Analysis of PrP genotypes in relation to reproductive and production traits in Chios sheep

The study describes the changes with time in gene and genotype frequencies of a closed Chios herd. Genomic DNA was isolated and purified from peripheral blood leucocytes using standard procedures. The identification of the allelic variants present in the DNA samples, was performed in a simple multiplex PCR reaction and melting curve analysis of the PrP gene. Only ARR/ARR female genotypes were kept for breeding, and only males of the same genotype were used following year 2 of the study. As a result of planned individual matings and selection, the susceptible ARQ/ARQ genotype was eliminated from the flock in 4 years. The gene frequency of the R allele from a low 0.056 at year 1 reached a high 0.911 at year 6 of the study. Data from first lactation ewes of known genotypes were used to examine possible associations between PrP genotypes and ewe reproductive (litter size at birth and at weaning) and production traits (litter weight at birth and at weaning and 60-day milk yield after weaning). No effects of the sire genotype (ARR/ARR and ARR/ARQ) were found for any of the traits studied. The ewe genotype was associated with performance for reproductive traits but not with total weight of lamb output at birth or at weaning. ARR/ARR ewes had a higher litter size at birth (2.09) compared to ARQ/ARQ ewes (1.79) and higher litter size at weaning (1.84) compared to ARR/ARQ ewes (1.59). 60-day milk yield after weaning was not influenced by genotype (114.8, 105.8 and 114.8 kg for ARR/ARR, ARR/ARQ and ARQ/ARQ genotypes, respectively). Birth weight and 98-day weight were not influenced by the lamb genotype. ARQ/ARQ lambs were slightly heavier (P < 0.05) than ARR/ARR lambs at weaning as a result of faster pre-weaning growth. Post weaning growth was similar for the homozygous genotypes.     

Estimation of lifetime productivity of female swine

OBJECTIVE: To develop estimates of lifetime productivity for breeding female swine calculated longitudinally during time in the breeding herd, and to compare estimates of lifetime productivity for female swine removed from the herd at different parities. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS: 9,416 breeding female swine from 29 herds. PROCEDURE: A frequency distribution for parity at the time of removal was generated. Estimates of lifetime productivity (lifetime nonproductive days [NPD], lifetime NPD as a proportion of herd life, total number of pigs born per litter weaned, number of pigs born alive per litter weaned, number of pigs weaned per litter weaned, number of NPD per year in the herd, number of litters weaned per year in the herd, and number of pigs weaned per year in the herd) were calculated for females with parity > or = 1 at the time of removal. RESULTS: For 58% of all females, parity at the time of removal was < or = 3. On average, 20.7% of herd life was spent in nonproductive activities, but the proportion of herd life that was nonproductive decreased significantly as parity at the time of removal increased. Number of NPD per year in the herd decreased and number of litters weaned per year in the herd and number of pigs weaned per year in the herd increased significantly as parity at the time of removal increased. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Higher parity at the time of removal from the herd is associated with improved lifetime productivity for female swine. Parity at time of removal is commonly used as an approximation for lifetime productivity, but it does not take into account the impact of NPD, especially NPD during early reproductive cycles.     

Growth Performance and Reproductive Traits at First Parity of New Zealand White Female Rabbits as Affected by Heat Stress and Its Alleviation under Egyptian Conditions

