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Title: EFFECT OF PATTERN OF PREPUBERTAL FEED LEVEL ON REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF GILTS

Author
item Klindt, John
item Yen, Jong Tseng
item Christenson, Ronald

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Development of gilts that conceive early and continue to produce offspring is a primary objective of swine production. Current practices result in too many gilts that do not breed and too many gilts that do not remain in the maternal herd long enough to provide maximal return on investment. We investigated pattern of prepubertal growth on reproductive development of gilts. White crossbred gilts were assigned to treatments: Ad lib, ad libitum feeding from 13 to 25 wk of age, development, followed by ad libitum feeding during the breeding period; Control, ad libitum feeding from 13 wk of age until 100 kg BW and then 90% of ad libitum feeding until 25 wk of age followed by ad libitum feeding during the breeding period; and Restricted, 74% of ad lib. feeding from 13 wk to 25 wk of age followed by ad libitum feeding during the breeding period. At 25 wk of age gilts were moved to group pens and breeding begun. Feed intake was from 13 wk of age until 30 d of gestation total feed consumption was 367, 256 and 299 kg/gil in Ad lib, Control and Restricted groups, respectively. Age at puberty, 196 d, and pregnancy, 200 d, was not affected by treatment. However, more of the Ad lib gilts attained puberty earlier, Restricted gilts were intermediate and Control gilts latest. Number of live embryos at 30 d of gestation was unaffected by treatment. Feed consumed from 13 wk of age to slaughter per live embryo present at 30 d of gestation was 40.0, 39.8, and 30.6 kg in the Ad lib, Control and Restricted groups, respectively. Imposition of moderate feed restriction on developing gilts may increase efficiency of swine production without negative impact on reproductivity through 30 d of gestation.

Technical Abstract: Development of gilts that conceive early and continue to produce offspring is a primary objective of swine production. We investigated pattern of growth on reproductive development of gilts. White crossbred gilts were assigned to treatments: Ad lib. feeding from 13 to 25 wk of age, development (n = 64); Contr., Ad lib. feeding from 13 wk of age until 100 kg BW and then 90% of Ad lib. feeding until 25 wk of age (n = 65); and Restr., 75% of Ad lib. feeding from 13 wk to 25 wk of age (n = 64). At 25 wk of age gilts were moved to group pens and allowed feed Ad lib. and breeding begun. At 30 d of gestation gilts were slaughtered and number of CL and live embryos recorded. During development feed intake was 258, 251 and 189 kg/gilt and from 13 wk of age until 30 d of gestation total feed consumption was 367, 256 and 299 kg/gilt in Ad lib, Contr. and Restr. Groups, respectively. During breeding, Restr. gilts initially consumed more feed than those of the other groups. Mean age at puberty, 196 d, and pregnancy, 200 d, was not affected by treatment. However, more of the Ad lib gilts attained puberty earlier, Restr. gilts were intermediate and Contr. gilts later. While ovulation rate was reduced in Restr. Gilts, number of live embryos at 30 d of gestation was unaffected by treatment. A positive effect of post-treatment ad lib. feeding on number of live embryos was noted after 14 d in the Restr. gilts, but not other groups. Feed consumed from 13 wk of age to slaughter per live embryo present at 30 d of gestation was 40.0, 39.8 and 30.6 kg in the Ad lib, Contr. and Restr. Groups, respectively. Results indicate restricted feeding of gilts during development may increase efficiency of swine production without negative impact on reproductivity through 30 d of gestation.