Effects of Sow Parity on Reproductive and Progeny Performance in a Yorkshire Farrow-to-Finish Sow herd
Author(s)
Chukwuemeka C Okere , Keonna Hall , Brian Anderson ,
Download Full PDF Pages: 76-86 | Views: 391 | Downloads: 96 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5141628
Abstract
Reproductive performance data from maternal line Yorkshire sow herd (n-103) sows were collected from the Swine Research & Education Center, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama to determine if prior reproductive experience and/or sow parity had a beneficial effect on reproductive competence. Overall reproductive performance values recorded were 83.7 ± 21.5% for farrowing rate, 12.8 ± 3.3 for number born, 10.7 ± 2.9 for number born alive, 8.8 ± 2.0 for number weaned, 1.5 ± 0.3 kg for individual piglet birth weight, 8.4 ± 1.6 kg for weaning weight, 8.06 ± 3.0 days for wean-to-estrus interval, 17.9 ± 2.0 mm for pre- farrowing backfat depth and 14.2 ± 1.5 mm for post farrowing backfat depth respectively respectively. Farrowing rate was lowest in first parity sows (72.6%) and highest in parity 5 sows (95.8%). Parity effects were highly significant (P<0.01) for total number born (11.46±3.0, 12.46 ±3.4, 15.57±2.1, 14.92±2.9, 13.40 ±3.0, 11.67±1.3, 11.40±4.3, 10.25±2.5) and number born alive (9.50±2.3, 10.92±3.6, 12.29±1.5, 12.58±2.7, 11.30±2, 10.67±1.3, 9.00±3.0, 8.75±2.3) for parities 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8+ respectively. Number born alive was lower in litters from sows in parities ≥7 than those in parities 2-5, but was not different when compared to the other parities. Average piglet weight at birth (ABW) and weaning, and number of piglets (NW) weaned were not significantly (P>0.05) influenced by sow parity. Average birth weight was lightest in PG 1 sows and was highest in PG 2 and PG 3 sows. The results from the present study suggest a significant drop in reproductive performance, progeny performance, and survivability of progeny between PG 1 sows and mature sows that are retained in the herd. It is recommended that sows should be maintained in the herd for additional parities as long as the sows reproduce regularly and wean large litters. By maintaining a parity structure that retains more mature sows, the system allows sows to reach peak perform, maximize reproductive performance, and throughput across the breeding herd.
Keywords
Reproductive performance, parity, Yorkshire, sows
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