Abstracts - Genetics and reproduction

Sows with greater pelvic organ prolapse risk have differential serum metabolites and vaginal microflora.

Study results support the possibility of applying effective selection programs to improve immunocompetence in pigs.

When labour induction is applied, the questions arise about possible effects on labour and lactation, including colostral immunity.

Results suggest that genetic selection of antibody response in commercial sows is possible, but with variable success.

This discovery of SRY as the main switch for sex determination in pigs may provide an alternative for surgical castration in pig production, preventing boar taint.

When using thawing extender at pH 8, there was enhanced post-thawing sperm motility and preservation of motility as storage time advanced.

Ejaculates with a high sperm concentration contain a large number of sperm, but have a smaller volume than ejaculates with a lower sperm concentration.

Postnatal differences in the reproductive potential of growth restricted females are programmed early in gestation.

The proper addition of taurine to the semen extender suppresses sperm damage and subsequent dysfunction during liquid preservation.

Reproductive tract scoring methods as a tool for identify gilts with improved productivity as breeding herd females.

Pigs exposed to in utero heat stress develop a variety of postnatal phenotypes that prevent profitable production, and compromise health, and welfare in commercial production systems.

Neither feeding level nor diet type during the weaning to estrus interval had an impact on sow reproductive performance.

Sexual maturity has a low, yet not negligible, impact on the welfare of heavy female pigs in terms of aggressive behavior and lesions.

The 64 SNV panel is a useful genetic tool to infer purebred or crossbred Iberian origin of live animals, meat and dry-cured products.

Vaccinating against the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus, can improve reproductive performance in sow herds infected with pandemic influenza A virus.

Lactate dehydrogenase could help predict pork quality variation, while cortisol, alanine amino transferase, and albumin could be useful in prediction of carcass quality.

Cloned boars could be highly effective for proliferation of pigs with desirable characteristics, preservation of genetic resources and risk reduction against epidemic diseases.

Post-cervical artificial insemination doses took less time than cervical doses to reach the desired temperature, but sperm quality was similar for CAI- and PCAI-doses during storage.

Caffeine supplementation of sows receiving progesterone to prevent premature farrowing impaired piglet survival during, and shortly after parturition.

Increased suckling intensity increased litter weight gain but reduced piglet ADG. Following lactations were not negatively affected by increased suckling intensity of the first lactation. Loss of sow body reserves was reduced for the second lactation.

Essential oils may act as antimicrobial agents in seminal doses serving as an alternative to traditional antimicrobials in the face of increasing antimicrobial resistance.

The objective of this study was to develop alternatives to hormonal treatments to synchronize oestrus of gilts.

Melatonin interferes with cultured granulosa cell proliferation and steroidogenesis.

Caffeine positively affected the vitality of the piglets, as indicated by greater vitality scores than that for the control group.