The induction of puberty in rapidly-grown gilts

Abstract

Puberty can be stimulated from about 160 days of age by the introduction of a mature boar usually in accomodation which is novel to the gilt. The interval between stimulation and response is not always predictable and therefore does not facilitate the synchronisation of gilt matings with the mating pattern in an established sow herd. It has been reported previously that a single injection of pregnant mares’ serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) pits human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG)* will initiate puberty. The investigations reported here concern the use of these exogenous hormones as an additional or alternative stimulus to those described above.