Pre- and peri-pubertal feed intake: effects on age at puberty and potential litter size of replacement gilts
W. H. E. J. van Wettere A E , M. Mitchell B , D. K. Revell C and P. E. Hughes DA School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia.
B Research Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Adelaide, Medical School South MSN6, Frome Road, SA 5005, Australia.
C CSIRO, Division of Animal Food and Health Sciences, Floreat, WA 6014, Australia.
D Pig and Poultry Production Institute, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: william.vanwettere@adelaide.edu.au
Animal Production Science 57(6) 1040-1046 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15871
Submitted: 16 December 2015 Accepted: 11 March 2016 Published: 11 July 2016
Abstract
The effect of moderate restriction of pre- and peri-pubertal liveweight gain on puberty attainment and potential litter size was investigated. At 69 days of age, 48 Large White/Landrace crossbred gilts (28.3 ± 0.3 kg), were fed to attain a liveweight of 70 kg (LIGHT) or 100 kg (HEAVY) at 161 days of age (n = 24 gilts/treatment). At 161 days of age, half the gilts in each group were fed to gain liveweight at 0.5 (LOW) or 1.0 (HIGH) kg/day until puberty (n = 12 gilts/treatment). From 175 days of age, gilts received 20 min/day of full, physical boar contact. Gilts were artificially inseminated at the pubertal oestrus, with reproductive tracts collected 22 ± 0.1 days later, and the number of corpora lutea and viable embryos recorded. LIGHT-LOW gilts were older (P < 0.05) at puberty compared with LIGHT-HIGH, HEAVY-LOW and HEAVY-HIGH gilts; 207.7 ± 3.50 versus 191.7 ± 3.65, 193.1 ± 3.50 and 192.5 ± 3.65, respectively. Treatment (HIGH vs LOW) increased (P < 0.05) pubertal ovulation rate (15.2 ± 0.43 vs 13.1 ± 0.47), oestradiol at oestrus (13.4 ± 1.87 vs 9.1 ± 1.22 pg/mL) and progesterone 72 h post-oestrus (7.1 ± 0.48 vs 4.6 ± 0.50 ng/mL). Embryo number (10.8 ± 0.46) and survival (77.0 ± 3.21) were unaffected (P > 0.05) by treatment. To conclude, puberty was delayed by chronic, but not acute, dietary restriction. Although short-term, moderate increases in feed intake increased pubertal ovulation rates, embryo numbers and survival were unaffected.
Additional keywords: nutrition, pig.
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