Effect of Restricted Feeding, Crossbreeding and Season of Birth on Age at Puberty in Swine

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Abstract
The effect of restricted feeding, crossbreeding and season of birth on age at puberty in swine was studied in six trials involving 368 gilts. Full-fed gilts grew more rapidly and attained puberty at an earlier age than restricted-fed gilts. Their earlier age at puberty appeared to be explainable on the basis of their greater growth rates. Poland China gilts grew more rapidly than Chester White gilts but no consistent differences in age at puberty were found for the two breeds. Reciprocal crossbred gilts of the two breeds attained puberty significantly earlier than either parent breed. The effect of season of birth on age at puberty was found to differ for the two breeds; spring-born gilts attained puberty earlier than fall-born gilts in the Chester White breed, while in the Poland China breed the fall-born gilts attained puberty earlier. Copyright © . .