Organic selenium supplementation increases PHGPx but does not improve viability in chilled boar semen.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary organic selenium (Se) on viability of chilled boar semen. Twelve boars were divided into three groups: control (CON), 0.3 mg kg(-1) sodium selenite; inorganic (INO), 0.5 mg kg(-1) sodium selenite and organic (ORG), 0.5 mg kg(-1) Se yeast. The experiment was conducted within 10 weeks, and analysis was performed fortnightly, in storage semen by 72 h. No effect was observed on motility; however, straightness and linearity percentages were higher (P < 0.05) in the animals receiving CON diet compared with INO group. Percentages of cells with both plasma and acrosomal intact membranes, lipidic membrane peroxidation and mitochondrial membrane potential were similar on all treatments. Animals receiving CON diet presented higher (P < 0.05) values of ATP when compared with INO group. The PHGPx was higher (P < 0.05) in animals that received ORG in comparison with INO group. In conclusion, organic selenium supplementation increases PHGPx but does not improve chilled semen viability in 72 h.

Gonadotropin-induced puberty does not impair reproductive performance of gilts over three parities.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of three parities of gilts treated or not treated with gonadotropin to induce puberty. Sixty gilts received 600 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) followed by 2.5 mg of porcine luteinizing hormone (LH) 72 h later. Fifty-nine other gilts were exposed only to a mature boar for 15 min twice daily. Artificial insemination (AI) was performed at 0, 12 and 24 h after the detection of oestrus, and gestation was confirmed by ultrasound after 35 days. Sows were inseminated at the first post-weaning oestrus. The total numbers of piglets born, piglets born alive, stillborn, mummified foetuses, as well as pregnancy and farrowing rates were evaluated for each of the three parities. Culling rates, farrowing intervals and weaning-to-oestrous intervals (WEI) were also analysed. Mean age at puberty and oestrous manifestation were not significantly different between treatments (p = 0.0639; 179.20 ± 17.52 compared with 173.96 ± 16.94, 91.66% compared with 94.92%) across the experimental period. However, females that underwent puberty induction showed modest increases both in the number of total pigs born and in the number of piglets born alive. In conclusion, puberty induction through exogenous gonadotropin administration in field conditions did not induce a more concentrated first oestrous manifestation, but trended to a modest increase in the number of pigs born alive in the first parity and a reduced culling rate during the first gestation.

Differences in maternal plane of nutrition and body condition during late gestation coupled with estrus synchronization at weaning do not result in differences in embryonic development at 4 days of gestation.

This study was conducted to assess the effects of dietary energy in late pregnancy and hormone therapy at weaning on plasma metabolite profile, litter performance, reproductive parameters, and embryo viability in the second pregnancy. A total of 23 first-parity sows at 75 d of pregnancy were randomly allocated to 4 treatments. Treatments were factorial (2 × 2) combinations of 2 nutritional strategies [standard-energy feed (SEF) and high-energy feed (HEF)] and 2 hormone therapies [600 IU eCG and 2.5 mg swine LH 72 h later (HO) and no hormone (WH)]. Sows were weighed weekly from 75 d of pregnancy until 3 d before farrowing; 1 d after farrowing; 7, 14, and 21 d into lactation; and at weaning. Back fat (BF) was measured at 75 d of pregnancy, 3 d before farrowing, and at weaning. Average daily gain and ADFI were also calculated. Plasma metabolites were analyzed after 82, 89, 96, and 103 d of pregnancy, at farrowing, and after 7, 14, and 21 d of lactation. Embryo viability was assessed after 4.55 d of second pregnancy. During pregnancy, HEF-treated sows displayed greater BW (P < 0.05) compared with SEF-treated females, but no differences were observed during lactation. There were no differences in BW of the piglets caused by the treatments. High-energy-treated females showed superior BF (P > 0.05) in all periods; however, significant differences were detected only at the prefarrowing measurement (P < 0.05). No differences in ADFI were observed during lactation. The SEF group showed positive ADG, whereas the HEF group showed negative ADG (0.216 vs. -0.266 kg/d for SEF and HEF, respectively; P < 0.05). High-energy-treated sows presented greater concentrations of total cholesterol after 89 and 103 d of pregnancy and greater concentrations of high-density lipid cholesterol (HDL) after 89 and 96 d. At farrowing and 14 and 21 d of lactation, NEFA concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in the HEF group. After hormone treatment, no differences were observed on weaning-to-estrus intervals and estrus duration. Greater mobilization of body reserves observed in the HEF group during lactation did not affect reproductive performance negatively, suggesting that metabolic status was adequate for the first lactational catabolism.