Exposing growing and adult New Zealand White (NZW) female rabbits to severe heat stress (temperature–humidity index = 28.9) during summer adversely affected their growth and reproductive traits. The traits that declined significantly (p<0.01) were the live body weight, daily weight gain and feed intake of growing rabbits, and the litter size and litter weight at weaning (p<0.05) and the pre-weaning weight gain of pups (p<0.01) for adult females. The conception rate declined considerably with heat stress. The declines in the values of the digestibility coefficients due to heat stress were 7.9% (p<0.05) for dry matter (DM), 8.1% (p<0.05) for crude protein (CP) and 1.0% for crude fibre (CF). The traits that increased significantly (p<0.01) due to heat stress were water intake, water/feed ratio and rectal temperature in growing rabbits and pre-weaning mortality for adult females.Alleviation of heat stress in the growing and adult female NZW rabbits was more efficient with drinking cool water (10–15°C; between 10:00 and 17:00) than with supplementation with palm oil (as a source of energy) or natural clay (as a natural enhancer to growth and milk production). Supplying the animals with cool drinking water gave the highest body weight and weight gain, conception rate, litter size and weight and digestibility coefficients for DM and CP and the lowest rectal temperature, respiration rate and pre-weaning mortality.The loss in rabbit production pertaining to heat stress estimated from the percentages of decline in conception rate×pre-weaning mortality×litter weight at weaning was 73.0%. The provision of cool water restored 11/12 of heat loss.     

Evaluation of genetic trends and determination of the optimal number of cumulative records of parity required in reproductive traits in a Large White pig population

Genetic improvement of the reproductive performance of pigs is important for pig breeding despite their low heritabilities. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of selection concerning reproductive traits and to determine the optimal number of parity records required for accurate estimation of breeding values (BVs) in the open population of a commercial pig breeding company. The study used records of 2220 purebred Large White pigs (9845 litters) farrowed between 1998 and 2009 in the two herds of the Pacific Ocean Breeding Co. Ltd. The traits studied included farrowing interval (FI), total number of piglets at birth (TNB), average weaning weight per litter (AWW), and raising rate (RR). A statistical model was applied to the 4‐trait repeatability animal model. The heritabilities of FI, TNB, AWW and RR were low. The genetic trends in TNB (h² = 0.09) showed approximately 1.0 increase in 6 years from 2003 to 2008. The predicted error variances indicated that up to fourth parity records are necessary for accurate genetic evaluation. The present study results indicated that even reproductive traits with low heritability can be improved.     

GxE interactions for growth and carcass leanness: Re-ranking of boars in organic and conventional pig production

The objective of this study was to evaluate genotype by environment interactions for growth rate and carcass leanness in organic and conventional pig production environments. Organic breeding values for fattening traits were estimated for 37 Hampshire AI-boars based on slaughter records registered for 1805 crossbred offspring raised in an organic environment. The offspring were born and raised in herds certified for organic production. The statistical model included the fixed effects of sex, litter size at 2 weeks and herd. It also included the random effects of herd-year-season, birth litter and animal. Conventional breeding values for the same boars were captured from the breeding organization’s genetic evaluation. In the organic environment h² was estimated to 0.30 and 0.37 for growth rate and carcass leanness, respectively (r_g = − 0.11). Spearman rank correlations between organic and conventional breeding values, based on 29 boars with ≥ 20 progenies, were 0.48 for growth rate and 0.42 for carcass leanness. Both correlations were significantly different from 0 and 1. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate weak genotype by environment interactions for both growth rate and carcass leanness in organic and conventional pig production environments, and there is some re-ranking of boars’ breeding values between environments.     

Growth and reproductive performance of two rabbit breeds reared under intensive system in Ghana

A study on the growth and reproductive performance of two rabbit breeds was undertaken. Data on 588 kits and 97 does of California White and 574 kits and 90 does of New Zealand White rabbits reared under hot and humid environment in Ghana were taken. The reproductive performance of the two breeds, in terms of litter size at birth and weaning, litter weight at birth and weaning, kindling interval, age at sexual maturity, and gestation length as influenced by breed, season of kindling (rainy and dry), year of kindling (2005–2012), and parity (first to sixth and over) were determined. The performance of California White in terms of litter size at birth, at weaning, kit weight at birth, and age at first kindling was 5.9?±?0.2, 4.6?±?0.1, 54.7?±?0.4 g, and 159.8?±?0.2 days, respectively. That of New Zealand White was 5.9?±?0.1, 5.1?±?0.1, 55.2?±?1.0 g, and 159.9?±?0.2 days, respectively. The results obtained also showed a significant breed effects on kit weight at birth, litter weight at weaning, and mortality; whereas no significant differences (p?>?0.05) were observed between the two breeds regarding the other traits measured. Parity had significant effects (p?<?0.05) on all the growth and reproductive parameters measured with the exception of age at first kindling. Year of kindling also had significant effect on litter weight at birth, kit weight at birth, and at weaning (p?<?0.05) but did not have any significant effect on the age at sexual maturity and mortality. Season also had significant (p?<?0.05) effects on kit weight at birth, gestation length, kindling interval, and mortality with better performance experienced during the rainy season.

