Total Born Litter Size Research Articles

Vibration Emissions Reduce Boar Sperm Quality via Disrupting Its Metabolism.

Artificial insemination (AI) with liquid-preserved semen has recently become common in pig breeding. The semen doses are produced in a centralized manner at the boar stud and then subsequently distributed and transported to sow farms. However, vibration emissions during transportation by logistic vehicles may adversely affect the quality of boar sperm. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the impact of vibration-induced emissions on sperm quality and function under simulated transportation conditions. Each time, ejaculates from all 15 boars were collected and then pooled together to minimize individual variations, and the sample was split using an extender for dilution. Different rotational speeds (0 rpm, 80 rpm, 140 rpm, 200 rpm) were utilized to simulate varying intensities of vibration exposure using an orbital shaker, considering different transportation times (0 h, 3 h, and 6 h). Subsequently, evaluations were conducted regarding sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, pH, glycolytic pathway enzyme activities, and capacitation following exposure to vibration emissions. Both vibration time and intensity impact sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosomal integrity. Vibration exposure significantly reduced sperm ATP levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the levels of mitochondria-encoded proteins (MT-ND1, MT-ND6) (p < 0.05). After vibration emission treatment, the pH value and mitochondrial ROS levels significantly increased (p < 0.05). Inhibition of sperm glycolysis was observed, with reduced activities of hexokinase (HK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), along with decreased lactate levels (p < 0.05). Additionally, sperm tyrosine phosphorylation levels were significantly reduced by vibration emissions compared to the control group (p < 0.05). After the vibration emission treatment, the number of sperm bound to each square millimeter of oviduct explants decreased significantly compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Similarly, compared to the control group, using semen subjected to vibration stress for AI results in significantly reduced pregnancy rates, total born litter size, live-born litter size, and healthy born litter size (p < 0.05).

Effect of spray-dried porcine plasma in peripartum sow feed on subsequent litter size

BackgroundNutritional strategies for sows designed to reduce peripartum stress are suggested to support postpartum recovery and productivity. Spray-dried plasma (SDP) in sow feed has been reported to benefit sow and litter performance. Stressed animals fed diets with SDP have a more efficient immune response supporting animal recovery and health. The objectives of the present study using 452 sows (147 parity 1 sows, 148 parity 2 sows) were to determine if 0, 0.5 or 2.5% spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) in peripartum feed provided from entry in maternity through day 5 of lactation affects sow productivity and serological immune and oxidation status markers around parturition. Post-weaning sow productivity parameters including litter size at the next parturition was evaluated, but peripartum diets were only provided during the first parturition.ResultsIn the first parturition, total born litter size was lower (P < 0.05) especially for sows allotted to the peripartum diet with 2.5% SDPP. Percentage of stillborn pigs decreased quadratically (P < 0.05) for sows fed 0.5% or 2.5% SDPP compared to 0% SDPP in peripartum feed and this result was not affected by total born litter size. Serum glutathione peroxidase activity linearly increased (P < 0.01) with increased dietary SDPP for both prepartum and postpartum sampling periods. In the next parturition, total born pigs from combined data of parity 1 and 2 sows linearly increased (P < 0.05) and live born pigs tended (P = 0.09) to linearly increase as level of SDPP increased and this result was not affected by total born litter size in the first parturition. The change in total and live born pigs from the first to the next parturition linearly (P < 0.01) increased as dietary SDPP increased for parity 1 and 2 sows.ConclusionsThe reduced percentage of stillborn pigs and increased litter size of parity 1 and 2 sows in the next parturition was independent of total born litter size in the first parturition suggesting SDPP in peripartum sow feed may have merit for reducing stillborn pigs and benefit litter size in the next parturition for parity 1 and parity 2 sows.

Investigating risk factors and possible infectious aetiologies of mummified fetuses on a large piggery in Australia.

