Does the Degree of Fatness and Muscularity Determined by Ultrasound Method Affect Sows’ Reproductive Performance?

Abstract

The fatness and muscularity of Polish Landrace, Polish Large White gilts and sows and their hybrids were determined on the basis of ultrasound measurements in three consecutive parities, and then the relationship between these parameters and reproductive performance was established. Ultrasound measurements demonstrated the highest fat thickness in first parity and the highest fat area over LD muscle in hybrid gilts (PL × PLW). Pure-bred gilts were characterized by poorer muscularity. Fatness level affected the reproductive parameters of females in which the thickness of backfat in UP2 point was above 22.25 mm, the thickness of backfat in UP4 point was above 17.36 mm and the fat area over LD muscle was above 25.81 cm2. These females achieved better farrowing rates and higher numbers of born piglets. Decreased mortality, higher gains of piglets and higher body weight at weaning were observed, and the weaning to service interval was shortened in fatter females. Intramuscular fat content did not affect reproductive parameters. Muscularity negatively affected reproductive performance parameters, except gestation period. Too-high muscularity was related to the lowest levels of reproductive indices. The analysis of gilts and sows’ fatness and muscularity levels can help to predict their reproductive performance in the future and thus optimize production results.

Feeding the modern sow to sustain high productivity

“…Furthermore, gilts mated at a high live weight will most likely experience compromised longevity due to locomotory problems. In contrast to growing/finishing pigs, increased body fatness is required for reproductive females, because sufficient body fatness may be favorable for the onset of puberty and future reproductive output (J. S. Kim et al, 2015; Knecht et al, 2020; Maes et al, 2004). With modern lean genotype gilts, the focus should, therefore, be to ensure sufficient backfat thickness at an optimal age and weight to maximize the sow's lifetime reproductive output.…”

Precision Technologies to Address Dairy Cattle Welfare: Focus on Lameness, Mastitis and Body Condition

“…Another imaging approach that has been used to measure body and carcass composition is ultrasound [ 114 ]. This technique has been widely used to monitor body condition in small ruminants [ 115 , 116 ], in swine [ 117 ], and in cattle [ 118 ]. For dairy cows, recent studies [ 119 , 120 ] showed the relevance of using ultrasound to assess the body reserves of cows with ultrasonic measurement to scan the body regions that are connected to the BCS evaluation, such as the ribs, pin, tail-head, and lumbar spine.…”

Association Between Backfat Thickness at 28 Weeks Old and Production Traits of Primiparous Landrace Sows Raised Under Tropical Conditions

“…Thus, the variations of tWSI in primiparous sows might more closely be correlated with their body conditions at insemination, parturition and post-weaning and amount of BF loss during lactation. As the report of Knecht et al (2020) in Poland, the signi cant difference in weaning to service interval was observed between sows with different fatness degree at insemination. Under a well-feeding program, the sows would have an adequate fat store for fetal growth, milk production, rearing their young piglets and replenishing their fatty tissue loss during lactation that would be bene cial for recovering their body to rebreeding condition.…”