Control of pig reproduction in a breeding programme

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology and management in swine.
• Animal science and agricultural technology.

Background:

• Significant variations in sow annual productivity persist despite management improvements.
• Factors like genotype, age at puberty, and transportation influence reproductive cycles.
• Understanding gilt sexual maturation phases is crucial for managing puberty onset.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze quantitative reasons for productivity differences in sow herds.
• To evaluate methods for controlling the oestrous cycle and inducing puberty.
• To assess the efficacy of progestagen treatment and ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative analysis of herd management factors affecting productivity.
• Investigation of progestagen treatment for oestrous cycle synchronization in gilts.
• Application of ultrasound scanning for early pregnancy diagnosis in sows.

Main Results:

• Progestagen treatment aids oestrous synchronization in gilts, enabling fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) in crossbreds.
• Post-weaning progestagen treatment improves oestrus synchronization in primiparous sows but doesn't eliminate the need for oestrus detection.
• Ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis is accurate from 20-22 days post-insemination with minimal diagnostic errors.

Conclusions:

• While satisfactory methods for puberty induction are lacking, progestagen treatment offers partial control over the oestrous cycle.
• Ultrasound technology significantly enhances reproductive control through accurate pregnancy diagnosis.
• Integrated reproductive management techniques improve overall sow productivity and farm efficiency.