To investigate risk factors and potential infectious aetiologies of an increased mummification rate (>2%) identified over time on a 1200-sow farrow-to-finish farm in Australia. Association of potential non-infectious risk factors and the mummification rate was investigated using 15 years of breeding herd data (40,940 litters) and logistic regression analysis. Samples from a limited number of mummified fetuses were taken to identify potential infectious aetiologies (porcine parvovirus, Leptospira pomona, porcine circovirus type 2, Bungowannah virus and enterovirus). Logistic regression analysis suggested that the mummification rate was significantly associated with sow breed and parity, year and total born and stillborn piglets per litter. The mummification rate was lower (P < 0.001) in Landrace (3.4%) and Large White (2.6%) sows than in Duroc sows (4.9%). Gilts (2.9%) had a lower (P < 0.001) mummification rate than older sows. The mummification rate increased with total born litter size and decreased with the number of stillborn piglets (P < 0.001). A clustering effect within individual sows was identified, indicating that some sows with mummified fetuses in a litter were more likely to have repeated mummifications in subsequent litters. No infectious agents were identified in the samples taken. Results from this study suggest that the increased mummification rate identified over time on this farm is likely to be a non-infectious multifactorial problem predisposing the occurrence of mummification. Further research is required to better understand the pathophysiology of mummification and the role that different non-infectious factors play in the occurrence of mummified fetuses.

Influence of lactation length and gonadotrophins administered at weaning on fertility of primiparous sows

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lactation length and treatment with gonadotrophins at weaning on reproductive performance of primiparous sows. After 3 wk of lactation, primiparous sows were either weaned (W3; n=273) or received a 7-d-old foster litter for a further 14 d of suckling (W5; n=199). At final weaning (3 wk or 5 wk lactation) sows were randomly assigned to receive an injection of 400 IU equine chorionic gonadotrophin plus 200 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (PG600®; W3+P; n=108 and W5+P; n=96) or no injection (W3; n=165 and W5; n=103). Sows were inseminated at first observed estrus after final weaning and 24h later. The proportion of sows showing estrus by 6 d post-weaning was greater (P<0.01) for W3+P (86%) compared to W3 (64%), however, there was not a difference (P=0.13) for W5+P (79.4%) compared to W5 (69.1%). There was no effect of either lactation length or gonadotrophin treatment on farrowing rates or on the proportion of sows culled before breeding. Total born litter size was smaller (P=0.05) for W3+P (11.7±0.4) compared to W3 (12.6±0.3). However, sows that lactated for 35 d had larger litters than sows that lactated for 21 d regardless of gonadotrophin treatment (14±0.5 and 14.5±0.4 for W5+P and W5, respectively; P<0.001). These data indicate that for primiparous sows, a longer lactation improves total born litter size at their next farrowing. Gonadotrophin treatment is useful in shortening the weaning to estrus interval but subsequent total born litter size may be negatively affected.

Does a Boar's Season of Birth Determine Semen Parameters and Reproductive Performance?

This article studies the effect of a boar's birth season and breed on semen parameters and its further reproductive performance. Research material consisted of 72 boars from three breeds (24 Polish Large White PLW, 24 Polish Landrace PL, 24 Duroc × Pietrain D × P). During the whole period of the study, selected semen parameters were analysed: semen volume, spermatozoa concentration, total number of spermatozoa, total number of motile spermatozoa, number of insemination doses and also reproductive indicators: farrowing rate, total born litter size, total number of piglets born live and still, and average piglet weight. Boars born in the winter and summer months demonstrated the highest spermatozoa concentrations (383.25 and 392.37 × 10(6)/ml), total number of spermatozoa (91.75 and 93.21 × 10(9)), total number of motile spermatozoa (76.10 and 77.99 × 10(9)) and number of insemination doses (24.53 and 24.89; p ≤ 0.01). Statistically lower values for these parameters were observed for boars born in the spring and especially in autumn (p ≤ 0.01). The significant impact of birth season on farrowing rate (p ≤ 0.05) and average piglet weight (p ≤ 0.05) was confirmed for PLW boars. For the PL breed, only the total number of piglets born live was proven to be significantly affected (p ≤ 0.05). No impact of birth season was shown on semen quality or reproductive performance for D × P boars. In our study, we showed that the birth season of a boar had a more impact on the level of semen parameters, and less on the reproductive performance indicators. The results indicated that both the quality of semen and reproductive performance varied in terms of the study factors, as well as between individual breeds of boars involved in the experiment.

Benefits of synchronizing ovulation with porcine luteinizing hormone in a fixed-time insemination protocol in weaned multiparous sows

Objective: To determine reproductive performance of weaned sows inseminated twice at fixed times after controlling time of ovulation with porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) administered at onset of behavioral estrus. Materials and methods: Multiparous sows were randomly assigned to treatment at weaning. From weaning, twice-daily boar exposure facilitated estrus detection. Untreated control sows (n = 150; CONT) were artificially inseminated at least twice. Treated sows (n = 168; LUT) received 5 mg pLH intramuscularly concomitant with the first detection of standing heat. To coincide with the normal working day, sows in estrus in the morning were inseminated at 24 and 30 hours (am and pm), while sows in estrus in the afternoon were inseminated at 24 and 42 hours (pm and am), after pLH administration. Results: For multiparous sows bred on days 4 to 6 after weaning, total-born litter size was greater in LUT than in CONT (12.88 and 11.80, respectively; P &lt; .01), whereas adjusted farrowing rate was not affected by treatment, (LUT, 87.28%; CONT, 83.20%; P &gt; .05). Neither variable was affected by day of breeding or a treatment × day interaction (P &gt; .05). Fewer inseminations (P &lt; .001) were performed in LUT (2.00) than in CONT (2.13). Implication: Double insemination of multiparous sows, timed to coincide with optimal sow fertility, may improve litter size.

Reproductive performance of gilts following an outbreak of acute proliferative enteropathy due to Lawsonia intracellularis

After a sudden outbreak of clinical porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) in a Croatian indoor breeding unit, the farm experienced decreased reproductive performance of Lawsonia intracellularis positive gilts. Conception-, farrowing-, and adjusted farrowing rates were lower ( P < 0.001) in gilts with positive L. intracellularis status. The number of live born and the total born litter size were significantly lower ( P < 0.001) in L. intracellularis positive gilts compared to seronegative ones. No differences were observed in numbers of stillborn and mummified pigs between the L. intracellularis positive and negative gilts.

The effect of modified eros centre, outdoor raising or conventional group housing on breeding gilts and its effects on reproductive performance over four parities

The present study was conducted in a large Croatian “built up unit”. The objective of the study was to determine if an indoor modified eros centre (MEC) compared to indoor or outdoor group housing of gilts, influenced the onset of puberty of gilts and the reproductive performance of the evaluated females ( n=783) over four parities. The gilts were from the same nucleus herd. Gilts of same age (140–150 days of age), body condition (body condition score of 3–4) and similar genetics (four-way cross females), during the same season (January to April 1999), were randomly divided at arrival into three groups and treated as follows: • MEC gilts ( n=279): These were placed into indoor MEC pens in groups of 8–10. The gilts had continuous fenceline contact to boars (one boar to two groups of gilts, boars were changed daily) and to shortly weaned oestrous sows. Gilts were regrouped and dislocated at 10-day intervals. • Outdoor gilts ( n=263): These were kept in groups of 8–10 on a large pasture (80–100 m 2 per group). The animals had fenceline contact to mature boar for 5–10 min daily. • Control indoor gilts ( n=241): These were housed indoors in large pens in groups of 8–10. The animals had fenceline contact to mature boars for 5–10 min daily. Each outdoor group had an insulated hut with straw bedding. All gilts were fed ad libitum with the same commercial diet. Housing gilts in MEC resulted in earlier ( P<0.001) onset of estrus (MEC: 174.8±2.4 days, indoor group housing: 207.6±4.1 days, outdoor group housing: 187.4±2.1 days) and lower ( P<0.001) farrowing rate to first service (MEC: 70.97%, indoor group housing: 89.73%, outdoor group housing: 89.62%). Farrowing rate of regularly returning MEC gilts to second service was 95.00%. First total-born litter size, first liveborn litter size, first wean-to-estrus interval (WEI), percent of sows bred after first weaning, second total-born litter size, second liveborn litter size, average third and fourth total-born and liveborn litter size, number of sows having four litters, number of litters per sow, total number of pigs per sow, total number of liveborn pigs per sow showed no significant differences between the groups. More ( P<0.05) sows were culled in outdoor group. Compared to MEC and outdoor housing, indoor housed sows suffered higher ( P<0.05) percentage of anoestrus.

