Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T19:36:23.422Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of lactation length of the sow on plasma progesterone, oestradiol 17-β and embryonic survival

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

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

Abstract

Thirty-three Landrace × Large White multiparous sows were allocated randomly to one of three treatment groups, and were weaned after a 10-day (treatment A), 21-day (treatment B) or 42-day lactation (treatment C). All sows were bled regularly from weaning through to day 24 post coitum, at which time the sows were slaughtered and their reproductive tracts recovered and dissected.

Ovulation rates were similar for all groups. Embryo survival for treatments A, B and C respectively was 0·638, 0·728 and 0·777 but this difference was not significant. Oestradiol 17-β concentrations were significantly higher in sows weaned after 10-day lactations throughout the whole period from weaning to day 10 post coitum compared with the other two treatment groups (P < 0·001).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1984

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

Ash, R. W. and Heap, R. B. 1975. Oestrogen, progesterone and corticosteroid concentrations in peripheral plasma of sows during pregnancy, parturition, lactation and after weaning J. Endocr. 64: 141154.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Aumaitre, A., Perez, J. M. and Chauvel, J. 1975. [Productivity of sows in France as affected by housing conditions, equipment of farrowing pens and age at weaning.] Journèes Rech. Porcine France, pp. 1011.Google Scholar
BrakeJ. H. A., Te. J. H. A., Te. 1976. An assessment of the most profitable lactation length for producing piglets of 20 kg body weight. 27th A. Meet. Eur. Ass. Anim. Prod., Pig Commn, Zurich.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: 401406.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, S. and Foxcroft, G. R. 1983. Endocrine changes in sows weaned at two stages of lactation. J. Reprod. & Fert. 67: 161172.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Graves, W. E., Lauderdale, J. W., Kirkpatrick, R. L., First, N. L. and Casida, L. E. 1967. Tissue changes in the involuting uterus of the postpartum sow. J. Anim. Sci. 26: 365371.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Henricks, D. M., Dickey, J. F. and Hill, J. R. 1971. Plasma estrogen and progesterone levels in cows prior t o and during estrus. Endocrinology 89: 13501355.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, P. E. and Varley, M. A. 1980. Reproduction in the Pig. Butterworth, London.Google Scholar
Lauderdale, J. W., Kirkpatrick, R. L., First, N. L., Hauser, E. R. and Casida, L. E. 1963. Some changes in the reproductive organs of the periparturient sow. J. Anim. Sci. 22: 11381139 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
McCracken, J. A. 1964. Progesterone in the body fat of the dairy cow. J. Endocr. 28: 339340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacDonald, C. L. 1975. A study of the immediate post partum period in the sow. M. Phil. Thesis, Univ. Nott.Google Scholar
Palmer, W. M., Teague, H. S. and Venzke, W. G. 1965. Histological changes in the reproductive tract of the sow during lactation and early postweaning. J. Anim. Sci. 24: 11171125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shearer, I. J., Purvis, K., Jenkin, G. and Haynes, N. B. 1972. Peripheral plasma progesterone and oestradiol-17-β levels before and after puberty in gilts. J. Reprod. & Fert. 30: 347360.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smidt, D., Scheven, B. and Steinbach, J. 1965. [The influence of lactation on the sexual function of sows.] Züchtungskunde 37: 2336.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: 100105.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
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: 179184.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Varley, M. A. and Cole, D. J. A. 1976. Studies in sow reproduction. 5. The effect of lactation length of the sow on the subsequent embryonic development. Anim. Prod. 22: 7985.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: 209214.Google Scholar