Effects of parity, season and boar contact on the reproductive performance of weaned sows

Abstract Forty eight Large White×Landrace sows (12 from parity 1, 12 from parity 2 and 24 from parities 3–7) were allocated to each of 4 post-weaning boar contact treatments (0, 1, 2 or 3 exposures day−1) in each of the four seasons of the year. Litter size suckled was standardized at 10 piglets wherever possible (range 9–12 piglets) and lactation length was 24–35 days. Oestrus detection was performed twice-daily on all weaned sows and each sow was given 2 fertile matings 24 h apart. Data on anoestrus, conception rate and subsequent litter size were also collected. Sows being weaned from their first litter took significantly longer to return to oestrus post-weaning than did sows in parities 2–7 (5.9±0.38 vs. 5.1±0.21 days, P

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