Lactation efficiency as a result of body composition dynamics and feed intake in sows

Through genetic selection and improvement of environment, litter size of sows increases. Increased energy requirement during lactation, increases the risk of excessive mobilization from body stores, with detrimental effects on reproductive performance. Feed intake capacity tends to decrease due to selection towards leaner pigs with a lower feed conversion ratio. However, to facilitate sows to wean large litters extra feed intake, or even better, a higher feed efficiency during lactation would be favourable. The objective of the present study was to describe the dynamics of body composition of sows and piglets during lactation, and to relate these traits to a newly introduced trait called “lactation efficiency”. Energy metabolism of lactating sows was described, based on on-farm observations of weight and backfat of sows before parturition and at weaning, weight of piglets at birth and at weaning and feed intake of sows during lactation. “Lactation efficiency” was defined as energy efficiency of sows, and calculated for individual sows at two different farms. The average lactation efficiency was 68% and 65% for both farms; meaning that 68 and 65% of the metabolisable energy through feed intake or mobilization from body stores, above maintenance of the sow (input), was used for piglet growth and piglet maintenance (output). The association between lactation efficiency and other reproductive traits was studied by estimating the correlations within farms. Sows with a higher lactation efficiency showed lower feed intake (r = − 0.27 and r = − 0.35 for both farms respectively) and smaller fat losses (r = − 0.34 and r = − 0.29, respectively). The energy output of efficient sows was slightly higher (r = 0.23 and r = 0.30). The more efficient sows were the better mothers, as mortality of their piglets was lower (r = − 0.12 and r = − 0.16), piglet growth rate was higher (r = 0.16 and r = 0.23), and at weaning their litters were less variable (r = − 0.08; only available at one farm). Results were remarkably similar for the two farms, despite different feeding strategies. Extra input, by means of feed intake or mobilization from body stores generated extra output by means of litter weight at weaning. This experiment demonstrated that an accurate recording of energy metabolism and relevant reproduction traits with little intervention is possible on commercial farms.     

Impact of rank position on fertility of sows

The investigations were carried out with 484 sows from two farms (farm A: housing the sows in small groups of 8 animals each, farm B with a large group of 100 sows) and a total number of 982 inseminations. The number of agonistic interactions was registered for each sow during 48 h after mixing soon after weaning the piglets at farm A. The individual rank place in the social hierarchy was calculated on the basis of wins and defeats and the sows were divided in high and low ranking sows. At farm B the rank position was estimated on the basis of the daily feeding order at two electronic feeding stations (first half of the sows in the feeding order = high ranking, second half = low ranking). Additionally, the following parameters were recorded for each sow: parity, genotype, farrowing rate and litter size (total and alive born piglets). The analysis showed that sows with a high rank position had a significantly higher farrowing rate (88.8%) compared to group-mates with low rank places (82.8%, p = 0.051) (farm A). Sows with a high rank position reached a significantly higher litter size of total born piglets (12.66, 16.14 piglets per litter respectively) than the low-ranking group-mates (12.13, 14.83 piglets/litter respectively — farms A and B). When mixing sows, the time and the conditions (e.g. group size, space allowance per sow) have to be considered to prevent the negative influence of low rank order on fertility.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of nucleotides from late gestation to lactation on the performance and oxidative stress status of sows and their offspring

Increased metabolic burdens in breeding sows, which are induced by elevated systemic oxidative stress, could increase the need for nucleotides to repair lymphocyte DNA damage; however, de novo synthesis of nucleotides may be insufficient to cover this increased need. This study investigated the effects of dietary nucleotides on milk composition, oxidative stress status, and the reproductive and lactational performance of sows. Forty multiparous sows were assigned to 2 dietary treatments (Control group, and 1 g/kg Nucleotides group) based on a randomized complete block design using their BW at 85 d of gestation as a block. Sows from 2 groups were fed a restricted diet during gestation and ad libitum during lactation. The experiment lasted from 85 d of gestation to 21 d of lactation. The reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance of suckling piglets were measured. Oxidative stress parameters and milk components were also analysed. Data were analyzed using contrasts in the MIXED procedure of SAS. Sows in the Nucleotides group consumed more feed during the first week (P < 0.01) and from 1 to 21 d (P < 0.05) of lactation than those in Control group. Correspondingly, the litter weight gain of piglets showed a tendency to increase from cross-fostering to 9 d (P = 0.09) and from cross-fostering to 20 d (P = 0.10) in the Nucleotides group relative to the Control group. Additionally, the Nucleotides group was higher (P < 0.01) than the Control group in the concentrations of uridine 5''monophosphate, guanosine 5''monophosphate, inosine 5''monophosphate, adenosine 5''monophosphate and total nucleotides in milk. Furthermore, the Nucleotides group was higher (P < 0.01) than the Control group in the serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (P < 0.01) for sows at 109 d of gestation and glutathione peroxidase for weaning piglets, but lower at the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (P < 0.05) in serum of weaning piglets. This study indicated that maternal dietary nucleotides could promote piglet growth, probably due to the higher lactational feed intake and higher concentration of nucleotides in the milk of sows, and lower oxidative stress for both sows and piglets.     

