylight all day for 8 weeks plus supplementary light at 16 hours per day for 4 weeks (SL). Weight gain during the pre-laying period was similar (P>0.05) in all the treatment groups between 20-36 weeks of age. The reverse was the case during the laying period between 36-52 weeks, which coincided with the age at sexual maturity. Feed intake was similar (P>0.05) for the NDL and SL groups during the pre-laying period but the RSL group had significantly lower (P<0.05) feed intake than the others. Overall laying mortality was lowest in the RSL birds. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in body weight for all the groups. Age at first egg was significantly lower (P<0.05) in the RSL (207 d) than in the NDL (249 d) and SL (235 d) birds which were similar (P>0.05). The guinea fowls which received 8 weeks of restricted light (RSL) responded more rapidly in terms of day-to-first-egg after exposure to 16 hours of light and achieved significantly higher (P<0.05) level of egg production than the other two groups. The overall economy of production, in terms of cost, revealed that RSL birds performed better than the NDL and SL, in that it cost N36.58 and 127.05 more to produce each NDL and SL guinea fowl at point of lay respectively. The results indicate that different light regimes altered the time during which egg production response took place and apparently affected the genetic potentials of the groups with regard to egg mass and total number of eggs laid during the period covered by this trial. 

THE INFLUENCE OF FEEDING LEVEL DURING LACTATION AND GESTATION ON THE ENDOCRINE STATUS AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF SECOND PARITY SOWS

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1119-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. KIRKWOOD ◽  
S. K. BAIDOO ◽  
F. X. AHERNE
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effect ◽  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Variable Interval ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Main Effect ◽  
Endocrine Status ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Lower Plane

During their second lactation, 123 second-parity Yorkshire × Landrace sows were fed either 6 kg or 3 kg d−1 of a barley-soybean meal diet formulated to provide 12.5 MJ DE kg−1 and 16% crude protein (approximately 90 and 45% of National Research Council (NRC 1988) requirements). From 48 h after the onset of the post-weaning estrus, sows from each lactation feed treatment were allocated equally to receive the same diet at 3.6 kg or 1.8 kg d−1 (approximately 160 and 80% of NRC (1988) requirements), until slaughtered at 25 d of gestation. On days 4, 8, 12 and 16 of gestation, eight sows from each of the four feed level combinations were blood sampled at 15-min intervals for 4 h. Additionally, a further eight sows were sampled once on each of the above days. The lower plane of feeding during lactation resulted in a greater body weight and backfat loss (26.6 vs. 13.8 kg and 6.5 vs. 3.6 mm, respectively; P < 0.01 for both), an increased incidence of anestrus (21 vs. 8%; P < 0.05) and a longer and more variable interval to estrus (8.9 ± 0.4 vs. 6.0 ± 0.2 d; P < 0.01) than higher level feeding. There was no effect of lactation feeding level on ovulation rate (17.6 ± 0.3 vs. 17.7 ± 0.4 for sows having the higher and lower feed intakes, respectively). There was a main effect of lactation (P < 0.01), but not gestation, feeding level and an interaction between lactation and gestation feeding level (P < 0.02), on number of embryos and percent embryo survival. Embryo numbers and survival were reduced following lower plane feeding during lactation but were lowest following lower plane feeding during both lactation and gestation. There was no effect of sampling day on plasma LH concentrations but plasma LH was lower (P < 0.01) in sows on lower plane feeding during both lactation and gestation. The present data confirm an adverse effect of low plane feeding during lactation on subsequent sow reproductive performance and suggest that a reduction in plasma LH concentrations may be involved. These data fail to confirm any adverse effect on embryo survival of high plane feeding during the first 25 d of gestation. Key words: Sow, feed intake, LH, progesterone, reproduction

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document