Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in primiparous swine on subsequent reproductive performance

A follow-up study was conducted to determine the effects of streptozotocin-diabetes during the first parity on subsequent reproductive performance of sows. Only in the first parity, two doses of streptozotocin (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) were administered to two groups of pregnant gilts at 80 d of gestation; a third group of gilts served as a control. Second-parity reproductive performance showed that gestation length, placental weight, mean birth weight of the litter, litter size and number of pigs born alive were not affected (P greater than .05) by maternal diabetes. Maternal serum glucose and fructose were greater (P less than .01) in high-dose sows than in the low-dose and the control dams. Serum free fatty acids (FFA) were higher (P less than .05) in high-dose dams than in control dams at d-1 and d 112 of gestation; no differences were observed between the high-dose and the low-dose during the same period. Liver and kidney weight, as well as DNA and RNA content, were greater (P less than .01) in pigs from high-dose dams than in those of the other treatments. Liver protein was elevated (P less than .01) in the progeny of high-dose dams. Dry matter and percent lipid were higher (P less than .05 and P less than .01, respectively), in pigs from high-dose sows than those from other treatment. Serum glucose, fructose and FFA of piglets were not affected by previous treatment of the dam.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The pattern of endemic parvovirus infection in four pig herds

Serological surveys were conducted on the gilts and adult sows in 4 herds endemically infected with porcine parvovirus. The study assessed the influence of the type of management of breeders on the spread of virus infection and the influence of endemic parvovirus infection on reproductive parameters of the herd. The practice of holding gilts and sows in groups did not reliably promote infection or maintain a 100% level of active immunity amongst adult sows in 2 of 3 group husbandry herds. In the 4 herds, the prevalence of adult sows (greater than 12 months) with active immune haemagglutination inhibition titres (greater than or equal to 256) ranged between 44% and 100%, while between 0% and 100% of gilts (6 to 12 months of age) had active immune titres. Fully susceptible gilts older than 9 months of age held in groups, failed to become infected by 12 months of age on farms endemically infected with PPV. In 2 herds a continued low infection rate of gilts resulted in increasing the potential of breeding animals becoming susceptible to parvovirus infection as infected sows were replaced by noninfected gilts. In both herds, epidemics of parvovirus infection followed, which were characterised by an increase in reproductive failure. Parvovirus infection during the first 70 days of pregnancy reduced the average number of piglets born alive per litter by 1.6 piglets (p less than 0.05). This was due to the combined effect of more piglets being born dead per litter and an overall reduction in litter size.     

Effects of magnesium on the performance of sows and their piglets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental magnesium(Mg) on the performance of gilts and parity 3 sows and their piglets.Fifty-six gilts(Trial 1) and 56 sows(Trial 2) were assigned to one of 4treatments according to their mating weight,respectively.The treatments comprised corn-soybean meal based gestation and lactation diets(0.21%magnesium) supplemented with 0,0.015,0.03,or 0.045%Mg from mating until weaning.The results showed that magnesium supplementation significantly(P 0.05) reduced the weaning to estrus interval in both gilts and sows.There were significant effects(P 0.05) of supplemental magnesium on the total number of piglets born,born alive and weaned in sows.In late gestation and lactation,the digestibility of crude fiber(quadratic effects,P 0.05),and crude protein(P 0.05),were significantly influenced by magnesium in gilts and sows,respectively.There were differences among the 4 groups in terms of the apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude fiber in sows(P 0.05) during both early and late gestation.The apparent digestibility of gross energy was increased for sows in late gestation(P 0.05),and lactation(quadratic effects,P 0.05).At farrowing and weaning,serum prolactin levels and alkaline phosphate activities linearly increased in sows as the Mg supplementation increased(P 0.05).Serum Mg of sows at farrowing and serum urea nitrogen of sows at weaning was significantly influenced by Mg supplementation(P 0.05).The Mg concentration in sow colostrum and the serum of their piglets were increased by supplemental magnesium(P 0.05).In addition,growth hormone levels were linearly elevated(P 0.05) in the serum of piglets suckling sows.Our data demonstrated that supplemental magnesium has the potential to improve the reproduction performance of sows,and the suitable supplemental dose ranged from 0.015%to 0.03%.     

Influence of exogenous growth hormone and gestational diet on sow blood and milk characteristics and on baby pig blood, body composition and performance

Sows (14) and gilts (6) were used in a 2 X 2 factorial experiment to evaluate the effect of diet and highly purified porcine growth hormone (pGH) on sow metabolic status and baby pig survival parameters. Injections were 10 mg/d pGH (GH) or sham control (SH). Diets consisted of a glucose-fat energy source (GF) or control (C). Treatments were administered the last 21 d before parturition (P). Serum GH concentrations were significantly elevated on d -19 P and d -4 P in sows receiving GH injections. Significantly elevated serum glucose and insulin concentrations were concomitantly observed in GH-treated sows, suggesting that the animals had developed a state of insulin resistance. Serum free fatty acids (FFA) were greater (P less than .01) on d -19 P for sows fed the GF diet. Fasted pigs from GH-C dams had greater (P less than .06) mean serum glucose concentrations than pigs from SH-C, SH-GF or GH-GF dams. Pigs from GH-injected sows had more (P less than .01) total body lipids at birth and tended to have increased mean FFA concentrations when compared to SH pigs. However, birth weight, number born live, number born dead, number that died and survival to 21 d were not affected by dam's injection or dietary treatment. Growth hormone injections resulted in a diabetogenic state in gestating sows and led to improved traits related to baby pig blood glucose homeostasis, including increased blood glucose, increased body lipids and a tendency toward increased liver glycogen concentrations. Injection X diet interactions indicate that dietary energy source should be regarded in future growth hormone experiments.     

妊娠后期营养水平对初产母猪繁殖性能及血液生化指标的影响

为研究妊娠后期营养水平对初产母猪体况、繁殖性能及血液生化指标的影响,本试验选用背膘厚及体重相近的初产杂交母猪36头,按体况和配种时间随机分为3组（Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组）,每组6个重复,每个重复2头母猪,饲喂营养水平依次为维持需要的1.5、2.0和2.5倍的日粮,母猪妊娠81 d时开始试验至母猪分娩结束,试验期33 d。结果显示,分娩时Ⅰ组母猪背膘厚显著低于Ⅲ组（P<0.05）,断奶时各组背膘厚度差异不显著（P>0.05）;Ⅰ组母猪泌乳期背膘损失显著低于Ⅲ组（P<0.05）;Ⅲ组母猪分娩后体重、分娩前体重均显著高于Ⅰ组（P<0.05）,各组母猪妊娠81 d体重及泌乳期失重等差异均不显著（P>0.05）。试验组间窝产仔数、窝产活仔数、断奶个体重及母猪断奶-发情间隔均无显著差异（P>0.05）;Ⅲ组仔猪初生均重、断奶窝重、泌乳期窝增重均显著高于Ⅰ组（P<0.05）。随营养水平升高,Ⅱ、Ⅲ组雌激素水平显著高于Ⅰ组（P<0.05）;各组催乳素和孕酮水平差异不显著（P>0.05）;Ⅰ组甘油三酯水平显著低于Ⅱ、Ⅲ组（P<0.05）;各组尿素氮和葡萄糖含量随营养水平的升高逐渐增大,且差异显著（P<0.05）;Ⅲ组胰岛素含量显著高于I组（P<0.05）;各组总蛋白含量无显著差异（P>0.05）。结果提示,母猪妊娠后期饲喂营养水平为2.0倍维持需要的日粮时可使后备母猪分娩时体况达到标准水平,而饲喂营养水平为2.5倍维持需要的日粮可使母猪产仔性能得到提高。     

母猪补饲发酵芦笋下脚料对母猪和哺乳仔猪血清抗氧化能力、免疫功能和炎性因子含量的影响

本试验旨在研究给妊娠后期和哺乳期母猪补饲发酵芦笋下脚料对母猪和哺乳仔猪血清抗氧化能力、免疫功能和炎性因子含量的影响。选择15头膘情、胎次和预产期相近的妊娠母猪,随机分成3组,每组5个重复,每个重复1头猪。A(对照)、B和C组母猪每头每天分别补饲0、0.25和0.50 kg发酵芦笋下脚料。试验从母猪妊娠期的第85天开始至产后第21天结束。在母猪分娩和仔猪断奶时采集母猪耳静脉血液,在仔猪10和21日龄时采集仔猪前腔静脉血液,分别测定血清指标。结果表明:1)C组母猪在仔猪断奶时血清超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性极显著高于对照组(P0.01),在母猪分娩和仔猪断奶时血清丙二醛(MDA)含量均极显著低于对照组(P0.01)。B组哺乳仔猪10日龄时血清T-SOD活性显著高于对照组(P0.05),血清MDA含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。2)C组母猪在母猪分娩时血清生长激素(GH)含量显著高于对照组(P0.05)。3)C组母猪在母猪分娩时血清免疫球蛋白A(IgA)和免疫球蛋白G(IgG)含量显著高于对照组(P0.05)。4)B和C组母猪血清白细胞介素-6(IL-6)含量在母猪分娩和仔猪断奶时均极显著低于对照组(P0.01)。C组母猪在仔猪断奶时血清肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。C组哺乳仔猪10日龄时血清TNF-α含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。综上,每头母猪每天补饲0.50 kg发酵芦笋下脚料可增强其抗氧化能力和免疫功能,提高GH含量,减少炎性反应,同时可提高仔猪的抗氧化能力,减少炎性反应的发生。     

Reproductive failure associated with porcine parvovirus in an enzootically infected pig herd.

Two outbreaks of porcine parvovirus occurred in a unit of 380 sows, with a subsequent decrease in the size of gilts' litters. Of the 203 gilts and 64 primiparous sows which were seronegative at the time of insemination, 134 gilts and 55 primiparous sows seroconverted during pregnancy. Of the second parity sows nine of 271 were still seronegative at the time of insemination but all nine seroconverted during their third gestation. The gilts that seroconverted during their first pregnancy produced on average 0.9 fewer live piglets than the gilts that did not seroconvert. Second litter sows which seroconverted produced 0.3 fewer piglets than those which did not seroconvert. There were no significant differences between sows which seroconverted or did not seroconvert in the numbers of returns to service, or in the percentages of piglets which were born dead or died before weaning.     

Correlation of noninvasive surface temperature measurement with rectal temperature in swine

Skin and rectal temperature measurements were taken on 15 crossbred sows and gilts (225 kg) during the last 5 days of prepartum period and compared with those recorded in the first 8 days after parturition. The correlation of skin and rectal temperature values was not good during either period, although an increased correlation was noted in the postparturient period. The rectal temperature significantly (P less than 0.05) increased in the postparturient period, but the mean surface temperature was unchanged. This would indicate a decreased blood flow to the surface, since an equivalent blood flow to the surface after a rectal temperature increase would result in a concomitant mean surface temperature increase. The decreased flow to the surface of the animal was selective, since a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in surface temperature was noted at the tailhead, perineum, vulva, mammae-caudal, and eye, whereas the surface temperature of the mammae-cranial and mammae-middle was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased.     

Impact of diet deprivation and subsequent over-allowance during prepuberty. Part 2. Effects on mammary gland development and lactation performance of sows

The impact of diet deprivation and subsequent over-allowance in prepubertal gilts on their mammary development and mammary gene expression at the end of gestation and their lactation performance over 2 parities was determined. Seventy-seven gilts were reared under a conventional (control, CTL; n = 41) or an experimental (treatment, TRT; n = 36) dietary regimen. The experimental regimen provided 70 (restriction diet, RES) and 115% (over-allowance diet, OVER) of the protein and DE contents provided by the CTL diet. Experimental diets were fed ad libitum starting at 27.7 ± 3.4 kg of BW as follows: 3 wk RES, 3 wk OVER, 4 wk RES, and 4 wk OVER. All gilts were bred, and 34 were slaughtered on d 110 of gestation (18 CTL and 16 TRT) to collect mammary tissue for compositional analyses and gene expression measurements. Remaining gilts (23 CTL and 20 TRT) were maintained for 2 parities, and litter performance data were obtained. Blood samples for hormonal and metabolite assays were obtained on d 110 of gestation from all sows slaughtered at that time and from 14 sows per treatment on d 2 and 17 of lactation in the first parity. Milk samples were obtained from these same sows on d 17 of lactation in both parities. There was a tendency for mammary parenchymal tissue to contain less protein in TRT than CTL sows (P < 0.10), and relative mRNA abundance of the signal transducer and activator of transduction 5B gene was increased in parenchyma from TRT sows (P < 0.05). Circulating prolactin (P < 0.05) and milk lactose concentrations (P < 0.01) were less, whereas milk protein content was greater (P < 0.05) in TRT sows than CTL sows on d 17 of lactation. Nevertheless, growth rate of suckling piglets over the first 2 parities was unaffected by treatment. In conclusion, the use of a diet deprivation and over-allowance regimen in the growing-finishing period did not have beneficial effects on mammary gene expression or on sow and piglet performance.     

A herd management survey on culling guidelines and actual culling practices in three herd groups based on reproductive productivity in Japanese commercial swine herds

The objective of the present study was to investigate culling guidelines for gilts and sows in Japanese commercial herds and to compare differences between culling guidelines and actual culling practices in different herd productivity groups. A questionnaire survey was undertaken to obtain information on culling guidelines in 115 commercial swine herds that participated in the PigCHAMP data-share program. The questionnaire included questions on guideline values for culling intervals and the number of conception failure occurrences that would trigger a culling decision to be made. Ninety-two of the 115 herds (80.0%) returned appropriate data for the study and were included in the present study. In addition to questionnaire data, culling data regarding the actual culling intervals and number of reservices for gilts and sows culled during 2007 to 2008 were also obtained for the same herds from a PigCHAMP database. Culled gilts and sows were divided into 4 female groups on the basis of the stages of their reproductive life when they were culled: unmated gilts, mated gilts, unmated sows, and mated sows. Culling intervals in unmated gilts and sows were defined as the number of days from birth or weaning to culling, respectively, whereas in mated gilts and sows culling intervals were the number of days from last service to culling. Three herd productivity groups were formed on the basis of the upper and lower 25th percentiles of pigs weaned mated female(-1)·yr(-1):high-,intermediate- or low-performing herds. For unmated gilts and sows actual culling intervals were 15 d shorter than the guideline culling intervals in the surveyed data submitted by producers (P < 0.05). This shorter actual culling period for unmated gilts and sows did not vary significantly between herd productivity groups in any parity. However, for mated gilts and sows the actual culling intervals were at least 30 d longer than the guideline culling intervals (P < 0.05). Guideline and actual culling intervals for mated gilts and sows were at least 10 d shorter in high-performing herds than in low-performing herds (P < 0.05). High-performing herds had lower proportions of sows culled after the second reservice than intermediate- or low-performing herds in parity groups 0 to 5 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, culling guidelines for mated sows differed between herd productivity groups, and culling guidelines for mated gilts and sows were not strictly followed in any herd group in the commercial herds.     

Riboflavin requirement of lactating swine

Twenty-five crossbred gilts and 25 crossbred sows were used in an experiment to estimate the riboflavin requirement of lactating swine. During gestation the females were fed a 12% crude protein, corn-soybean meal diet that was marginal in riboflavin content, i.e., 2.3 mg/kg. After farrowing, litter size was equalized across lactation diets within each parity category. The basal, 14% crude-protein corn-soybean meal lactation diet was supplemented to provide five levels of dietary riboflavin: 1.25, 2.25, 3.25, 4.25 and 5.25 mg/kg. Five gilts and five sows were fed each dietary treatment. Each dam was provided her assigned diet ad libitum during the 24-d lactation; piglets were not provided supplemental feed. The erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRAC), an indicator of riboflavin status, was measured on blood samples obtained from the dams and their piglets on d 1 and d 24 postpartum. On d 1, the mean EGRAC of gilts was slightly higher than that of sows, while piglet EGRAC was similar regardless of maternal age. On d 24 gilts and their piglets had higher average EGRAC (P less than .01) than did sows and their piglets. Thus, there was a treatment x dam age interaction (P less than .05). Lactation performance criteria gave further evidence of similar treatment x age group interactions. Gilts fed the diet containing 1.25 ppm riboflavin had higher piglet mortality, consumed less feed and lost more weight (P less than .05) for each criterion than did sows fed the same diet. Despite these observations, the broken-line estimates of the riboflavin requirement, based on EGRAC, for gilts and sows were 16.3 and 16.2 mg/d, respectively. The EGRAC values for piglets closely paralleled those of their dams regardless of treatment, suggesting that there is no mechanism to protect the nursing piglets from a maternal dietary deficiency of riboflavin.     

日粮不同营养水平对母猪妊娠早期胚胎存活的影响

试验以63头长白-大白杂交初产母猪为试验动物,研究不同营养水平对母猪妊娠早期繁殖性能的影响。将配种后母猪随机分到3个营养水平组(高、中、低)中,各营养水平通过每天供给2、1.2和0.6倍维持需要的饲粮,分别在妊娠12、25和35d将母猪称重、屠宰。结果表明:各水平组母猪妊娠12、25和35d的母体总增重和净增重有极显著(P<0.01)差异。中水平妊娠25d的子宫及内容物重量和两侧子宫角长度均显著(P<0.05)高于高水平和低水平;中水平妊娠35d的子宫及内容物重量和右侧子宫角长度显著(P<0.05)高于高水平。中水平妊娠12 d的总活胚数显著(P<0.05)高于高水平。中水平妊娠12、25和35d的胚胎存活率显(著P<0.05)高于高水平;中水平妊娠25d和35d的胚胎存活率显著(P<0.05)高于低水平。中水平妊娠35 d的活胚重显著(P<0.05)高于高水平,极显著(P<0.01)高于低水平。以上试验表明,在妊娠35d内给母猪饲喂1.2倍维持需要能使子宫发育更良好,并具有较高的胚胎存活率,而高水平饲喂和严重限饲均会导致母猪妊娠早期的胚胎存活率降低。     

Clinical study results of the embryonic development in gilts and brooding performance of gilts and sows after HCG treatment on the 11th day of pregnancy

Forty-four pregnant gilts were slaughtered on the 32nd and 33rd days of pregnancy, after 30 of them had received 100 or 400 IU of HCG on the eleventh day of pregnancy. Both doses had resulted in higher number of living embryos. Embryo survival rates of treated sows were up to 14.9 percent higher than those of untreated animals. Higher numbers of embryos had no adverse effect on their mass development. Fertility was measured of 77 HCG-treated and untreated gilts as well as of 54 adult sows. The number of non-pregnant sows which returned to oestrus was higher in the group of gilts and adult sows which had received treatment. The number of pregnant animals in the treated adult sow group was seven percent higher than that in the control group. Increased litter sizes were additionally recordable from those gilts and adult sows that had received HCG injections. Yet, those higher litter sizes were associated with lower weight of live-born piglets. In further studies more attention should be given to possible stimulation of LH secretion in early gravidity.     

Effect of exogenous administration of steroids during the 1st month of pregnancy in sows and gilts on certain characteristics of the litter

Four trials were performed to evaluate the influence of i. m. application of progesterone and estrogens to 444 experimental and control sows and gilts, kept mostly under large-scale production conditions, during the first month of pregnancy, as exerted on the number of born piglets, live born piglets and on the average birth weight of the live born piglet in litter. In the first trial the experimental sows and gilts on the 16th and 17th days of gravidity were applied 25 mg of progesterone (P4) and 12.5 micrograms of estrone (E1), in the second trial in the same phase of gravidity 25 mg of P4 with 1.25 micrograms of estradiol-17 beta (E2) and in the third trial in the identical gestation phase only 12.5 micrograms of E2 per head/day. In the fourth trial, experimental animals were given 0.55 mg of P4 with 0.275 micrograms of E1 per one kg of live weight, for six subsequent days between the 25th and 30th day of gravidity. In all trials the control animals were administered, under the same conditions, only the vehicle. None of the performed trials proved a significant difference in the studied parameters of litters of experimental and control animals (P greater than 0.05). The application of 25 mg of P4 with 1.25 micrograms of E2 on the 16th and 17th days of gravidity per sow/day under the conditions of small-scale production with the extension of the evaluated criteria of litter quality had no significant influence (P greater than 0.5) on the above-mentioned indicators, nor on the average birth weight of the whole litter and on the average number and weight of piglets of experimental sows at weaning. These results document that the verified application of hormonal substances in the above-mentioned phases of the first month of sow and gilt gravidity do not represent, in view of the intensive reproduction of pigs, a suitable procedure.     

Response of gilts with delayed puberty to pregnant mare serum gonadotropin or estrogen

The effect of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) or estradiol cyclopentylpropionate (EC) on the induction of estrus, duration of estrus, and serum progesterone concentration after estrus was evaluated in 8 gilts with delayed puberty. Four gilts were given 500 IU of PMSG IM and 4 were given 2 mg of EC, IM. The inactive status of the ovaries at the time of treatment was verified by serum progesterone values of less than 0.5 ng/ml in serial samples collected before treatment. The 4 EC-treated gilts came into estrus at a mean of 3.5 days after treatment, but 1 of the gilts did not form corpora lutea. Three PMSG-treated gilts came into estrus at a mean of 4.0 days after treatment. The remaining PMSG-treated gilt remained anestrus and did not form corpora lutea. The mean duration of estrus in EC-treated gilts was 5.25 days compared with 2.0 days for PMSG-treated gilts (P less than 0.05). Serum progesterone concentrations were higher in PMSG-treated gilts than in EC-treated gilts at 8, 11, and 17 days after treatment (P less than 0.05).     

Changes in lipid levels in the blood of pregnant sows]

Variations of plasma volume (PV) and variations of triglyceride, cholesterol, total lipid, beta-lipoprotein and phospholipid concentrations in the blood plasma were investigated in trials with ten sows, crossbreds of the White Thoroughbred and Landrace breeds, at the age of 2-3 years, kept on a defined diet; the trials were performed before the sows became pregnant and during their pregnancy (days 1-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100 and 101-120). The PV in nonpregnant sows is 9.8 +/- 0.33 1. Following a decrease to the values of 7.8 +/- 0.33 l (p less than 0.01) in the first 40 days of pregnancy the plasma volume increases in the successive periods and it makes 15.4 +/- 0.19 l at the end of pregnancy (p less than 0.001). Total lipaemia decreases during pregnancy from 2.80 +/- 0.054 in nonpregnant sows to 2.49 +/- 0.245 g per 1 in sows at the end of pregnancy. Cholesterol concentrations in the blood plasma also decrease from 2.48 +/- 0.53 in nonpregnant ones to 1.88 +/- 0.173 mmol per 1 (p less than 0.001) in sows at the end of pregnancy, beta-lipoprotein concentrations from 3.95 +/- 1.134 in nonpregnant ones to 3.47 +/- 0.199 g per l in sows on days of pregnancy 81-100 (p less than 0.05), phospholipid concentrations in the first 60 days of pregnancy from 1.62 +/- 0.079 before insemination to 1.29 +/- 0.05 mmol per l in sows of 41-60 day pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Changes in selected biochemical indicators in blood serum in anestrous gilts

The biochemical profile [levels of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, chlorides and iron, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and the concentrations of total protein, albumin, cholesterol, urea, glucose, and vitamins A and E] was studied in the blood serum of 40 anoestrous and 40 control inseminated animals in a production herd with an increased occurrence of anoestrus in gilts. The anoestrous gilts showed significantly lower levels of albumin (P less than 0.01) and glucose (P less than 0.01) and ALP activity (P less than 0.05), and significantly higher concentrations of urea (P less than 0.01), vitamin A (P less than 0.01) and vitamin E (P less than 0.05) and ALT activity (P less than 0.05), as compared with the inseminated controls. An extended enzymatological examination consisting of the evaluation of the activities of ALP, AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GMT) was performed in another set of 22 anoestrous and 20 mated gilts. The anoestrous gilts showed a statistically significant increase in the activities of AST (P less than 0.01), GMT (P less than 0.01) and ALT (P less than 0.05) and an insignificant increase in the activity of ALP in comparison with the control animals. The comparison of the obtained values of the studied biochemical criteria with literary data indicated a lower concentration of magnesium and a higher ALP and ALT activities in the anoestrous and inseminated gilts in both groups under study. A high acidity of fat and a medium to high fungus infestation (Mucor sp., Aspergillus sp.) were found by chemical and mycological examination of the administered feed mixtures. The histological examination of the ovaries of anoestrous animals showed cystically degenerative changes, proliferations of fibrous elements, and partial atrophy of ovarial cortex. It has been inferred from the observations that mycotoxins may be involved in the increase in the occurrence of anoestrus, either by a direct effect on sexual organs or by impairing the function of liver which, secondarily contributes to the rise of ovarial dysfunctions.     

王不留行黄酮苷和葛根异黄酮对哺乳母猪泌乳性能及血清激素和抗氧化指标的影响

本试验旨在探讨王不留行黄酮苷和葛根异黄酮对哺乳母猪泌乳性能及血清激素和抗氧化指标的影响。试验采用2×2双因子随机设计,主效应分别为王不留行黄酮苷(0、2 g/kg)、葛根异黄酮(0、2.5 g/kg)及二者互作。选择胎次和预产期相近的经产长白母猪24头,随机分为4个组(对照组、王不留行黄酮苷组、葛根异黄酮组和混合组),每组6头猪。预试期7 d,正试期21 d。结果表明:1)混合组母猪平均日采食量显著高于对照组(P0.05);与对照组相比,各添加组哺乳第2周仔猪平均日增重均有升高的趋势,混合组显著高于对照组(P0.05)。各添加组常乳中胰岛素样生长因子I含量显著高于对照组(P0.05),且各组间均差异显著(P0.05)。2)混合组第1、10、21天血清中生长激素,第21天雌激素和第1、10、21天催乳素含量均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。3)各添加组第10、21天血清中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性显著高于对照组(P0.05),第10、21天血清中丙二醛含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。混合组第1、10、21天的血清中总超氧化物歧化酶活性显著高于对照组(P0.05)。综上所述,在本试验条件下,添加王不留行黄酮苷和葛根异黄酮提高了母猪的泌乳量,血清中催乳素、生长激素含量及总超氧化物歧化酶活性,使母猪泌乳性能、血清激素和抗氧化指标得到提高。     

The effect of salinomycin on certain blood parameters and milk quality of lactating sows

Twenty-five gilts and sows, after pregnancy confirmation using the ultrasonic method, were randomly divided and allocated to the following five experimental groups: SAL0 = negative controls, SAL20 = 20 mg salinomycin per kg of feed, SAL40 = 40 mg salinomycin per kg of feed, SAL60 = 60 mg salinomycin per kg of feed and SAL80 = 80 mg salinomycin per kg of feed. All animals remained under treatment for two consecutive breeding cycles. The sows were fed a home-mixed balanced feed during gestations and lactations. At the third, tenth and eighteenth day of each lactation, blood and milk samples were collected. Blood samples were analysed for cholesterol and total lipids and milk samples were analysed for the determination of the fat, lactose, protein, ash and totals solids concentrations. In all treated groups, cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with the controls. Total lipid concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in SAL40 and SAL60 groups in comparison with SAL0 and SAL20 groups, during both cycles. Milk fat concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) in treated groups than in the control group; the highest concentrations were observed at SAL40 and SAL60 groups. In all treated groups, concentrations of milk lactose were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those observed in the negative control group. Milk protein concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in SAL40 and SAL60 groups compared with the SAL0 group, but there was no significant difference in SAL20 and SAL80 groups in comparison with the SAL0 group. No significant differences were observed concerning milk ash concentrations between all groups. In all treated groups, concentrations of total solids were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in comparison with the control group; the highest concentrations were observed in the SAL40 and SAL60 groups. It is concluded that the use of salinomycin in sow diet, increases concentrations of blood triglycerides and cholesterol and improves the quality of milk, thus reflecting on higher weight gain and survival rate of suckling piglets.     

Behavior, reproduction, and immunity of crated pregnant gilts: effects of high dietary fiber and rearing environment.

The objective of this study was to examine effects of increased gut fill and diverse developing environments on pregnant gilts' behavior and physiology. Gilts were cross-fostered at 1 d of age and transferred to either an indoor or outdoor production unit. Littermate gilts remained in their different environments during development and were moved into individual gestation crates in an indoor gestation unit. Of the 42 gilts, 19 were fed a control diet of fortified sorghum-soybean meal and 23 were fed the same diet with 25% beet pulp (high fiber). Control sows ate 2.0 kg/d and high-fiber sows ate 2.67 kg/d in a large pellet (thus resulting in approximately equal energy intake and differing total dietary intakes). Pregnant gilts had behavior and immune measures sampled at 30, 60, and 90 d of gestation. The day x diet interaction was significant (P = 0.01) for duration of standing: sows fed high-fiber diets stood less on d 30, but on d 60 and 90 they and the control sows stood for a similar duration. Sham chewing duration and frequency showed significant (P < 0.05) effects of gestation stage x diet x environment. Gilts reared outdoors and fed high fiber increased sham chewing over gestation, whereas all other treatment groups decreased this behavior over time. Outdoor-reared gilts had greater (P < 0.05) frequency and duration of drinking behavior than indoor-reared gilts. White blood cell numbers were higher (P < 0.05) for gilts fed high-fiber diets than for gilts fed the control diet. Immune (humoral and cellular systems) and reproductive measures (farrowing rate and litter size) and plasma cortisol concentrations were generally not influenced (P > 0.10) by diets and rearing environments, suggesting that in spite of significant changes in behavior and feed intake gilts' immune systems were not suppressed or enhanced. Behavioral data alone suggested that indoor-reared gilts showed fewer behavioral adaptations to the crates than outdoor-reared gilts. However, immune measures did not indicate that any treatments resulted in physiological effects indicative of stress.