     

A Delphi exercise used to identify potential causes of variation in litter size of Ontario swine

Forty-eight people, considered to the swine experts, were asked to collaborate in a Delphi exercise to identify the factors which they believed affect litter size in Ontario swine. The panel included 16 animal scientists, 16 pork producers, and 16 veterinarians in swine practice. The ten factors with the highest ratings were parity of the sow, mycotoxins in the feed, infections with porcine parvovirus or Leptospira spp., breeding gilts on their second versus first observed estrus, the timing of breeding with respect to the onset of estrus, purebred versus crossbred sows, boar overuse (bred by a boar that was mated more than six times per week), pen versus hand mating, age of gilt when first bred, and body condition of the sow at the time of conception. The experts did not agree about the effect on litter size of the sow's previous lactation, factors ensuring adequate nutrient intake during lactation, health of the sow and the boar, breed of a purebred sow, or the ease of mating the sow.

Key items in the use of the Delphi technique to arrive at a consensus are discussed.

     

Factors influencing litter size in swine: parity-one females

The influence of age at conception, number of matings per conception, season of conception, and breed of female on parity-1 litter size was investigated in 4,944 females from 5 commercial swine herds located in North America. The influence of age at conception on reproductive performance of females in subsequent parities also was investigated. As the age at conception increased from 180 to 245 days, litter size increased 0.017 and 0.012 pig per day, respectively, (P less than 0.05) in 2 of the 3 herds that recorded such data. Age at conception did not influence litter size when conception occurred after 245 days of age. Longevity (parity achieved before death or culling) of females was not influenced by age at first conception. Gilts that conceived before 220 days of age had significantly shorter weaning-to-conception intervals in one herd and shorter farrowing-to-conception intervals in another herd throughout subsequent parities. In 1 of 3 herds that recorded such data, live and total litter size increased from 9.46 to 10.46 and 10.16 to 11.50, respectively (P less than 0.05), as number of matings increased from 1 to 3 per conception. No significant influence of number of matings per conception was observed in the other 2 herds. The effect of season of conception was variable among herds. In 2 herds, there was no significant effect of season of conception on subsequent litter size.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Return to OESTRUS after first insemination in sow herds (incidence,seasonality, and association with reproductivity and some blood parameters)

Summary

As no systematic study has been done to get an accurate estimate of the incidence of return to oestrus after first insemination in sows in the Netherlands, the objectives of this investigation were:

1) to obtain an estimate of the incidence of return to oestrus after insemination at the herd level;

2) to investigate the association between incidence of return to oestrus after first insemination and reproduction characteristics in order to get an impression of the economic importance of reproductive failure.

These objectives were investigated by using the reproduction results of 240 swine breeding herds in the Southern Netherlands in 1987. This information was obtained from CBK plus computerized herd management records. The average incidence rate of return to oestrus after first insemination at a herd level was 16.9 per 100 first inseminations. The occurrence of return to oestrus after first insemination was distinctly higher in the insemination months July and August compared to the rest of the year. An increased incidence, with 10 returns per 100 first inseminations corrected for confounders in a multiple linear regression model, was associated with a decrease of approximately 0.3 live born piglets/sow/year. A prospective longitudinal study was started in 1988 and 1989 in 37 sow herds. Individual sows were monitored from weaning to first insemination, to the occurrence of return to oestrus, or not, after first insemination, and to farrowing. The investigation focused in particular on the relationship between return to oestrus after first insemination and seroconversion against porcine parvovirus (PPV) and Leptospira interrogans serovar bratislava (L. bratislava). During a number of consecutive farm visits, blood samples were taken from sows at weaning and again 6 weeks later. The final data set analysed consisted of 161 animals that did not return to oestrus and 158 animals that did return to oestrus after first insemination. Seroconversion was defined as a 4‐fold increase in titre between the two successive blood samplings: sera were investigated at dilutions of 1:100 to 1:3200 (L. bratislava) and 1:4 to 1:16384 (PPV).