母猪批次化生产研发进展

批次化生产是欧美等畜牧业发达国家开发的一种工厂化养猪模式,近年来我国也在逐渐推广应用,它显著提升了猪场生产效率与生物安全,尤其对当前我国非洲猪瘟防控和生猪产能恢复具有重要意义。文章简述了母猪批次化生产的研发历史,并综述了其技术优势、关键技术以及我国目前研发、应用情况,以期提高我国母猪批次化生产水平,促进养猪业转型升级。     

Uterine Motility in Sows During Spontaneous Parturition and Induced Parturitions with the PGF Analog Alfbprostol and Oxytocin

Contents: Uterine activity, i.e. myometrial contractions, were recorded in 11 sows prior to and during parturition by using strain gauges placed onto uterine horns about 15 to 20 cm cranial of the bifurcation. Tocographic patterns observed prior to and during spontaneous and alfaprostol induced parturitions were normal. Administration of 20, 10 or 5 I.U. oxytocin 22 hours after alfaprostol quickly initiated abnormal periparturient contraction patterns with 20 and 10 I.U. oxytocin and in one of two animals receiving 5 I. U. These were characterized initially by prolonged tetanic contractions resulting in delayed deliveries, and later by the premature occurrence of patterns seen normally only during the phase of placental expulsions, although not all piglets had been delivered. The importance to use myornetrial activity profiles to evaluate parturition induction methods was stressed .     

猪乳中一组高分子量多态性蛋白质的同源性鉴定

 利用硫酸铵沉淀、凝胶过滤层析和阴离子交换层析等方法从猪乳中分离纯化高分子量蛋白质B (HMWP-B)。 制备兔抗HMWP-B的多克隆抗体，免疫印迹结果表明，不同带型的HMWP之间存在免疫交叉反应，说明该组蛋白具有同源性，为其多态性假说提供了证据。     

提高母猪繁殖力的研究

选用40头经产的长白、杜洛克、乐平猪及其杂种母猪,饲喂以中等营养水平配合料(每千克含消化能1.9～2.8兆卡、粗蛋白质11％～15％),采取重复配种和35～42日龄断奶等技术,连续测定两窝,其结果为:乐平母猪及其杂种母猪年繁窝数2.26窝、双窝产仔24.5～25.7头,育成20～22.3头,双窝60日龄重221～344千克、料肉比2.04～2.33:1;国外品种及其杂种母猪分别为2.16窝、22.5～23.75头、20～21头、316～388千克和1.9～2.23:1。     

母猪子宫内膜炎的科学防治

从病因、流行病学、临床症状、病理变化、诊断措施5个方面对母猪子宫内膜炎进行了阐述,并总结了相应的防治措施,旨在为该病的防治提供科学参考。     

饲粮中添加叶酸对乐平母猪繁殖性能的影响

本研究选用本地猪种乐平花猪以探讨饲粮中添加叶酸对繁殖母猪的作用效应。２７头经产母猪根据年龄、胎次与系祖来源随机分为３个处理组，即在妊娠和哺乳期基础日粮中分别添加叶酸０（作为对照）、２ｍｇ／ｋｇ和６ｍｇ／ｋｇ。结果表明：添加叶酸提高了总窝产仔数、窝产活仔数及４０日龄育成数（Ｐ＜０．１或Ｐ＜０．０５），尤其是添加叶酸６ｍｇ／ｋｇ组的总窝产仔数和窝产活仔数分别提高了１．８９头和１．３４头；３个处理组的仔猪平均初生体重没有明显差异（Ｐ＞０．２５），但是初生窝重及４０日龄断奶窝重随着补充叶酸的增加而明显地增加（Ｐ＜０．１或Ｐ＜０．０１）。虽然各处理组的母猪在繁殖周期各阶段的体重没有变化（Ｐ＞０．２５）。，但添加叶酸组母猪的孕期增重及哺乳期掉膘却趋向于增加，且母猪妊娠期的增重愈多，其哺乳期掉膘亦愈多。本研究结果证明，在母猪妊娠和哺乳期基础饲粮中添加适宜剂量的叶酸，通过增加其窝产活仔数可以进一步发挥乐平母猪较高的生产性能     

母猪繁殖障碍综合征的调查与防治

母猪繁殖障碍综合征是母猪生产的主要疾病,已成为影响养猪场经济效益的主要原因.该文对当地养猪场母猪繁殖综合征的发生流行情况进行调查,分析其临床症状及主要原因,并提出预防与治疗措施.