The effect of intravaginal applied gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on different oestrous parameters and reproductive performance in post weaned sows

Abstract

In a Hungarian large breeding unit, 481 weaned sows were assigned to three groups and were treated as follows. Sows in Group 1 (Control, n=161) were artificially inseminated (3.01 +/- 0.4 times) during their standing reflex; sows in Group 2 (n=160) were artificially inseminated 3 times at 12-hour intervals, independent of detection of oestrus and immediately after administration of a GnRH-agonist at 96 hours postweaning; and sows in Group 3 (n=160) were artificially inseminated 3 times at 12-hour intervals, beginning at their standing reflex after administration of a GnRH-agonist. Pre-trial daily average lactational feed intake, average daily feed intake from weaning to oestrus, oestrus within 6 days of weaning (%), ovulation within 6 days of weaning (%), wean-to-oestrus interval (h), duration of oestrus (h), follicle size (mm), interval from oestrus to ovulation (h), subsequent day 24 pregnancy rate (%), farrowing rate (%) and total number of pigs born were evaluated. Pre-trial average daily voluntary lactational feed intake was 7.1 +/- 0.5 kg in Group 1, 7.2 +/- 0.4 kg in Group 2, and 7.3 +/- 0.7 kg in Group 3 (P > 0.05). Average voluntary daily feed intake from weaning-to-oestrus was 4.3 +/- 0.9 kg in Group 1, 4.2 +/- 0.8 kg in Group 2, and 4.1 +/- 0.5 kg in Group 3 (P > 0.05). Oestrus was detected within 6 days of weaning in 143 (88.8%) sows in Group 1, 143 (89.4%) sows in Group 2, and in 142 (88.8%) sows in Group 3. Follicle size did not differ (P > 0.05) among the groups. In Group 1, 83.2%, in Group 2, 90.6%, and in Group 3,91.3% of the sows ovulated within 6 days of weaning (P < 0.05), but there were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in 24 Day pregnancy rates (81.4%; 91.3%; and 92.5%). Farrowing rates were in Group 1, 84.5%, in Group 2, 91.3%, in Group 3, 91.9% (P > 0.05). Wean-to-oestrus interval was 115.5 h in Group 1, 114.9 h in Group 2, and 115.7 h in Group 3 (P > 0.05). Duration of oestrus was significantly shorter in Group 2 (41.9 h) and Group 3 (42.1 h) than in Group 1 (68.3 h) (P < 0.001). Similarly, the interval from oestrus to ovulation was significantly different (P < 0.01) between the groups (Group 1, 49.0 h Group 2, 32.0 h, and Group 3, 31.1 h). Sows in Group 2 (12.7) and Group 3 (12.6) had a significantly higher (P < 0.01) number of pigs born than sows in Group 1 (n = 10.9). The interval between oestrus and ovulation was highly and positively correlated (r = 0.83) with the duration of oestrus.