There was no indication of an association between the occurrence of return to oestrus after first insemination and seroconversion against PPV or L. bratislava with the serodiagnostics used in this study. However, it should be noted that L. bratislava infected sows can have a titre below the widely accepted minimum titre of 1:100 used in laboratories, and recently from sows without a titre L. bratislava was isolated. It is suggested that the most appropriate way to assess the influence of infection with L. bratislava on reproductive failure in swine at this moment is to use culture or other methods (e.g. PCR). Litter size and between‐farrowing time of the last farrowing before the study period was not associated with the occurrence of return to oestrus after first insemination in the study period. However, an increased weaning‐to‐first‐in‐semination interval, a high progesterone level at weaning, a low albumin concentration at weaning, and a decrease in albumin concentration between the consecutive samplings and an increase in gamma globulin concentration between the two blood samplings increased the risk of occurrence of a regular return to oestrus after first insemination.

An increased weaning‐to‐first insemination interval, an increase in leucocyte and gamma globulin concentrations and a reduction in alpha_1,2 globulin concentration between the consecutive samplings increased the risk of occurrence of an irregular return to oestrus after first insemination.     

Choice of statistical model for estimating genetic parameters using restricted maximum likelihood in swine

Summary Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) was used to determine the choice of statistical model, additive genetic maternal and common litter effects and consequences of ignoring these effects on estimates of variance–covariance components under random and phenotypic selection in swine using computer simulation. Two closed herds of different size and two traits, (i) pre‐weaning average daily gain and (ii) litter size at birth, were considered. Three levels of additive direct and maternal genetic correlations (r_dm) were assumed to each trait. Four mixed models (denoted as GRM1 through GRM4) were used to generate data sets. Model GRM1 included only additive direct genetic effects, GRM2 included only additive direct genetic and common litter effects, GRM3 included only additive direct and maternal genetic effects and GRM4 included all the random effects. Four mixed animal models (defined as EPM1 through EPM4) were defined for estimating genetic parameters similar to GRM. Data from each GRM were fitted with EPM1 through EPM4. The largest biased estimates of additive genetic variance were obtained when EPM1 was fitted to data generated assuming the presence of either additive maternal genetic, common litter effects or a combination thereof. The bias of estimated additive direct genetic variance (VA_d) increased and those of recidual variance (VE) decreased with an increase in level of r_dm when GRM3 was used. EPM1, EPM2 and EPM3 resulted in biased estimation of the direct genetic variances. EPM4 was the most accurate in each GRM. Phenotypic selection substantially increased bias of estimated additive direct genetic effect and its mean square error in trait 1, but decreased those in trait 2 when ignored in the statistical model. For trait 2, estimates under phenotypic selection were more biased than those under random selection. It was concluded that statistical models for estimating variance components should include all random effects considered to avoid bias.     

Effect of culling on selection response using phenotypic selection or best linear unbiased prediction of breeding values in small, closed herds of swine.

