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Title: COMPARISON OF PLASMA FSH CONCENTRATIONS IN GILTS AND BOARS FROM LINES SELECTED FOR OVULATION RATE AND EMBRYONIC SURVIVAL

Author
item CASSADY, J - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
item JOHNSON, RODGER - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
item RATHJE, T - UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA
item FORD, JOHNY

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The objective was to test the null hypothesis that there was no correlated response in plasma concentrations of FSH from selection for ovulation rate and embryonic survival. Boars and gilts from a line selected 10 generations for an increased index of ovulation rate and embryonic survival (Line 1) and a randomly selected line (Line C) were compared. At Generation 10 the differences between lines 1 and C were 6.7 ova, 3.3 fetuses, and -4.5% embryonic survival at 50 d of gestation and 3.1 fully formed pigs and 1.6 live pigs at birth. In Experiment 1 45 Line 1 and 35 Line C gilts (one per litter) from Generation 13 were used. Blood samples were taken at 50, 90, and 130 d of age. In Experiment 2 plasma FSH concentrations were measured in 28 Line C boars, two selected randomly for each half-sib family, and 30 Line 1 boars, two selected randomly from each of the 15 largest litters. Blood samples were taken at 150, 180, and 210 days of age. Line I gilts had greater plasma concentrations of FSH at 50 (P<.01), 90 (P<.01), and 130 (P<.10) d of age than Line C gilts. Mean plasma concentrations of FSH in boars did not differ significantly between lines. We reject the null hypothesis in gilts, but fail to reject it for boars of these ages. In a previous study Line I and C boars differed at younger ages (Abstr., ASAS Midwest Sec., 1995:41). A positive correlation between plasma FSH in gilts and traits in the index, most probably ovulation rate exists; however, the experiment was not large enough to estimate this correlation precisely.