THE EFFECT OF GONADOTROPIN AT WEANING ON THE REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF SOWS IN AN EAST-EUROPEAN SUMMER CLIMATE IN LARGE INDOOR BREEDING UNITS
P. Almond and G. Bilkei

Abstract
The study was performed in order to determine the effect of gonadotropin (Gn) application at weaning on the subsequent fertility of sows. At weaning, sows did (Group 1: n=2150), or did not (Group 2: n=2202) receive an injection of 400 IU PMSG plus 200 IU hCG. Sows were bred at their first post-weaning oestrus.

Weaning to service intervals, regular and irregular returns to service, farrowing rates and subsequent litter sizes were evaluated.

Control sows had longer (P<0.001) weaning to service intervals, and more (P<0.001) regular returns to service compared with the Gn-treated sows. Irregular returns to service showed no significant differences between the treated and untreated sows. Farrowing rates and litter sizes were significantly (P<0.001) higher in the Gn-treated compared with the untreated sows.

Implications: Administering Gn is an effective tool for helping breeding targets.

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