Records from 7,200 separate closed herds with either 12 or 25 sows that were mated to either four or eight boars per year were simulated by computer. Effects of selection method, herd size, and contemporary group variability on average genetic change, genetic variance, and inbreeding over 10 yr of selection were analyzed for traits with heritabilities of .1, .3, and .6. Selection of replacement animals was on individual phenotype or BLUP of breeding value using a reduced animal model. For both of these selection methods, two culling schemes were imposed: 1) based only on involuntary culling because of losses due to conception rate and age and 2) when an available replacement animal was projected to be superior to an existing breeding animal in the herd in addition to the involuntary culling. The contemporary group standard deviation was set at either .1 or .5 of a phenotypic standard deviation. Selection with BLUP gave 72, 36, and 12% more genetic improvement for heritabilities of .1, .3, and .6, respectively, than selection on individual phenotype after 10 yr. However, inbreeding increased 20 to 52% more rapidly and there was a decrease in genetic variance. Culling based on Scheme 2 increased genetic improvement over Scheme 1 by about 75% with coincident increases in inbreeding level and decreases in genetic variance. The largest changes in inbreeding and genetic variance were associated with culling on BLUP. Culling when a superior animal was available with individual phenotype had little effect on inbreeding and genetic variance. Use of four boars rather than eight boars and 25 rather than 12 sows per herd increased genetic response. Use of four boars also increased inbreeding and decreased genetic variance. Genetic variance was higher in herds with 25 sows, but the size of the sow herd had little effect on inbreeding. Contemporary group variation influenced only the genetic response of individual phenotypic selection with culling.     

Reproductive consequences of an X-autosome translocation in a swine herd.

A survey was conducted on the chromosome makeup and breeding data of pigs housed at the Arkell Research Station, University of Guelph, to determine the reproductive impact of a reciprocal translocation previously identified as t(Xp+;14q-). Blood samples were cultured and chromosome spreads were examined to identify carriers in the herd. Gonadal features of carrier boars and piglets and their age-matched normal counterparts were studied, and the reproductive history of carrier sows, including the number of breedings required for conception, mean litter size, prevalence of still births and malformations, and sex distribution among the piglets, was compared with that of normal (noncarrier) sows. Our observations on testicular histology confirmed that X-autosome translocation-carrier boars are sterile, and the analysis of reproductive data showed that the most striking effects of t(Xp+;14q-) on sows are the 50% increase in the number of breedings required for conception and the over 25% reduction in litter size compared with that of normal sows. The reproductive impact of this and similar translocations on the herd and on the swine industry in general is discussed.     

Genetic improvement programs in livestock: swine testing and genetic evaluation system (stages)

Genetic evaluations for the U.S. swine industry are conducted by the eight purebred associations of the National Association of Swine Records. Within-herd evaluations of the growth traits (days to 105 kg [market] and backfat depth) were first reported in 1986. Analyses of the maternal traits (litter size at birth and weaning, and litter 21-d weight) were inaugurated in 1987. Expected progeny differences (EPD) are reported for all traits and for general, paternal, and maternal bioeconomic indexes. A sow productivity index combining only maternal traits is available. All records are adjusted according to National Swine Improvement Federation (NSIF) guidelines for effects such as number of pigs transferred at crossfostering and age at recorded observation prior to the BLUP evaluation. Within-herd analyses of individual contemporary groups are conducted immediately on receipt of performance records at each breed association office. All parents in the herd and the young pigs in the current group are evaluated. A report is returned to the breeder for use in herd selection and the EPD are placed in the pedigree file. The genetic base of each herd is defined as the first n tested pigs or litters, where n is the number of pigs registered annually within the herd. Change in mean EPD between groups is indicative of genetic trend. Periodic across-herd analyses are used to update interim within-herd analyses and a national sire summary is published.     

