Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of back-fat thickness at d 107 of gestation and housing types during gestation on reproductive performance and behavior of sows. A total of 64 crossbred sows (Landrace×Yorkshire) in their 3 to 4 parities were allotted to one of four treatments (n = 16) over two consecutive parities. During each parity, sows were assigned to two gestational housing types (stall or group housing) and two level of back-fat thickness (<20 or ≥20) at d 107 of gestation. Gestating sows were transferred from gestational crates to stalls or pens (group housing) 5 weeks before farrowing. All sows were moved to farrowing crates on d 109 of gestation. At weaning, back-fat thickness changes were lesser (p<0.05) in sows having back-fat thickness <20 mm than that of sows with ≥20 mm back-fat thickness at 107 d of gestation. Group housed sows had greater (p<0.05) feed intake and shorter (p<0.05) weaning-to-estrus interval than that of sows in stalls. At weaning, back-fat thickness changes were lesser (p<0.05) in group housed sows than that of sows in stalls. The number of piglets at weaning, growth rate and average daily gain were greater (p<0.05) in group housed sows than that of sows in stalls. During gestation, walking duration was more (p<0.05) in group housed sows. Group housed sows had lesser (p<0.05) farrowing duration and greater (p<0.05) eating time than that of sows in stalls. Result obtained in present study indicated that sows with ≥20 mm back-fat thickness at 107 days had better reproductive performance. Additionally, group housing of sows during last five week of gestation improved the performance and behavior and reproductive efficiency of sows.
Highlights
In modern pig industry maintaining optimal body condition of high producing sows has become an issue of considerable importance due to the economic pressure to achieve best production targets (Whittemore, 1996; Maes et al, 2004)
It has been reported that excessive loss of body protein and backfat during gestation and lactation is associated with an increased percentage of stillborn piglets (Maes et al, 2004), reduced litter size, litter growth (McKay, 1993) and prolonged weaning to estrus interval (De Rensis et al, 2005; Serenius et al, 2006)
Backfat thickness should be maintained within an optimal range to ensure the best reproductive performance
Summary
In modern pig industry maintaining optimal body condition of high producing sows has become an issue of considerable importance due to the economic pressure to achieve best production targets (Whittemore, 1996; Maes et al, 2004). It has been reported that excessive loss of body protein and backfat during gestation and lactation is associated with an increased percentage of stillborn piglets (Maes et al, 2004), reduced litter size, litter growth (McKay, 1993) and prolonged weaning to estrus interval (De Rensis et al, 2005; Serenius et al, 2006). After gestational crate into group housing system Understanding the by final body weight minus the first body weight divided by effect of changing from gestational stalls to group housing weaning date (day) multiplied by the number of weaned on the reproductive performance and behavior of sows is piglets. Farrowing (d 1 of lactation), and at weaning (d 21 of lactation) by using an ei-medical imaging ultrasound
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