0
Objective -In gilt piglets the oocytes continue to mature untill day 35 after birth. Maternal parity and litter size during nursing may affect gilt piglet energy balance, and thus affect the subsequent fertility.
Material and methods - In a prospective study, 1246 gilt was adjusted by transferring male piglets to or from the litter. The same piglets were used in a retrospective study, if litter size was affected by whether the gilt piglets were born to and nursed by a 1st or greater than 1st parity sow. Piglets were followed through sale to 18 herds, and litter size in first litter was obtained.
Results - 89 and 87 percent of born gilt piglets were weaned from litters of 9 and 13 piglets, respectively. The first litter size (total born) of the gilt offspring was registered for 621 farrowings. 14.7 total born piglets were found both in gilts that were nursed in litters of 9 and of 13 piglets. At birth gilt piglets born to 1st parity sows weighed 1.28 kg while gilt piglets born to a 2nd to 9th parity sow weighed 1.48 kg. Despite of this weight difference, both groups of gilt piglets gave birth to 14.7 total born piglets in their own first litter.
Conclusions -Female piglets nursing in a large litter will still achieve a good fertility. Even though 1st parity sows farrow lighter piglets, and feed these piglets less than older sows, this does not affect future fertility in the gilts from these litters.
Thorup F. Litter size at nursing and maternal parity did not affect future fertility in the gilt. 4th European Symposium of Porcine Health Management. 2012.