Uterine Insemination with a Standard AI Dose in a Sow Pool System

The effect of uterine AI with a standard dose of spermatozoa on fertility of the sow was studied in a field trial. The trial involved a sow pool system with 440 sows using AI as the primary method of breeding. Sows were twice a day checked for oestrus symptoms by back pressure test in front of a boar on days 3–6 after weaning. When in standing heat, sows were randomly allocated into either a uterine insemination group (UTER, n = 157) or standard AI group (CONT, n = 169) and bred accordingly using 3 billion spermatozoa in 80 ml of extender. In both treatment groups, insemination was repeated once if the sow was still receptive 24 h later. Using pregnancy (farrowed or not) and live‐born litter size as the outcome variables, a logistic and linear regression approach, respectively, was taken to study the effect of the following factors: treatment (UTER vs CONT), AI operator, breed, satellite herd preceding weaning, parity, weaning‐to‐oestrus interval and length of lactation. Overall, live‐born litter size was 11.3 ± 2.9, repeat breeding rate 4.2% and farrowing rate 91.2%. In the UTER group, 93.6% of inseminated sows farrowed, whereas farrowing rate for the CONT group was 88.8% (p = 0.13). Intrauterine insemination with a standard AI dose did not result in a significant improvement in the live‐born litter size (11.5 ± 2.8 for the UTER and 11.1 ± 3.0 for the CONT sows, respectively, p = 0.13). However, the preceding satellite herd had a highly significant effect on the live‐born litter size (12.4 ± 2.6; 11.1 ± 2.9; 10.8 ± 2.9 and 10.9 ± 2.9 for the four satellite herds, p < 0.01). We conclude that uterine insemination did not have a significant effect on live‐born litter size and farrowing rate and we also conclude that satellite herd appears to have a major effect on fertility in a sow pool system.     

托佩克（Topigs）种猪繁殖与生长性能分析

文章以Topigs三系配套种猪群体测定性能的测定数据为基础,对3个品系(A、B、E系)的繁殖性能和生产性能进行GLM(一般线型模型)方差分析,以最小二乘均数为性能值,比较年份、胎次、月份(季节)对产仔数、断奶数、初生窝重、断奶窝重、日增重、料重比和背膘厚的变化情况,以及3个品系在上述性状上的表现。结果显示,年份、季节、胎次均存在极大的差异,在年份上表现为与选育时间有关,在季节上表现为与夏季有关,在胎次上表现为产仔数差异不明显、断奶仔猪数逐胎下降。3个品系的结果显示,E系作为第二父本具有一定的优势,但作为第一父本的B系没有明显的优势。     

Improving the reproductive,immunity and health status of rabbit does using honey bee venom

The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effect of using bee venom (BV) on the reproductive performance, immune, and health status of rabbit does and its effect on their litters. Sixty mature does, from Spanish V-line rabbit stock, were randomly assigned to four homogeneous groups with 15 does each. The 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd groups were injected twice weekly under the neck skin with 0.1 ml solution contains 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 mg BV/rabbit respectively. The 4^th group served as a control group. From the results, litter size at birth, litter weight and survival rate at weaning age as well as milk yield were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased in BV groups than in the control group. Serum estradiol 17-β (E2) was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher (15%) in the rabbit does treated with BV compared to the control group. The treated does with BV at any study doses showed a gradual and significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease (12%) in serum progesterone levels (P4) compared to the control. They also showed a significant (p≤0.05) increase in conception (17%) and fertility rates (10%) compared to the control does. Treatment of rabbit does with BV caused a gradual and significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction in both aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (16%) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (37%) liver enzyme activities. Additionally, results have shown that BV resulted in a gradual and significant (p ≤ 0.05) increase in total antioxidant capacity (TAC), antioxidative enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels with significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in BV groups compared to the control group. Results suggest that BV can be used in rabbit farming as an effective and safe alternative to artificial chemical drugs (sexual-stimulants) to improve certain reproductive traits, immune response and health.     

Relationship between body condition score and production of multiparous beef cows

