Reproductive Performance of Gilts following Heat Stress Prior to Breeding and in Early Gestation

Edwards, R. L.; Omtvedt, I. T.; Tuesman, E. J.; Stephens, D. F.; Mahoney, G. W. A.

doi:10.2527/jas1968.2761634x

Cited by 89 publications

(62 citation statements)

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“…As previously reported, gilts are most sensitive in the 1 st weeks after insemination and last part of pregnancy, but not during mid-pregnancy (Edwards et al, 1968;Omtvedt et al, 1971). Omtvedt et al (1971) found the greatest reduction in viable embryos 8 to 16 days post breeding concluding that the implantation period is the most critical period for heat stress.…”

Section: Environmental Conditionssupporting

confidence: 64%

“…Climatic effects on sow fertility and piglet performance The period in which sows are exposed to heat stress during pregnancy plays an important role (Edwards et al, 1968;Omtvedt et al, 1971;Black et al, 1993). As previously reported, gilts are most sensitive in the 1 st weeks after insemination and last part of pregnancy, but not during mid-pregnancy (Edwards et al, 1968;Omtvedt et al, 1971).…”

Section: Environmental Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 86%

“…Negative effects of increased temperatures on sow reproduction include prolonged weaning-to-service intervals, increased numbers of regular and irregular returns to estrus, reduced litter size (Edwards et al, 1968;Almond and Bilkei, 2005;Suriyasomboon et al, 2006) and reduced milk yield (Renaudeau and Noblet, 2001). Considering the rising reproductive performances of sows, which have been realized in the last decades and resulted in rising metabolic heat production of the animals, heat stress effects may even be expected under conditions of moderate climates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climatic effects on sow fertility and piglet survival under influence of a moderate climate

Wegner

Lambertz

Daş

et al. 2014

Animal

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Although the climate in Germany is moderate, heat stress conditions may occur during summer months. However, it is unknown to what extent sow fertility and piglet survival are affected under moderate climatic conditions in indoor systems. Therefore, this study estimated effects of temperature and temperature-humidity index (THI) on sow fertility and piglet survival under practical husbandry conditions. Temperature and relative humidity were recorded in six piglet-producing farms in Lower Saxony, Germany, from July 2011 to August 2012. Based on that, the THI was calculated. In one farrowing, waiting and servicing unit of each farm two data loggers were installed. Reproductive parameters of 8279 successful inseminations and 10 369 litters including total number of piglets born, liveborn, stillborn and weaned piglets as well as pre-weaning mortality were evaluated. The effects of temperature and THI on reproductive parameters were estimated for varying periods after breeding and before and after farrowing, respectively. Average daily temperature across all units ranged from 15.6°C to 29.0°C, and average THI from 62.4 to 75.1. Season and parity significantly affected total number of piglets born, number of liveborn, stillborn and weaned piglets ( P < 0.001). The number of piglets born increased with rising temperature and THI in the 1 st week post breeding. Higher temperatures and THI values before farrowing resulted in a reduced number of liveborn piglets. Elevated temperature and THI values after farrowing were associated with a greater number of weaned piglets. The pre-weaning mortality significantly decreased with increasing temperature and THI values after farrowing ( P < 0.05). In conclusion, temperature and THI affected the reproductive performance of the sows and the survival of the piglets in different ways. While increased climatic values at the time of breeding positively affected the total number of piglets born, increased values at the time of farrowing had negative impacts on the reproductive performance of the sows. Piglets benefited from higher temperature and THI values after farrowing.

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Section: Environmental Conditionssupporting

confidence: 64%

Section: Environmental Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Climatic effects on sow fertility and piglet survival under influence of a moderate climate

Wegner

Lambertz

Daş

et al. 2014

Animal

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“…Some studies have demonstrated that elevated temperatures significantly decrease the ovulation rate (Bilkei 1995;Tegue et al 1968), whereas other studies revealed no such effect (Edwards et al 1968;Tomkins et al 1967). Tomkins et al (1967) and Bilkei (1995) observed increased embryonic mortality when sows were exposed to high ambient temperature within 3 weeks post-mating, but found no effect of high temperature on the litter during middle and late pregnancy.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conception losses are the highest when females are heat-stressed around the time of conception and implantation and are manifested in regular returns to oestrus if all the litter is dead, or to smaller litter sizes if embryonic mortality is limited (Edwards et al 1968). Elevated ambient temperature decreases the motility and quantity of sperm and increases in the proportion of abnormal sperm cells of the boar (Wrathall 1982).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Gonadotropins during Hot Summer Season Given at Different Times after Weaning on Selected Reproductive Indicators of the Sow

