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Studies in sow reproduction 6. The effect of lactation length on pre-implantation losses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. A. Varley
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, Leics, LE12 5RD
D. J. A. Cole
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Nottingham School of Agriculture, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, Leics, LE12 5RD
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Abstract

Thirty Landrace × (Landrace × Large White) sows were used to investigate the importance of pre-implantation losses in the embryonic mortality of the early-weaned sow. The sows were allocated at random to one of two lactation lengths, namely, 7 or 42 days. Following weaning and remating the sows were slaughtered at 9 days post coitum. Ovulation rates were similar for both groups (15·3 and 15·1 for the 7-day and 42-day weaned groups respectively). Numbers of embryos present at 9 days post coitum were 12·5 for the 42-day group and 11·2 for the 7-day group and the difference was non-significant. Percentage embryo survival was 83·5% for the 42-day group and 74·3% for the 7-day group; the difference was non-significant. It was concluded that the bulk of embryo loss in the early-weaned sow occurred after the pre-implantation stage and was probably at or around implantation.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1978

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References

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