Pregnancy rate, calving interval, weaning weight, birth weight and quarterly body condition score (BCS) were collected on fall calving multiparous English crossbred cattle (ages 3 to 10) from 1994 to 2001 to evaluate the critical time of cow condition measurements that predict production. The study was initiated with 260 cows. Replacement animals entered the study at first calving (2 years of age), with 45, 54, 27, 68, 54, and 45 animals added in years two through seven, respectively. Body condition score was measured in association with calving, breeding, weaning, and midway between weaning and calving (August). Regression of the logit of the probability of pregnancy (Y) showed that pregnancy outcome was quadratically related to BCS at breeding (P < 0.0001, Y = − 4.81X² − 0.52X − 4.339) and linearly related to BCS at calving (P = 0.009, Y = 0.32X + 4.17), but was not associated with either the pre- or postpartum change in condition (P > 0.05). Calving interval varied cubically with BCS at calving and quadratically with BCS at breeding (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.002, respectively). The largest decreases in calving interval were associated with increases in body condition score at calving from 3.5 to 4.5 and from 7 to 8. Calf weight at 205 days was related to both the BCS at breeding and the change in BCS from breeding to weaning (P = 0.01 and P = 0.004). Calf weight at 205 days was also associated with BCS at weaning (P = 0.0003). Cows with either low or high BCS at weaning tended to wean lighter calves than cows with moderate condition (4.5 and 5.5). Moreover, BCS at weaning (≈ 6 months prior to calving) was related to birth weight (P = 0.01). Dams with a BCS at weaning of 7 birthed heavier calves than dams with low (3 to 4) or high (8.5) BCS. The relationship of BCS at breeding with pregnancy rate, calving interval, and weaning weight suggests that maintenance of adequate BCS immediately before, during, and after the breeding season may be most critical to sustaining adequate reproductive performance and calf gains in animals subject to the seasonal forage production associated with a Mediterranean climate.     

Genetic parameters for ewe productivity traits in the Columbia, Suffolk and Targhee breeds

Estimates of repeatability and heritability were obtained for the following productivity traits of ewes: litter weight at birth (LWB) and weaning (LWW), litter size at birth (LSB), litter size alive at birth (NBA), litter size at weaning (LSW), neonatal survival rate (SRB) and preweaning survival rate (SRW). Phenotypic and genetic correlations were estimated for litter traits. The data set contained 6,394 ewe breeding records from three state stations over 10 yr on 1,731 ewes that were the progeny of 488 sires among three breeds (Columbia, Suffolk and Targhee). Pooled intra-station estimates of repeatability ranged from .11 to .22 for LWB and LWW among the three breeds. For litter size at birth, number born alive and litter size at weaning these estimates varied from .09 to .17 and for the survival traits (SRB and SRW) the variation was from .11 to .20. Intra-station estimates of heritability for the three breeds varied from .12 to .28 for LWB and LWW, and for LSB, NBA and LSW estimates varied from .05 to .35. Heritability estimates for survival traits (SRB and SRW) were low, ranging from .00 to .14. Phenotypic correlations among LWB, LWW, NBA and LSW ranged from .35 to .92 among the breed-station subclasses, with higher correlations occurring where a part-whole relationship existed. The study suggests that selection of ewes with high litter size at birth or at weaning and(or) litter weight at birth or at weaning will genetically improve total litter weight at weaning per ewe lambing.     

Evaluation of three different patterns of feed intake during early lactation in lactating sows

Forty‐five multiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire; parity: 3.58 ± 1.30) were used to determine the effects of three patterns of feed intake during early lactation on the performance of lactating sows. Experimental treatments were as follows: IFI‐1.4, the amount of feed increased by 1.4 kg per day for the first 5 days post‐farrowing, followed by ad libitum feeding until weaning; IFI‐1.0, the amount of feed increased by 1.0 kg per day for the first 7 days post‐farrowing, followed by ad libitum feeding until weaning; IFI‐0.7, the amount of feed increased by 0.7 kg per day for the first 10 days post‐farrowing, followed by ad libitum feeding until weaning. The number of live piglets at birth/litter in three dietary treatments was 11.50, 10.07, and 10.85, respectively. Sows in the IFI‐1.4 treatment had lower backfat loss during lactation, greater daily feed intake during days 1–6, 7–12, and 1–24 compared with those in the IFI‐0.7 treatment (p < .05). The litter weaning weight, litter weight gain, and average litter daily gain in the IFI‐1.4 treatment were greater compared with those in the IFI‐0.7 treatment (p < .05). In conclusion, the results indicated that the IFI‐1.4 feed intake pattern allowed lactating sows and their litters to obtain optimal performance.