354 The effect of OvuGel® administered to weaned sows at proestrus or estrus on reproductive performance

摘要

The use of single-fixed time insemination enhances leverage of genetically superior boars. It is prudent to elucidate the appropriate strategy for using OvuGel® by season and parity given the potential economic return. It was hypothesized that OvuGel® could be used to mitigate seasonal anestrus, in particular for parity 1 sows. The objective was to evaluate reproductive performance of weaned sows administered OvuGel® (OG; n = 1342) that expressed proestrus or estrus on d 4 post-weaning, followed by a single post-cervical artificial insemination (PCAI) 24 h later. This protocol was evaluated as an alternative to treating all weaned sows regardless of estrous behavior. The Control (CO; n = 1530) sows were inseminated via PCAI after they were identified in estrus and again 24 h later if still expressing estrus. Sows were inseminated from May through November 2017. Prior to weaning, within each replicate, sows were equally assigned to OG or CO treatment by parity, genetic line, litter size, nurse sow status and health treatment status. Farrowing rate for OG was not different than CO (86.2 ± 1.2 vs. 86.6 ± 1.2%; P > 0.10, respectively). There was no effect on total born between OG and CO (13.2 ± 0.1 vs. 13.3 ± 0.1; P > 0.10, respectively). However, there was a parity × treatment interaction. Parity 1 OG (86.6 ± 3.0%) sows had greater farrowing rates than CO (74.5 ± 3.0%) sows (P < 0.01), whereas there were no differences (P > 0.05) between treatments for the other parities. These data indicate that producers can administer OvuGel® to sows in proestrus or estrus on d 4 post-weaning, followed by a single insemination 24 h later, and achieve similar performance as sows inseminated multiple times upon detection of estrus.