Abstracts - Genetics and reproduction

We review critical factors associated with reproductive performance of female breeding pigs, their lifetime performance and herd productivity in commercial herds. The factors include both sow-level and herd-level factors.

The objective of the research was to conduct semen parameter and conception rate analyses on the basis of growth rate and meat content.

The study objective was to characterize body temperature and activity changes in replacement gilts at the onset of estrus in order to provide initial data to develop a remote estrus detection system for commercial swine operations.

hCG stimulates growth of estrogenic follicles and CL function, and improves primiparous sow fertility during the summer months.

Early parity number born alive classification effectively predicts later parity performance. Sows classified as high in both parity one and in parity two had larger litters in later parities.

Post-cervical (pC) artificial insemination (AI) has been successfully developed for application in multiparous sows, although it has proved problematic in gilts. This study analyzes the use of pC-AI in gilts by two experiments.

The present study provides novel data regarding the effects of bacterial contamination on boar sperm, suggesting that the presence of P aeruginosa affects the fertilizing ability of boar sperm by altering its ability to accomplish IVC.

Colostrum consumption, birth weights, preweaning growth rate, number weaned, and parity are associated with gilt development traits during later life.

It can be concluded that immunocastration could be interesting in pigs intended for dry-cured ham elaboration because in males improved the feed conversion ratio with no penalization of carcass or meat quality.

A high avulation rate results in an moderate increase in the number of vital embryos at day 35 of pregnancy, but compromises development in the surviving embryonic/placental units, suggesting that the future growth and survival of the embryos might be further compromised.

Betaine supplementation at 0.63% and 1.26% tended to increase sperm concentration in the ejaculates by 6% and 13%, respectively.

Zearalenone could promote the autocrine action or expression of the ghrelin gene in piglet ovary, and further accelerate the development of ovaries (follicles).

A minimum dietary intake of both α-linolenic and linoleic acid is required for the modern lactating sow to achieve a maximum reproductive outcome.

It can be stated that the lactose content of sow colostrum in the first lactation could be indicative of a female's predisposition to produce colostrum and milk with similar lactose content over two consecutive lactations.

We compared the effects of extenders of frozen-thawed semen on post-thaw sperm characteristics and the distribution of frozen-thawed spermatozoa in the female genital tract after fixed-timed deep intrauterine insemination (DIUI) in sows.

There were greater steroid concentrations in arterial vessels during December in comparison to June.

The results of this study show that low BiW (<1 kg) negatively influences the production of piglets and longevity of female swine.

This work establishes fundamental time points in placenta development corresponding to fetal growth and microfold formation that may influence fetal growth and impact fetal survival.

Social genetic effects offer the opportunity to breed for improved behaviour while maintaining performance.

In conclusion, genomic techniques answered some important questions about this critically endangered mammal and can be a valuable toolset to inform future conservation management in other species as well.

Heat stress and reduced feed intake compromised intestinal integrity in pigs, and zinc AA complex source mitigates some of these negative effects.

This study showed the potential to select on longer interval from last insemination to culling in days and thereby select against sows to be culled within the reproduction, locomotion, accident, general disorder and peri-partum cull class and to be culled at the end of a parity.

The A allele is clearly associated to larger (up to 20.4%) intramuscular fat content and also to 9.9% lower backfat thickness.

The results are valuable for the genetic selection of animals to explore the consequences on production and robustness traits.