A comparison of the reproductive performance in primiparous sows following two timed artificial insemination protocols

J H Bai; Y S Qin; S L Zhang; X L Xu; Y Q Song; L L Xiao; T Feng; J H Tian; Y Liu

doi:10.1016/j.animal.2021.100410

A comparison of the reproductive performance in primiparous sows following two timed artificial insemination protocols

Animal. 2021 Dec;15(12):100410. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100410. Epub 2021 Nov 27.

Authors

J H Bai¹, Y S Qin¹, S L Zhang², X L Xu¹, Y Q Song¹, L L Xiao¹, T Feng¹, J H Tian³, Y Liu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China.
² Beijing University of Agricultural, College of Animal Science and Technology, Beijing 100096, China.
³ National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 102206, China.
⁴ Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China. Electronic address: liuyanxms@163.com.

PMID: 34847398
DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100410

Abstract

Timed artificial insemination (TAI) is an efficient reproductive technology in batch farrowing production that aids management in pig farms. However, the effect of TAI on the reproduction performance is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two TAI protocols on the reproductive performance of primiparous sows. A total of 332 weaned sows were randomly allocated into three treatments. Sows assigned to Control (n = 110) were untreated and inseminated on each day in oestrus after weaning. Sows assigned to eG-TAI (n = 112) received equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) 24 h after weaning and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gonadorelin: GnRH) at oestrus, and were inseminated at 8 and 32 h later if oestrus at 0800, or 16 and 40 h later if oestrus at 1600. Sows assigned to 2e-TAI (n = 110) received eCG and GnRH 24 h and 96 h after weaning, respectively, and were inseminated 16 and 40 h after GnRH administration. Sows showing oestrus at GnRH administration or 64 h after were inseminated immediately, for a total of three inseminations. Ultrasonographic evaluations were performed to determine the follicular diameter and time of ovulation. Most sows in the 2e-TAI and eG-TAI groups ovulated 0-48 h after the GnRH injection. Our results indicated that oestrus rate within seven days after weaning in the experimental groups was higher, and weaning-to-oestrus interval was shorter than in the control group (99.3 h vs 113.5 h, P < 0.05). The breeding and farrowing rates in the experimental groups were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05), while the numbers of total born, live-born and stillborn were not different among the three groups (Control: 12.7, 11.6 and 1.1; 2e-TAI: 12.4, 11.3 and 1.0; eG-TAI: 12.0, 11.4 and 0.4, respectively). These results indicated that TAI could ensure a high farrowing rate in primiparous sows under batch farrowing management.

Keywords: Batch farrowing; Controlled ovulation; Farrowing rate; Gonadorelin; Swine.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial, Veterinary

MeSH terms

Animals
Estrus
Female
Horses
Insemination, Artificial* / veterinary
Litter Size
Ovulation
Pregnancy
Reproduction*
Swine