Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T23:32:46.027Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Thin sows: 1. Observations on the fecundity of sows when underfed for several parities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

F. D. DeB. Hovell  and
R. M. MacPherson
F. D. DeB. Hovell
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
R. M. MacPherson
Affiliation:
The Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Six pairs of gilts were taken at first mating. One of each pair was given about half the A.R.C. recommended amounts of protein and energy during pregnancy and lactation until she became anoestrus (thin group). The other gilt of each pair was given the same amount of protein, but double the amount of energy (standard group).

All the thin sows lost condition and became infertile. Their appearance conformed to that of sows with the ‘thin sow syndrome’. This took up to three reproductive cycles. There was no clear effect on the number of piglets born, but the litters of the thin sows contained an increasing proportion of small piglets. One of the thin sows died in her second pregnancy. The standard sows performed well producing an average of 10·3 piglets weighing 1·4 kg over three parities.

There were no differences between the two groups in their digestive efficiency. The thin sows retained less nitrogen in the later stages (days 80–100) of their first pregnancy than did the standard sows.

There were no differences between the groups in milk production during the first lactation when litters were standardized at eight piglets. There was some evidence that in the second lactation the thin sows secreted less fat and lactose.

The five remaining thin sows were repleted at the end of the experiment when their average weight was 96 kg. They were mated as quickly, produced litters which were as large, and piglets which were as heavy as those produced by the standard sows whose mating weight was 182 kg.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 89 , Issue 3 , December 1977 , pp. 513 - 522
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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

Agricultural Research Council (1967). The Nutrient Requirements of Farm Livestock, No 3 Pigs. London: Agricultural Research Council.Google Scholar
Atkinson, T., Fowler, V. R., Garton, G. A. & Lough, A. K. (1972). A rapid method for the accurate determination of lipid in animal tissues. Analyst 97, 562–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brooks, P. H. & Cole, D. J. A. (1972 a). Studies in sow reproduction. 1. The effect of nutrition between weaning and remating on the reproductive performance of primeparous sows. Animal Production 15, 259–64.Google Scholar
Brooks, P. H. & Cole, D. J. A. (1972 b). The effect on litter size of increased feed intake during the oestrus period in the sow. Animal Production 14, 241–5.Google Scholar
Buitrago, J. A., Walker, E. F. Jr , Snyder, W. I. & Pond, W. G. (1974). Blood and tissue trials in pigs at birth and at 3 weeks from gilts fed low or high energy diets during gestation. Journal of Animal Science 38, 766–71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davidson, J., Mathieson, J. & Boyne, A. W. (1970). The use of automation in determining nitrogen by the Kjeldahl method with final calculations by computer. Analyst 95, 181–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elsley, F. W. H., Bannerman, M., Bathurst, E. V. J., Bracewell, A. G., Cunningham, J. M. M., Dodsworth, T. L., Dodds, P. A., Forbes, T. J. & Laird, R. (1969). The effect of level of feed intake in pregnancy and in lactation upon the productivity of sows. Animal Production 11, 225–41.Google Scholar
English, P. R. (1968). A study of the apparent relative contribution of factors to pig mortality. School of Agriculture, University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Frobish, L. T., Steele, N. C. & Davey, R. J. (1973). Long term effect of energy intake on reproductive performance in swine. Journal of Animal Science 36, 293–7.Google Scholar
Greenthalgh, J. F. D. (1972). The role of extensive experimentation, with special reference to coordinated trials. In The Improvement of Sow Productivity (ed. Jones, A. S., Fowler, V. R. & Yeats, J. C. R.), pp. 111–21. Occasional Publication, Rowett Research Institute, No. 3.Google Scholar
Hardy, B. & Lodge, G. A. (1969). The effect of body composition on ovulation rate in the sow. Animal Production 11, 505–10.Google Scholar
Holden, P. J., Lucas, E. W., Speer, V. C. & Mays, V. W. (1968). Effect of protein level during pregnancy and lactation on reproductive performance in swine. Journal of Animal Science 27, 1587–90.Google Scholar
Hovell, F. D. DeB., Gordon, J. G. & MacPherson, R. M. (1977). Thin sows. 2. Observations on the energy and nitrogen exchanges of thin and normal sows in environmental temperatures of 20° and 5°. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 89, 523–33.Google Scholar
MacLean, C. W. (1968). The thin sow problem. Veterinary Record 83, 308–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacLean, C. W. (1969). Observations on non-infectious infertility in sows. Veterinary Record 85, 675–82.Google Scholar
MacPherson, R. M., Campbell, R. M. & Smart, R. I. (1973). The thin sow – observations on digestive efficiency, nitrogen balance and carcass composition. Animal Production 17, 287–93.Google Scholar
National Research Council (1968). Nutrient Requirements of Domestic Animals, No. 2 Nutrient Requirements of Swine. Washington: National Academy of Sciences.Google Scholar
O'Grady, J. F., Elsley, F. W. H., MacPherson, R. M. & McDonald, I. (1973). The response of lactating sows and their litters to different dietary energy allowances. Animal Production 17, 65–74.Google Scholar
Perrin, D. R. (1954 a). The estimation of the energy of sows milk from fat and total solids content. Journal of Dairy Research 21, 63–6.Google Scholar
Perrin, D. R. (1954 b). The composition of sow's milk during the course of lactation. Journal of Dairy Research 21, 55–62.Google Scholar
Pike, I. H. & Boaz, T. G. (1972). The effect of condition at service and plane of nutrition in early pregnancy in the sow. 1. Uterine and extra-uterine changes. Animal Production 15, 147–55.Google Scholar
Salmon-Legagneur, E. (1956). La mesure de la production laitiere chez la truie. Annales de zootechnie 5, 95–110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verstegen, M. W. A., Vanes, A. J. H. & Nijkamp, H. J. (1971). Some aspects of energy metabolism of the sow during pregnancy. Animal Production 13, 677–83.Google Scholar