Impacts of microenvironment variation during breeding and gestation on the reproduction and well-being of mature gilts

The effects of room temperature and light intensity prior to breeding and into early gestation were evaluated on the reproductive performance and well-being of gilts housed individually in crates. In eight replicates, estrus was synchronized in mature gilts (n = 198) and after last feeding of Matrix were randomly assigned to a room temperature of 15 °C (COLD), 21°C (NEUTRAL) or 30 °C (HOT), and a light intensity of 11 (DIM) or 433 (BRIGHT) lx. Estrus detection was performed daily and gilts inseminated twice. Blood samples were collected before and after breeding for determination of immune measures and cortisol concentrations. Gilt ADFI, BW and body temperature were measured. On d 30 post-breeding, gilts were slaughtered to recover reproductive tracts to evaluate pregnancy and litter characteristics. There were no temperature x light intensity interactions for any response variable. Reproductive measures of follicle development, expression of estrus, ovulation rate, pregnancy rate (83.2%), litter size (14.3 +/- 0.5), and fetal measures were not affected by temperature or lighting (P > 0.10). Gilts in COLD (37.6 C) had a lower (P < 0.05) rectal temperature than those in NEUTRAL (38.2 C) and HOT (38.6 +/- 0.04 C). Both BW gain and final BW were greater (P < 0.0001) for gilts kept in HOT than those in NEUTRAL or COLD environments. Gilts housed in the HOT environment made more postural changes than did those kept in either COLD or NEUTRAL temperatures. Gilts kept in the HOT temperature spent more total time lying and more time lying laterally compared to those gilts housed in the NEUTRAL or COLD rooms. Total white blood cells and the percentage of neutrophils, as well as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were all influenced (P < 0.05) by temperature but there was no effect of light or interaction with temperature on other immune cells or measures. These results indicate that temperatures in the range of 15 to 30 C or light intensity at 11 to 433 lx do not impact reproduction during the follicular phase and into early gestation for mature gilts housed in gestation crates. However, room temperature does impact physiological, behavioral, and immune responses of mature gilts and should be considered as a potential factor that may influence gilt well-being during the first 30-d post-breeding.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Canaday, Dian

Contributors dc:contributor

• Knox, Robert V.
• Salak-Johnson, Janeen L.

• Fertility
• Gestation crate
• Gilts
• Lighting
• Temperature
• Well-being

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2013 Dian Canaday

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/45510

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/45510