Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-68ccn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T03:05:45.616Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Performance of sows first mated at puberty or second or third oestrus, and carcass assessment of once-bred gilts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. M. MacPherson ,
F. D. Deb Hovell  and
A. S. Jones
R. M. MacPherson
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
F. D. Deb Hovell
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
A. S. Jones
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
Get access

Summary

1. Of 80 gilts reared on a restricted plane of nutrition, 75 were allocated to one of four groups. Group 1; 17 gilts mated at puberty were slaughtered after farrowing their first litter. Group 2; 20 gilts mated at puberty were observed for three parities. Group 3; 18 gilts mated at second oestrus were observed for three parties. Group 4; 18 gilts mated at third oestrus were observed for three parities. Group 5; nine additional gilts reared on feed ad libitum and mated at first oestrus were observed for three parities. All animals received the same ration after the first mating.

2. The mean age (±SD) of the restricted gilts at puberty was 186 ± 17 days at a weight of 89 ± 9 kg. The gilts fed ad libitum were significantly (P<0·01) older and heavier at puberty (203 ± 15 days and 120 ± 27 kg).

3. Conception rates were 83, 86, 94 and 82% for Groups 1 and 2 combined, 3, 4 and 5 respectively.

4. Gilts mated at first, second and third oestrus produced, respectively, 7·8, 9·8 and 10·4 ± 2·2 piglets in the first parity. Group 5 gilts had 11·0 ± 2·2 piglets. All significant differences were confined to the first parity.

5. By the end of the third parity there were no differences between the restricted gilts mated at first, second or third oestrus in total number of piglets born or reared.

6. The gilts slaughtered (at 135 kg) after producing one litter yielded carcasses which were heavier but leaner than those from contemporary maiden gilts grown to 120 kg on a semi-restricted feeding scale.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 24 , Issue 3 , June 1977 , pp. 333 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1977

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alexandrowicz, S., Benedykciński, S. and Kraupe, W. 1954. [Production of litters from primiparous sows used only once for breeding.] Roczn. Nauk win., B. 68: 283–296.Google Scholar
Anderson, L. L. and Melampy, R. M. 1972. Factors affecting ovulation rate in the pig. In Pig Production (ed. Cole, D. J. A.), pp. 329–366. Butterworth, London.Google Scholar
Brooks, P. H. and Cole, D. J. A. 1973. Meat production from pigs which have farrowed. 1. Reproductive performance and food conversion efficiency. Anim. Prod. 17: 305–315.Google Scholar
Brooks, P. H. and Cole, D. J. A. 1974. The effect of nutrition during the growing period and the oestrous cycle on the reproductive performance of the pig. Livestock Prod. Sci. 1: 7–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brooks, P. H., Cole, D. J. A. and Jennings, W. J. N. 1975. Meat production from pigs which have farrowed. 2. Carcass characteristics. Anim. Prod. 20: 123–131.Google Scholar
Harrington, G. 1958. Pig Carcass Evaluation. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Farnham Royal, Buckinghamshire.Google Scholar
MacPherson, R. M., Jones, A. S. and Hovell, F. D. DeB. 1973. Reproductive performance and carcass quality of gilts mated at puberty. Proc. Br. Soc. Anim. Prod. (New Series) 2: 88 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
National Research Council. 1968. Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals. No. 2. Nutrient Requirements of Swine. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Pay, M. G. and Davies, T. E. 1973. Growth, food consumption and litter production of female pigs mated at puberty and at low body weights. Anim. Prod. 17: 85–91.Google Scholar
Warnick, A. C., Wiggins, E. L., Casida, L. E., Grummer, R. H. and Chapman, A. B. 1951. Variation in puberty phenomena in inbred gilts. J. Anim. Sci. 10: 479–493.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed