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Effect of Protein accretion rate on reproductive function in the gilt between 50kg and 3rd oestrus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2017

J. Cameron
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
J. Wiseman
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
R. Webb
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
M.G. Hunter
Affiliation:
University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 5RD, UK
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Extract

Recent MLC survey data (Pig Year Book, 1995) reports that approximately 0.5 of annual first parity gilt cullings are due to reproductive failure. This high culling rate may be attributed to recent genetic selection for increased lean tissue accretion rates, and as a result a greater mature body weight. However, the gilt attains puberty and is thus mated at a lower age and as a consequence has not reached the target threshold of 35kg body protein mass at farrowing, suggested by Everts (1994),to be necessary for optimal reproductive performance. This, confounded with excessive tissue catabolism over lactation results in the attenuation of the gilt's potential protein accretion curve and hence reproductive failure (Foxcroft et al. 1995). The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of two protein accretion rates (maximum and 0.8 of maximum) on reproductive function in the gilt from 50kg liveweight to 3rd oestrus.

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Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1999

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References

MLC Pig Year Book (1995);Google Scholar
Everts, H. (1994) Nitrogen and energy metabolism of sows during several reproductive cycles. P.hD Thesis Institute for Animal Science and Health, Lelystad, the Netherlands.;Google Scholar
Foxcroft, G.R., Aherene, F.X., Clowes, E.C., Miller, H. and Zak, L. (1995). Sow Fertility: The role of suckling inhibition and metabolic status In Animal Science Research and Development: Moving towards a new century Ivan, M. (ed).Google Scholar