Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T20:17:30.890Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Weaning at birth: the effect on the reproduction of the sow

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. A. Varley  and
T. Atkinson
M. A. Varley
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
T. Atkinson
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
Get access

Abstract

Thirty-six Landrace × Large White sows were allocated at random to one of three treatment groups. Sows on treatment A (no. = 6) did not lactate at all and the piglets from these sows were removed at birth. Sows on treatment B (no. = 15) lactated for 1 day after parturition and sows on treatment C (no. = 15) acted as controls and lactated for 42 days. The reproductive performance of each treatment group was recorded and all sows were bled every 2nd day from parturition to 30 days post partum. All blood samples were assessed for oestradiol-17β and progesterone concentrations. In treatments A and B, a high proportion of anoestrous sows was seen (0·28). None of the sows in treatment C became anoestrous. The mean interval from weaning to the onset of oestrus for treatments A and B (19·0 (s.e. 6·5) days and 19·7 (s.e. 3·8) days respectively) were not significantly different, while that for treatment C (5·6 (s.e. 0·4) days) was significantly shorter (P < 0·01). The number of piglets born alive at the subsequent farrowing for treatments A, B and C respectively was 7·3 (s.e. 0·8), 9·1 (s.e. 0·8) and 10·5 (s.e. 0·67) (P < 0·05). The calculated annual sow productivity (piglets born alive per sow per year), excluding the first litter born, for treatments A, B and C respectively was 18·4, 22·8 and 22·9. Weaning at, or close to, parturition did not, therefore, influence sow productivity compared with weaning after 6 weeks of lactation.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , December 1985 , pp. 375 - 382
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1985

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

Aumaitre, A. 1972. Influence de mode de sevrage sur la productivity des trures. 23rd A. Meet. Eur. Ass. Anim. Prod. Commission of Pig Production, Verona.Google Scholar
Bevers, M. M., Willemse, A. H., Kruip, Th. A. M. and Van de wiel, D. F. M. 1981. Prolactin levels and the LH-response to synthetic LH-RH in the lactating sow. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 4: 155–163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brake, J. H. A., te. 1972. Pig rearing in cages — the extra early weaning piglets and the fertility of sows. 23rd A. Meet. Eur. Ass. Anim. Prod., Commission of Pig Production, Verona.Google Scholar
Braude, R. 1973. The potential for improving sow productivity with particular reference to early weaning. In The Improvement of Sow Productivity (ed. Jones, A. S., Fowler, V. R. and Yeats, J. C. R.) Occ. Publ. Rowett Res. Inst. No. 3, pp. 3–13.Google Scholar
Cole, D. J. A., Varley, M. A. and Hughes, P. E. 1975. Studies in sow reproduction. 2. The effect of lactation length on the subsequent reproductive performance of the sow. Anim. Prod. 20: 401–406.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edqvist, L.-E., Einarsson, S. and Settergren, I. 1974. Ovarian activity and peripheral plasma levels of oestrogens and progesterone in the lactating sow. Theriogenology 1: 43–49.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edwards, S. and Foxcroft, G. R. 1983. Endocrine changes in sows weaned at two stages of lactation. J. Reprod. Fert. 67: 161–172.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elliot, J. I., King, G. J. and Robertson, H. A. 1980. Reproductive performance of the sow subsequent to weaning piglets at birth. Can J. Anim. Sci. 60: 65–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eyestone, W. H. and Ax, R. L. 1984. A review of ovarian follicular cysts in cows with comparisons to the condition in women, rats and rabbits. Theriogenology 22: 109–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henricks, D. M., Dickey, J. F. and Hill, J. R. 1971. Plasma estrogen and progesterone levels in cows prior to and during estrus. Endocrinology 89: 1350–1355.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jones, A. S. 1972. Problems of nutrition and management of early weaned piglets. Proc. Br. Soc. Anim. Prod. (New Ser.) 1: 19–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, A. S. 1973. Early weaning at birth — the problems and advantages. In The Improvement of Sow Productivity (ed. Jones, A. S., Fowler, V. R. and Yeats, J. C. R.) Occ. Publ. Rowett Res. Inst. No. 3, pp. 46–54.Google Scholar
Kirkwood, R. N., Lapwood, K. R., Smith, W. C. and Anderson, I. L. 1984. Plasma concentrations of LH, prolactin, oestradiol-17β and progesterone in sows weaned after lactation for 10 or 35 days. J. Reprod. Fert. 70: 95–102.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lecce, J. G. and King, M. W. 1981. Nutrition and management of early-weaned pigs: Diets for protecting rotavirus-exposed pigs weaned at 1 to 5 days of age. J. Anim. Sci. 53: 677–682.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liptrap, R. M. and Doble, E. 1981. Relationship of prostaglandin F2α to cystic ovarian follicles in the sow. Br. vet. J. 137: 289–299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palmer, W. M., Teague, H. S. and Venzke, W. G. 1965. Macroscopic observations on the reproductive tract of the sow during lactation and early postweaning. Anim. Sci. 24: 541–545.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peters, J. B., Short, R. E., First, N. L. and Casida, L. E. 1969. Attempts to induce fertility in postpartum sows. J. Anim. Sci. 29: 20–24.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Polge, C. 1972. Reproductive physiology in the pig with special reference to early weaning. Proc. Br. Soc. Anim. Prod. (New Ser.), 1: 5–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robertson, V. A. W., Jones, A. S., Fuller, M. F. and Elsley, F. W. H. 1971. A pig herd established by hysterectomy. 1. The techniques for rearing hysterectomy derived piglets to 5 weeks of age. Res. vet. Sci. 12: 59–64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smidt, D., Scheven, B. and Steinbach, J. 1965. [The influence of lactation on the sexual function of sows.] Züchtungskunde 37: 23–36.Google Scholar
Svajgr, A. J., Hays, V. W., Cromwell, G. L. and Dutt, R. H. 1974. Effect of lactation duration on reproductive performance of sows. J. Anim. Sci. 38: 100–105.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Varley, M. A. 1982. The time of weaning and its effect on reproductive function. In Control of Pig Production (ed. Cole, D. J. A. and Foxcroft, G. R.), pp. 459–478. Butterworth, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Varley, M. A., Atkinson, T. and Ross, L. N. 1981. The effect of lactation length on the circulating concentrations of progesterone and oestradiol in the early weaned sow. Theriogenology 16: 179–184.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Varley, M. A. and Cole, D. J. A. 1976a. Studies in sow reproduction. 4. The effect of level of feeding in lactation and during the interval from weaning to remating on the subsequent reproductive performance of the early-weaned sow. Anim. Prod. 21: 71–77.Google Scholar
Varley, M. A. and Cole, D. J. A. 1976b. Studies in sow reproduction. 5. The effect of lactation length of the sow on the subsequent embryonic development. Anim. Prod. 22: 79–85.Google ScholarPubMed
Varley, M. A. and Cole, D. J. A. 1978. Studies in sow reproduction. 6. The effect of lactation length on pre-implantation losses. Anim. Prod. 27: 209–214.Google Scholar
Varley, M. A., Peaker, R. E. and Atkinson, T. 1984. Effect of lactation length of the sow on plasma progesterone, oestradiol 17-β and embryonic survival. Anim. Prod. 38: 113–119.Google Scholar
Warnick, A. C., Casida, L. E. and Grummer, R. H. 1950. The occurrence of estrus and ovulation in postpartum sows. J. Anim. Sci. 9: 66–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, I. H. 1976. Nutrition of the young pig in relation to body composition. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Melbourne.Google Scholar