Best Management Practices for Breeding Sows and Boars

Dear Colleagues,

The reproductive efficiency in pigs can be influenced by the association of the sow, the boar, and the environment. Therefore, the health status and the husbandry of breeding sows and boars are critical for physiological reproductive performance in the herd; they have a major impact on animal welfare, as well as on the economic output of a farm.

One of the most frequent reasons for culling a sow from a breeding farm is a reproductive disorder, during farrowing, the suckling period or at the insemination. Diseases of the urogenital tract in particular, such as endometritis and cystitis, and production diseases, such as post-partum dysgalactia syndrome, frequently occur on sow farms which differ within herd prevalence. Therefore, it is very important to recognize and treat these reproductive disorders as soon as possible to avoid negative effects on the subsequent reproductive cycle and performance of the sow. Furthermore, the boar has also an essential role in determining the reproductive efficiency in a breeding farm. Any reduction in fertility of boars can be caused by anatomical, metabolic or even psychological disorders that may also be influenced by the environment.

Hence, management practices for both sexes are necessary to improve reproductive performance, animal welfare and the economic output of a breeding farm. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to focus on the improvement in management practices for sows and boars to enhance herd’s reproduction of breeding farms.

Dr. Alexander Grahofer
Dr. Stefan Björkman
Guest Editors

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• theriogenology
• pig reproduction
• breeding sows
• boars
• endocrinology

Title: Implementing a Tailored Diet from Mating to Weaning in Hyperprolific Multiparous Sows: Consequences for Litter Outcomes
Authors: Julia Cantin1, Carlos Cantin2, Olga Mitjana1,3*; Maria Teresa Tejedor 4, Carlos Gil Rubio5, Ana Maria Garrido 1, Maria Victoria Falceto1,3
Affiliation: 1Deparment of Animal Pathology, University of Zaragoza, Spain. 2 Independent consulting veterinarian, Zaragoza, Spain 3Agroalimentary Institute of Aragon-IA2, Department of Animal Pathology, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA 4Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Animal Genetics, CIBERV, University of Zaragoza. 5 Veterinary technical service Nutega, CCPA Group
Abstract: Our aim was to investigate the possible effect of a diet adapted to each phase of the reproductive cycle in hyperprolific sows on metabolic status, body condition, productivity, litter health, litter size and weight of piglets at birth and at weaning. A total of 60 gilts and 236 multiparous sows (Landrace x Largewhite) were randomly and equally assigned to control (C) and modified diet (T) groups. Group C was fed a commercial base feed for pregnant sows (weaning to 110 gestation day) followed by a commercial base feed for lactating sows (from 111 days of gestation to 28 days postpartum). Successively, group T was fed with four different compositions. Gestation 1 feed (service to 50 gestation day) increased both digestible arginine/lysine ratio (+28.03%) and digestive methionine (+24%). Gestation 2 feed (51 -110 gestation days) included both increased crude protein (+69.06%) and digestive lysine (+0.089%). Peripartum feed (111 gestation day to 3 postpartum day) incremented crude protein (+4.98%), lysine (+0.342%) and calcium (+0.1%), reduced both fat (-50%) and crude fibre (-1%) and incorporated a glycogenic precursor and beet pulp (8% minimum). Lactation feed (4 postpartum days to weaning) contained both increased lysine (+0.04%) and metabolizable energy ME (+50Kcal/kg); 5% full fat soya was added and electrolytes were balanced by 200 meq/kg. Gilts in group T on 113 gestation day significantly increased backfat thickness (EGD; p=0.003) and decreased blood beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration (BHB; p=0.004), incidences of neonatal diarrhoea (DN; p=0.023), postpartum hypophagia (HP; p=0.028), negative lactation curve (LC; p=0.001) and low birth weight piglets (<0.900 kg; p=0.035). Also, for these gilts EGD and BHB on 113 day of gestation was correlated (r= -0.647; p=0.002). Multiparous sows in group T had higher EGD (p=0.001), greater back muscle thickness (EMD) (p<0.001) and lower BHB on 113 day of gestation (p<0.001); greater EMD on 28 day of lactation (p<0.001); lower number of stillborn piglets (p=0.018), lower incidence of DN (p=0.044), lower incidence of HP (p=0.689); lower incidence of negative lactation curve (p=0.008) and higher piglet weights on both birth day (p=0.008) and 28 day of lactation (p<0.001). In group T on 113 day of gestation, significant correlations were found for EGD and ME (r= 0. 357; p=0. 001) and for EGD and BHB (r=-0.366; p<0.001); when correcting for EGD, correlation for ME and BHB was significant and negative (r=-0.378; p=0.001). Using a diet adapted to each phase of the production cycle would benefit the metabolic state and body condition for hyperprolific sows and the development of their offspring.