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Nutrition of gilts in early pregnancy and reproductive performance

Nutrition of gilts in early pregnancy and reproductive performance. Pieter Langendijk Rebecca Athorn Tai-Yuan Chen Emmy Bouwman. This graph is by no means a recommended feeding strategy !. ~500g /d. ~300g /d. Feed intake early gestation. Targets of gestation feed regime:

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Nutrition of gilts in early pregnancy and reproductive performance

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  1. Nutrition of gilts in early pregnancy and reproductive performance Pieter Langendijk Rebecca Athorn Tai-Yuan Chen Emmy Bouwman

  2. This graph is by no means a recommended feeding strategy ! ~500g /d ~300g /d

  3. Feed intake early gestation • Targets of gestation feed regime: • Balanced achievement of pre-farrowing BW • Sufficient body reserves • Good birth weight • Are there risks associated with high/low feed level? Current recommendation says: “feed gilts at a low feed level during early gestation”

  4. Feed level and embryo mortality Jindal et al., 1996

  5. Systemic progesterone and feed levels Progesterone from the ovaries is broken down in the systemic circulation by the liver Systemic progesterone, ng/ml

  6. Studies on feeding level embryo survival First 3 d! pregnancy rate 1. Dyck and Strain (1983) 2. Toplis et al. (1983) 3. Pharazyn et al. (1991) 4. Jindal et al. (1996) 5,6. Jindal et al. (1997) 7. Ashworth et al. (1999) 8. Virolainen et al. (2004) 9. Virolainen et al. (2005b) 10. Quesnel et al. (2010) 11,12,13,14. Athorn et al (2011, 2012)

  7. Systemic and local progesterone Progesterone in the systemic circulation is broken down by the liver

  8. Systemic and local progesterone Progesterone in the systemic circulation is broken down by the liver Direct transfer of progesterone from the ovaries to the uterus

  9. Local and peripheral progesterone 5.0 embryos 6.1 embryos

  10. Cannulation of the vena cava 6 h period Progesterone in systemic circulation A high feed level seems to increase progesterone secretion by the ovaries

  11. Luteal mass and progesterone It pays to have more luteal tissue

  12. Effects of feed level on progesterone secretion: • Direct • increased LH • increased luteotrophic factors factors e.g. IGF-1 • Indirect • Increased luteal tissue mass

  13. R.Z. Athorn, P. Stott, E.G. Bouwman, R. Ashman, S. O’Leary, M. Nottle and P. Langendijk. Direct ovarian-uterine transfer of progesterone increases embryo survival in gilts. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2011, 23, 921–928. Athorn, R.Z., Stott, P., Bouwman, E.G., Chen, T.Y., Kennaway, D.J. and Langendijk, P. (2012) Effect of feeding level on luteal function and progesterone concentration in the vena cava during early pregnancy in gilts. Reproduction, Fertility and Development http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/RD11295 R.Z. Athorn, P. Stott, E.G. Bouwman, and P. Langendijk. (2012) Effects of energy level and energy source on luteal function and embryo survival in gilts. Submitted to Anim Prod Sci. In Press R.Z. Athorn, P. Stott, RS Smits, and P. Langendijk. Athorn et al Effect of feed level and energy source on pregnancy rate and embryo survival in gilts. In preparation. R.Z. Athorn, P. Stott, RS Smits, and P. Langendijk. Athorn et al Effect of feed level and energy source on pregnancy rate and embryo survival in first litter sows. In preparation.

  14. Feed level and embryo survival a,b Different superscripts within row indicate significant difference (P < 0.05)

  15. Feed level/energy source early pregnancy *corrected for ovulation rate, **7.2% fibre, millmix and oat hulls Athorn et al., 2012

  16. Feed level/energy source early pregnancy Rivalea, 2010

  17. Growth rate and pregnancy rate Pregnancy rate(%) P = 0.09 Growth rate to d25 of gestation(%)

  18. Extra feed during early pregnancy (d3-25) in first litter sows Hoving et al., 2011

  19. New aspect: group housing Thesis by A.G. Kongsted (2005)

  20. New aspect: group housing • “Sows eating less than 20 % of all observations at feeding had significant higher risk of returning to oestrus…” • “Positive relationship between back fat gain from weaning to three weeks after mating with chance of pregnancy (P<0.05) and litter size (P=0.08).” (Kongsted, 2005) Preganancy chance, % Back fat gain, mm/wk

  21. Effects of feed incidents

  22. Implications • High feed levels do not result in higher embryo mortality • It is better to recommend moderate to high feed levels: 2.2-2.5 kg per day, rather than low • Limit feed intake in late gestation to 2.5-2.7 kg (32.5-35 MJ DE) • There may be a risk associated with low feed (incidents) levels especially in group housing

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