Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T20:21:27.947Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The influence of age at first boar contact on puberty attainment in the gilt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

R. N. Kirkwood  and
P. E. Hughes
R. N. Kirkwood
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
P. E. Hughes
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
Get access

Abstract

Thirty-six Large White × (Large White × Landrace) young female pigs (gilts) were allocated to one of nine treatments. These were 30 min daily boar contact from 125, 132, 139, 146, 153, 160, 167, 174 or 181 days of age. Gilts were fed so as to maintain them on a pre-determined growth curve, gaining 0·45 kg per day. Once puberty had been detected, gilts were mated at the next (second) oestrous period and subsequently slaughtered 20 days post coitum.

The interval from first boar contact to puberty was significantly longer (P<0·05) amongst gilts first exposed to a boar at ages below 139 days. Amongst gilts older than this the interval was similar. Though the 174- and 181-day groups were significantly older at puberty (P<0·05) no significant differences were observed amongst the younger age groups. Synchronization of pubertal oestrus appeared to be better for the 160- and 167-day groups, with three out of four gilts reaching puberty within an 8-day period. There was no indication that weight at puberty, ovulation rate, percentage embryo survivval, or number of viable embryos at 20 days post coitum were affected by treatment.

From the results it appears that the optimal gilt age at which to commence boar contact, in terms of age at puberty, interval from first boar contact to puberty and synchronization of the pubertal oestrus, is in the age range 160 to 170 days.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , October 1979 , pp. 231 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1979

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

Bourn, Phyllis, Kinsey, R., Carlson, R. and Zimmerman, D. R. 1975. Puberty in gilts as influenced by boar exposure and ‘transport phenomenon’. J. Anim. Sci. 41: 344 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Brooks, P. H. and Cole, D. J. A. 1969. The effect of boar presence on the age at puberty of gilts. Rep. Sch. Agric. Univ. Nott., pp. 74–77.Google Scholar
Brooks, P. H. and Cole, D. J. A. 1970. The effect of the presence of a boar on the attainment of puberty in gilts. J. Reprod. Fert. 23: 435–440.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brooks, P. H., Pattinson, M. A. and Cole, D. J. A. 1969. Reproduction in the gilt. Rep. Sch. Agric. Univ. Nott., pp. 65–67.Google Scholar
Brooks, P. H. and Smith, D. A. 1976. Ovulation rate and embryo mortality in gilts reaching puberty at young ages. Anim. Prod. 22: 139 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Christian, R. E. and Nofziger, J. C. 1952. Puberty and other reproductive phenomena in gilts as affected by plane of nutrition. J. Anim. Sci. 11: 789 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Cochran, W. G. and Cox, G. M. 1966. Experimental Designs. Wiley and Sons, New York.Google Scholar
Doroshkov, V. B. 1974. Stimulatory effect of males on reproductive performance of females in pigs. Anim. Breed. Abstr. 42: 446 (Abstr.).Google Scholar
Hughes, P. E. and Cole, D. J. A. 1975. Reproduction in the gilt. 1. The influence of age and weight at puberty on ovulation rate and embryo survival in the gilt. Anim. Prod. 21: 183–189.Google Scholar
Hughes, P. E. and Cole, D. J. A. 1976. Reproduction in the gilt. 2. The influence of gilt age at boar introduction on the attainment of puberty. Anim. Prod. 23: 89–94.Google Scholar
Hughes, P. E. and Cole, D. J. A. 1978. Reproduction in the gilt. 3. The effect of exogenous oestrogen on the attainment of puberty and subsequent reproductive performance. Anim. Prod. 27: 11–20.Google Scholar
Ridgman, W. J. 1975. Experimentation in Biology, an Introduction to Design and Analysis. Blackie, London.Google Scholar
Zimmerman, D. R., Carlson, R. and Nippert, L. 1969. Age at puberty in gilts as affected by daily heat checks with a boar. J. Anim. Sci. 29: 203 (Abstr.).Google Scholar