Effect of modified eros centre on some reproductive parameters of the sow.

The effect of a modified eros centre on weaning to oestrus interval, follicle size, ovulation and farrowing rate and total born litter size was investigated. In modified eros centre 94.4% and in group housing 79.1% of the sows (p < 0.01) expressed oestrus within 10 days post-weaning. Weaning to oestrus interval was shorter (p < 0.001) for sows kept in modified eros centre. The interval from onset of oestrus to the time of ovulation was longer for sows in group housing (p=0.05). The time of ovulation was negatively correlated (r=-0.50) with the interval from weaning to oestrus (p=0.005). The time of ovulation after onset of oestrus was significantly (p < 0.05) shorter for sows expressing oestrus within 2-4 days of weaning, compared with the animals that expressed oestrus between days 5 and 6 post-weaning and was shortest for sows expressing oestrus after day 6 post-weaning. Farrowing rate was not affected by a modified eros centre. Litter size tended to be smaller in group-housed weaned sows (p=0.10). The timing of last artificial insemination relative to time of ovulation did not affect litter size (p > 0.10). The implication of these results is that a modified eros centre may improve some of the post-weaning oestrous parameters of the sow.

Effect of mating frequency on sow reproductive performance under field conditions and natural mating in large outdoor production units.

The effect of mating frequency on fertility and litter size of sows, kept in outdoor production systems was investigated. Sows that were mated once or twice during a single oestrus were included in the study to compare the effect of number of matings on farrowing rate and litter size. Natural mating was used during the study period. Four groups of sows of parity two or more were either mated once 28-30 h after the onset of oestrus or were mated 28-30 h after the onset of oestrus and again 24 h later. The farrowing rate did not differ significantly between single- and double-mated sows, although a noticeable but non-significant depression in farrowing rate was evident between the groups of single-mated and double-mated animals. With the exception of total-born litter size (p > 0.05), the total number born and number of live-born piglets per litter were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the group of sows that received only one mating compared with the double-mated animals. The implication of these results is that the double mating by natural service of sows kept in an outdoor production systems may improve litter size.

Associations between litter size and specific sow-level management factors in Ontario swine

This retrospective study examined associations between sow-level management factors and litter size in a target population of Ontario swine farms that used computerized recording systems between 1987 and 1991. The data were from 112 herds with 66 525 individual sow records. The average litter sizes were ten pigs (SD = 2.7) for primiparous sows and 11.4pigs (SD = 3.1) for multiparous sows, respectively. The total born litter size (including pigs born alive, stillborn and mummified) was regressed on the sow-level variables of interest. Multiple regression models were built using a backward elimination approach and variables significant at P < 0.05 were retained. There was a curvilinear relationship between litter size and parity; the largest litters were from sows in parities three through ten. Natural matings resulted in one more pig per litter than artificial insemination. Lactation lengths of 27–32 days and 33–40 days resulted in progressively larger litter sizes in subsequent farrowings than shorter lactation lengths. Litter size was highest at weaning-to-conception intervals of up to 4 days, decreased daily from 5 to 7 days, at which point it reached a plateau, until Day 11 when it increased again. The sow's current litter size was positively associated with her previous litter size. The model explained only 18% of the variation in litter size. As the age of the gilt at first conception increased, the litter size increased.

Breeding and Gestation Facilities for Swine: Matching Biology to Facility Design

The rate-limiting phase of commercial swine production is breeding. The design of the breeding/gestation facilities influences the capacity of the producer to efficiently manage the breeding stock around the time of service and during the postservice period. Thus, breeding design potentially affects total born litter size and farrowing rates. In general, with original construction and facility renovation, the three principal activities of the breeding/gestation phase of production, (1) boar exposure/estrus detection, (2) breeding, and (3) gestation and pregnancy detection, should be independently considered.