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Seasonal Effects on Reproduction in the Domestic Sow in Finland - A Herd Record Study

Årstidens inverkan på fruktbarheten hos tamsuggor i Finland – en studie baserad på data från svinkontrollen

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 40, pages 133–144 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Seasonal effects on fertility of the domestic sow were assessed by retrospective analysis of the Finnish national computerised data management system covering 1081 herds in 1993. Multivariate analyses were used, where the reproductive parameter of interest (repeat breeding, weaning to oestrus interval, age of gilts at first farrowing, litter size, culling due to anoestrus or no conception) was designed as the response variable. The months of the year (each month compared with January) and all herds and breed were included in the models as explanatory variables. The study demonstrated clear seasonal effects on various aspects of fertility in the domestic sow. The poorest reproductive performance was consistently observed in late summer and autumn and was demonstrated in a number of ways. Firstly, the gilts born between December and April were older (>5 days) at farrowing than those born during the rest of the year (p<0.01). Secondly, the risk that a culled sow would be culled due to anoestrus was significantly increased during the autumn months (Odds Ratio (OR) ranged from 1.10 to 1.36). Thirdly, the risk of a repeat breeding was higher from July to November (OR = 1.16). Risk of a prolonged weaning-to-oestrus beyond day 10 was the highest from August to October (OR ranged from 1.70 to 1.77). Risk of a sow to be culled due to no conception was the highest in January and February (weaned in October–November). In addition, descriptive data gathered in a slaughterhouse in 1993 (a subpopulation of the sows included in the herd records) suggest that incidence of inactive ovaries is increased in summer-autumn (p<0.05). In conclusion, a marked reduction in fertility of the domestic sow in Finland is reported between July and November.

Sammanfattning

Årstidens inverkan på fertiliteten hos suggor och gyltor undersöktes med hjälp av retrospektiv analys av det Finska nationella ADB data management systemet baserat på 1081 svinbesättningar under året 1993. I studien utnyttjades multivarians analys där fertilitetsrelaterade parametrar av intresse (omlöpning, intervallet mellan awänjning och brunst, gyltornas ålder vid första grisningen, kullstorlek, utslaktning baserad på avsaknad av brunst eller utebliven befruktning) användes som respons variabler. Månaden på året, (varje månad jämförd med januari), besättningen och rasen inkluderades som förklarande variabler i modellen. Studien påvisade ett klart samband mellan årstid och fertilitet hos tamgris suggor. Fertiliteten var lägst under sensommaren och hösten och detta kunde påvisas på flere olika sätt. För det första var gyltor födda mellan december och maj äldre (>5 dagar) då de grisade än gyltor födda under resten av året. För det andra var slaktorsaken med signifikant ökad sannolikhet anestrus för en sugga slaktad under höstmånaderna (Odds Ratio = 1.10–1.36). För det tredje var risken för omlöpning förhöjd melian juli och november (OR = 1.16). Risken för att intervallet mellan avvänjning och brunst förlägndes över 10 dagar var högst mellan augusti och oktober (OR = 1.70–177). Risken för att en sugga slaktades p.g.a. utebliven befruktning var störst i januari och februari. Dessutom tydde deskriptiva data insamlade från ett slakteri under 1993 (en subpopulation av suggorna som fanns inkluderade i besättningsstatistiken) att forekomsten av inaktiva ovarier ökade under sommaren och hösten (p>0.05). Slutledningen är att en märkbart minskad fertilitet kunde rapporteras hos tamsuggor mellan juli och november i Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Saarentaus, Finland

    O. A. T. Peltoniemi & M. Heinonen

  2. Lihakunta, Kuopio, Finland

    A. Leppävuori

  3. Department of Animal Health, The University of Sydney, Camden, Australia

    R. J. Love

  4. Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, LSO Foods Ltd, University of Helsinki, Saarentaus, Finland

    M. Heinonen

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  1. O. A. T. Peltoniemi
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  2. M. Heinonen
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  3. A. Leppävuori
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  4. R. J. Love
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Correspondence to O. A. T. Peltoniemi.

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Peltoniemi, O.A.T., Heinonen, M., Leppävuori, A. et al. Seasonal Effects on Reproduction in the Domestic Sow in Finland - A Herd Record Study. Acta Vet Scand 40, 133–144 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547030

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147