Abstract
Abstract The effect of food deprivation during early pregnancy on maternal plasma endocrine levels and on embryonic survival was studied in primiparous sows. Twelve cross-bred (Swedish Yorkshire × Swedish Landrace) primiparous sows at the same stage of pregnancy were used. Six sows were fasted on Days 10 and 11 of pregnancy, with free access to water. The other six sows were fed as usual and used as controls. Blood samples were collected from Days 7 to 14 of pregnancy for cortisol, corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), progesterone (P4), oestradiol-17β (E2), oestrone sulphate and prostaglandin F2α metabolite (PG-metabolite) analysis. The sows were slaughtered on Day 17 of pregnancy and embryos recovered. Cortisol concentrations rose (P
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