Effect of Modified Eros Centre on Some Reproductive Parameters of the Sow

✍ Scribed by GB Molnar; G Bilkei

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 155 KB
• Volume: 38
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0936-6768
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1439-0531.2003.00420.x

✦ Synopsis

Contents

The effect of a modified eros centre on weaning to oestrus interval, follicle size, ovulation and farrowing rate and total born litter size was investigated. In modified eros centre 94.4% and in group housing 79.1% of the sows (p < 0.01) expressed oestrus within 10 days post‐weaning. Weaning to oestrus interval was shorter (p < 0.001) for sows kept in modified eros centre. The interval from onset of oestrus to the time of ovulation was longer for sows in group housing (p=0.05). The time of ovulation was negatively correlated (r=−0.50) with the interval from weaning to oestrus (p=0.005). The time of ovulation after onset of oestrus was significantly (p < 0.05) shorter for sows expressing oestrus within 2–4 days of weaning, compared with the animals that expressed oestrus between days 5 and 6 post‐weaning and was shortest for sows expressing oestrus after day 6 post‐weaning. Farrowing rate was not affected by a modified eros centre. Litter size tended to be smaller in group‐housed weaned sows (p=0.10). The timing of last artificial insemination relative to time of ovulation did not affect litter size (p > 0.10). The implication of these results is that a modified eros centre may improve some of the post‐weaning oestrous parameters of the sow.