Type of accommodation during gestation affects growth performance and reproductive characteristics of gilt offspring. 2010

M J Estienne, and A F Harper
Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg 24061, USA. mestienn@vt.edu

The objective was to determine effects of the type of gestation accommodation to which dams were exposed on growth performance and age at puberty in gilt offspring. Yorkshire x Landrace gilts (n = 81; 26.9 +/- 0.8 kg of BW) were placed in pens of 3 gilts each. Each pen contained gilts farrowed exclusively by gilts exposed to 1 of 3 gestation accommodations: 1) individual crates throughout gestation; 2) group pens throughout gestation; or 3) crates for 30 d postmating and then group pens for the remainder of gestation (n = 9 pens/group). Performance during the 5-wk nursery period was similar among groups. The grow-finish period ended at a BW of 108.9 +/- 0.8 kg, and ADG (0.98 +/- 0.02 kg) was not affected (P = 0.14) by treatment. However, pig BW was affected by accommodation type x time (P = 0.04), with gilts farrowed by females housed in crates throughout gestation being heaviest during the last 4 wk. There was no effect of treatment on ADFI (2.61 +/- 0.07 kg; P = 0.54); however, G:F was enhanced (P < 0.05) in gilts farrowed by females housed in crates throughout (0.385 +/- 0.005) or for the first 30 d of gestation and then groups (0.382 +/- 0.005) compared with gilts from females kept in groups throughout gestation (0.367 +/- 0.005). Gilts from females gestated in crates throughout gestation tended (P < 0.09) to have less backfat (10.9 +/- 0.5 mm) than gilts from females gestated in groups (12.5 +/- 0.5 mm). After grow-finish, gilts were checked for estrus once daily. Mean age at puberty (171.9 +/- 4.4 d) did not differ among groups (P = 0.61); however, fewer gilts farrowed by females gestated in crates throughout gestation (P = 0.03) reached puberty by 165 d of age (13%) compared with the other 2 groups (44%). Although specific mechanisms need to be determined, we suggest that the type of gestation accommodation in which gilts are kept may affect production performance of gilt offspring, possibly by fetal programming.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260 Female Females
D006799 Housing, Animal The physical environment in which animals are maintained. Animal Housing
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000827 Animal Welfare The protection of animals in laboratories or other specific environments by promoting their health through better nutrition, housing, and care. Animal Cruelty,Cruelty, Animal,Welfare, Animal
D013552 Swine Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA). Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D015430 Weight Gain Increase in BODY WEIGHT over existing weight. Gain, Weight,Gains, Weight,Weight Gains
D047109 Fetal Development Morphological and physiological development of FETUSES. Fetal Programming,Fetal Growth,Development, Fetal,Fetal Programmings,Growth, Fetal

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