Franek

Bilkei

2008

Acta Vet. Brno

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Franek S.P., G. Bilkei: Effect of Gonadotropins during Hot Summer Season Given at Different Times after Weaning on Selected Reproductive Indicators of the Sow. Acta Vet. Brno 2008, 77: 193-198.The experiment was performed on a large indoor herd during a hot season period in Alföld, Hungary. The post-weaning sows (F1 and F2 of Large White × Landrace mated to Duroc boars (mean parity 3.4 +/-0.7 SD; mean body condition 3.01 +/-0.3 SD, previous lactation length of 28.3 +/-1.5 d) were divided into four groups of similar body condition, lactation length and parity and were treated as follows:Group 1: sows (n = 420) were injected subcutaneously with 400 I.U. of Gonadotropinum sericum (pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, PMSG [eCG]) and 200 I.U. of Gonadotropinum chorionicum (human choriongonadotropin, HCG [hCG]) one day after weaning.Group 2: sows (n = 405) received subcutaneously 4 ml of saline injection one day after weaning.Group 3: sows (n = 425), purposely chosen from among animals that did not show heat within 7 days after weaning, were treated on day 7 post-weaning with PMSG and HCG as the animals in group 1.Group 4: sows (n = 415) purposely chosen from among animals that did not show heat within 7 days after weaning, were treated on day 7 post-weaning as group 2.Sows expressing oestrus, sows ovulating after treatment, treatment to oestrus intervals and follicular sizes were evaluated. The number of sows expressing oestrus, sows ovulating, and treatment to oestrus intervals differed between the groups (group 1 vs. 2: P < 0.05, group 3 vs. 4: P < 0.01). The sows treated with PMSG and HCG on day 7 post-weaning (group 3) had smaller (P < 0.05) follicular diameters compared to the sows that were treated one day after weaning. Group 4 sows had a smaller follicular diameter (3.6 +/-0.6 mm) compared to group 1 (P < 0.001) and 3 (P < 0.01).The present results show that the gonadotropin treatment one day after weaning or in the case of anoestrus 7 days after weaning overrides the negative effects of the hot summer season and effectively prevents seasonal infertility of the breeding sow. Swine, reproduction, seasonal anoestrus, gonadotropin, season, infertilityHigh ambient temperatures may negatively influence the reproductive performance of the sow (Britt et al. 1983). In a large Hungarian study, seasonal infertility was manifested by -post-weaning anoestrus, -prolonged weaning to oestrus intervals, -increased embryonic mortality, -increased abortions and stillbirths, -reduced farrowing rates, and -decreased born and weaned litter sizes (Bilkei 1995).The effects of hot season on weaning-to-oestrus intervals are mediated by ovarian follicular development (Soede et al. 1998). Sows with small follicles (< 4 mm) on day 3 after weaning are more likely to experience anoestrus or delayed oestrus compared to sows with larger follicles (Bracken et al. 2003). High ambient temperature during lactation was associated with suppressed follicular growth during lactation (Lucy et al. 2001).

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Heat stress in pregnant sows: Thermal responses and subsequent performance of sows and their offspring

Lucy

Safranski

2017

Molecular Reproduction Devel

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Seasonal infertility is a significant problem in the swine industry, and may be influenced by photoperiod and heat stress. Heat stress during gestation in particular affects pregnancy, resulting in long-term developmental damage to the offspring. This review summarizes what is known about how heat stress on the pregnant sow affects lactation and her offspring. Sows responded to heat stress during gestation with increased rectal temperature, respiration rate, and skin temperature, and tended to reduce their activity-which may have changed their body composition, increasing the adipose-to-muscle ratio. Heat stress during gestation caused temporary insulin resistance during lactation, but this metabolic state did not seem to affect health, lactation, or rebreeding performance of the sow. Heat-stressed sows also presented with a shorter gestation period and reduced litter birth weight, although weaning weights are not affected when these sows are moved to thermoneutral conditions for lactation. The offspring of gestational heat-stressed sows, however, possessed unique phenotypes, including elevated body temperature, greater fat deposition, and impaired gonad development. Thus, gestational heat stress may significantly impact a herd through its effects on sows and their offspring. Further work is necessary to determine the magnitude of the effects across fa cilities and breeds.

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Reproductive Performance of Gilts following Heat Stress Prior to Breeding and in Early Gestation

Cited by 89 publications

References 0 publications

Climatic effects on sow fertility and piglet survival under influence of a moderate climate

Climatic effects on sow fertility and piglet survival under influence of a moderate climate

Effect of Gonadotropins during Hot Summer Season Given at Different Times after Weaning on Selected Reproductive Indicators of the Sow

Heat stress in pregnant sows: Thermal responses and subsequent performance of sows and their offspring

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