Interval to Estrus in Sows and Performance of Pigs after Alteration of Litter Size during Late Lactation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of altering litter size during the 5 days before weaning on interval to estrus of sows and postweaning performance of pigs were examined. Litters averaged 8.3 ± .7 pigs from parturition until 5 days before weaning. Litters were then adjusted so that sows (five per group) nursed small- (three pigs), average- (eight pigs) or large-sized (13 to 14 pigs) litters during the last 5 days of lactation. Weaning occurred 27.4 ± .7 days postpartum. Interval from weaning to estrus (days) and duration of estrus (hours) for sows that weaned small-, average- and large-sized litters averaged 1.1 ± .4 and 38 ± 4, 4.1 ± .4 and 60 ± 4, and 4.0 ± .4 and 61 ± 4, respectively. Interval to estrus and to ovulation and duration of estrus were decreased (P<.01) in sows that nursed only three pigs before weaning. Pigs weaned from foster sows weighed less (P<.05) at weaning than pigs weaned from their dams. However, by 3 weeks after weaning, body weights were similar. Body weight at weaning and at 3 weeks postweaning and average daily gains during the 3 weeks after weaning were similar for pigs weaned from small-, average- and large-sized litters. Reducing the litter size before weaning resulted in earlier postweaning estrus and ovulation and had no adverse effects on the performance of weanling pigs. Copyright © 1981. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1981 by American Society of Animal Science.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: