Effect of Mating Frequency on Sow Reproductive Performance under Field Conditions and Natural Mating in Large Outdoor Production Units

The effect of mating frequency on fertility and litter size of sows, kept in outdoor production systems was investigated. Sows that were mated once or twice during a single oestrus were included in the study to compare the effect of number of matings on farrowing rate and litter size. Natural mating was used during the study period. Four groups of sows of parity two or more were either mated once 28–30 h after the onset of oestrus or were mated 28–30 h after the onset of oestrus and again 24 h later. The farrowing rate did not differ significantly between single‐ and double‐mated sows, although a noticeable but non‐significant depression in farrowing rate was evident between the groups of single‐mated and double‐mated animals. With the exception of total‐born litter size (p > 0.05), the total number born and number of live‐born piglets per litter were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the group of sows that received only one mating compared with the double‐mated animals. The implication of these results is that the double mating by natural service of sows kept in an outdoor production systems may improve litter size.     

The prevention of injuries in greyhounds

The analysis of 154 greyhound injuries shows a significant lower incidence of injuries in the case of proper preparing for the race. The prevention of injuries was carried out during the whole training-season. These optimally prepared dogs showed a better race performance and were able to take part in more races.     

Seasonal infertility in Kenyan pig breeding units

Reproductive performance of 12 Kenyan pig breeding units (56-299 sows per unit) of similar feeding, genetics and health status were evaluated from October 2003 to October 2004 during hot and cooler periods. Sows during cooler months of the year (April to October, average temperature between 08:00 and 17:00: 25.2 +/- 2.2 degrees C) had shorter (P < 0.01) weaning to service intervals (7.9 +/- 2.2 days vs. 12.7 +/- 2.7 days, respectively), less (P < 0.01) regular returns to service (5.7 +/- 1.9% vs. 9.9 +/- 1.9%, respectively), higher (P < 0.01) farrowing rates (80.1 +/- 4.4% vs. 70.8 +/- 3.8%, respectively), and larger born (10.0 +/- 1.1 vs 9.1 +/- 1.7, P < 0.05) and weaned litter sizes (9.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 8.0 + 1.3, P < 0.05) compared with the time periods of high ambient temperature (November to March, between 08:00 and 17:00: 37.2 +/- 3.3 degrees C). It was concluded that a high ambient temperature is a risk factor for reproductive performance in pig breeding units.     

Prevalence of Haemophilus parasuis serotypes in large outdoor and indoor pig units in Hungary/Romania/Serbia

Gross postmortem pathologic-anatomical and bacteriological examination, and serotyping for Haemophilus parasuis were performed in 401 weaned pigs with the clinical symptoms of Gl?sser's disease, originating from indoor (204 piglets out of 12 units) and outdoor (197 piglets out of 9 units) units in the country triangle Hungary/Romania/Serbia. The majority of the isolates in indoor units included Haemophilus parasuis serotypes 2, 5 and non typable, while in outdoor units, a high diversity (serotypes 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 14, 15, and non typable) of Haemophilus parasuis serotypes was found.     

The effect of outdoor production on the seroprevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis in growing-finishing pigs in a large pig production unit infected with endemic porcine proliferative enteropathy

The study was performed in a large Croatian production unit from May 2000 till June 2002. Blood samples form late-pregnant gilts were tested by indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) serum assay for Lawsonia intracellularis. The offspring of 301 positively tested gilts were dislocated after the nursery phase either to indoor or outdoor growing-finishing facilities. Ten percent of these animals (142 indoor, 143 outdoor raised pigs) were tested at 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22 and 26 weeks of age for seroprevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis. All offspring of IFA positive gilts were seronegative at 2 and 6 weeks of age. At 10 weeks of age 71.1% (101 animals) of indoor and 32.8% (47 animals) of outdoor pigs were tested positive (P < 0.05). While at 14 weeks of age 71.1% of indoor raised pigs showed seropositivity, the seropositivity declined in outdoor units to 7.6% (P < 0.01). At weeks 18 (52.1%), 22 (47.8%) and 26 (21.7%) indoor raised pigs still showed marked seropositivity and but their outdoor raised counterparts returned to seronegativity.     

Field Experiences on Post-cervical Artificial Insemination in the Sow

The present study was performed in order to evaluate the effects of post-cervical artificial insemination (post-CAI) in eastern European continental climate with multiparous sows. The sows were randomly allocated into two groups, and were AI by using CAI with 3 x 10(9) spermatozoa per dose (group 1, n = 859) or by post-CAI, using pooled semen with 1 x 10(9) spermatozoa per dose (group 2, n = 924). Wean-to-oestrus intervals, duration of oestrus, day 24 pregnancy rates, farrowing rates, and total pigs born were evaluated. Wean-to-oestrus intervals (CAI 114.3 +/- 4.1 h; post-CAI 115.2 +/- 5.2 h), duration of oestrus (CAI 64.1 +/- 4.1 h; post-CAI 65.0 +/- 5.2 h), day 24 pregnancy rates (CAI 90.2 +/- 1.7%; post-CAI 89.3 +/- 1.8%) and farrowing rates (CAI 88.1 +/- 2.3%; post-CAI 87.8 +/- 2.9%) did not differ significantly between CAI and post-CAI inseminated sows. The total number of pigs born differed significantly (p < 0.01) between the groups (CAI 12.3 +/- 1.1; post-CAI 10.2 +/- 0.9).     

The effect of postparturient urogenital diseases on the lifetime reproductive performance of sows

To prove the effect of postparturient swine urogenital disease (SUGD) on reproductive performance, culled sows with SUGD in their previous history (n=1363) were subjected to retrospective lifetime production analysis. The sows were assigned to parity groups 1, 2 to 6, and >6. Bacterial flora of vulval discharges were evaluated. Parity 1 sows had a lower percentage of SUGD than did sows of parity 2 to 6 and parity >6 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Compared with parity 2 to 6 sows, parity 1 and parity >6 sows had lower (P < 0.001) conception, farrowing and adjusted farrowing rates, lifetime average total born, live-born litter sizes, stillbirth rates, and weaning litter weights compared with animals culled for other reasons than SUGD. The conclusions are that high parity sows have a higher occurrence of postparturient SUGD and that higher parity sows with postparturient SUGD have a lower performance compared with lower parity sows with postparturient SUGD.     

Rectum diverticulum/perineal hernia surgery through longitudinal contracting of the wall of the rectum

Older male dogs often exhibit the symptoms of rectum diverticulum and perineal hernia. In order to point out the often common reason of these disorders, the term "rectum diverticulum/perineal hernia complex" has been introduced. In a large group of such patients two methods of surgical correction of this problem were retrospectively evaluated. Only patients were included in this evaluation that were euthanized if recurrence occurred. In 21 patients (group 1) the often performed method of Bojrab was used, both in rectum diverticulum and in perineal hernia operations. In group 2 15 dogs were subjected to the same operation technique, but we performed an additional pleating contraction of the herniated gut wall layers. In case of visible recurrence at an age of at least 11 years the dogs were euthanized. Group 1 showed a postoperative survival time of 3.61 +/- 0.96 years until recurrence, group 2 revealed recurrence not before 4.93 +/- 0.93 years post operationem. The difference is significant (p < 0.05). It is the opinion of the authors that additional longitudinal contracting by pleating of the gut markedly prolonges the point of time when recurrence appears.     

Temporal skin plastic surgery, a possible method for eyelid reconstruction

Eyelid reconstruction of large defects is a difficult undertaking in small animal surgery. Instead of performing the well known Roberts and Bistner or Cuttler and Beard methods, we have introduced the following method for eyelid correction in case of large lid defects. On the temporal part, laterally (about the width of the eye) from the eye an uneffected skin flap is identified, mobilized, rotated and placed into the missing part of the eyelid. Conjunctiva (with slow resorbing) and skin (with non resorbing) 1 metric material are separately adapted. In a large number of patients this method has been proven to be superior to the other methods mentioned.