Controle farmacológico do ciclo estral / Pharmacologicol control of oestrus cicle

O emprego de hormônios na fêmea suína objetiva a sincronização do estro à puberdade em marrãs e a sincronização do estro para o emprego da técnica da inseminação artificial em tempo fixo. Na sincronização do estro à puberdade, atenção especial deve estar voltada ao manejo da marrã, pois, além de representar de 30 a 40% do plantel de matrizes, vários fatores envolvidos no manejo afetam a vida útil reprodutiva, influenciando,assim, o rebanho como um todo. O presente trabalho vem abordar alguns aspectos relacionados aos hormônios no ciclo estral, com atenção voltada à importância da sincronização do estro, visando, no complexo interativo do manejo reprodutivo, a uma vida útil reprodutiva ideal, fruto do melhor aproveitamento da matriz no plantel e consequente homogeneização da produção.p

The use of hormones in the swine female, aims the estrus synchronization at puberty in gilts and the estrus synchronization to the technique of artificial insemination at fixed time. Special attention must be given to the puberty estrus synchronization on the gilts management, because, besides representing 30 to 40% of the breeding herd, there are many factors involved that may affect their reproductive lifetime. The presenting article describes some aspects in relation to the hormones in estrous cycle, mainly estrus synchronization that influenced reproductive lifetime, to the better usage of the female management in the breeding herd and finally in direction to the production homogeneity

Controle farmacológico do ciclo estral / Pharmacologicol control of oestrus cicle

O emprego de hormônios na fêmea suína objetiva a sincronização do estro à puberdade em marrãs e a sincronização do estro para o emprego da técnica da inseminação artificial em tempo fixo. Na sincronização do estro à puberdade, atenção especial deve estar voltada ao manejo da marrã, pois, além de representar de 30 a 40% do plantel de matrizes, vários fatores envolvidos no manejo afetam a vida útil reprodutiva, influenciando,assim, o rebanho como um todo. O presente trabalho vem abordar alguns aspectos relacionados aos hormônios no ciclo estral, com atenção voltada à importância da sincronização do estro, visando, no complexo interativo do manejo reprodutivo, a uma vida útil reprodutiva ideal, fruto do melhor aproveitamento da matriz no plantel e consequente homogeneização da produção.p(AU)

The use of hormones in the swine female, aims the estrus synchronization at puberty in gilts and the estrus synchronization to the technique of artificial insemination at fixed time. Special attention must be given to the puberty estrus synchronization on the gilts management, because, besides representing 30 to 40% of the breeding herd, there are many factors involved that may affect their reproductive lifetime. The presenting article describes some aspects in relation to the hormones in estrous cycle, mainly estrus synchronization that influenced reproductive lifetime, to the better usage of the female management in the breeding herd and finally in direction to the production homogeneity(AU)

Fluorescent stain method for the simultaneous determination of mitochondrial potential and integrity of plasma and acrosomal membranes in boar sperm.

The purpose of this study was to validate a technique for simultaneous evaluation of the plasma, acrosomal and mitochondrial membranes in boar spermatozoa, using an association of fluorescent probes: Propidium iodide (PI), fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated Pisum sativum agglutinin (FITC-PSA) and JC-1. Three ejaculates from each of four different boars, all showing motility >or=80% and abnormal morphology

Diagnóstico de cistos ovarianos pela palpaçäo de ultra-sonografia transretal em fêmeas suínas: relato de dois casos clínicos / Ovarian cysts, rectal palpation and ultra-rectal ultra-sonography diagnosis in sows: literature review and two clinical report studies

Foram abordados alguns conceitos sobre a fisiopatologia e a semiologia de cistos ovarianos em fêmeas suínas, descrevendo-se dois casos clínicos, um sintomático. Observou-se infertilidade, cios irregulares, edema de vulva e clitóris aumentado de volume. A palpaçäo retal, constataram-se cistos em ambos os ovários da fêmea com sintomas e um cisto no ovário esquerdo da assintomática. A ultra-sonografia possibilitou visualizar, assim como avaliar com precisäo grau de luteinizaçäo e o tamanho dos cistos. A necrópsia confirmou os achados da palpaçäo e ultra-sonografia transretal

Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae seropositivity and the reproductive performance of sows.

The reproductive performance of 28 sows seropositive to Leptospira interrogans serovar icterohaemorrhagiae was compared with that of 87 Leptospira sp. seronegative dams belonging to the same herd. Sows were sampled during 1988 to 1993. During this period the herd was not submitted to any kind of intervention (antibiotic therapy, immunoprophylaxis or rodent control). Relative risks (RR) of return to heat, mummified fetuses, stillbirth, and weak newborn piglets for infected sows were assessed and the differences in means of total piglets born per litter, piglets born alive, piglets effectively housed, weaned piglets, stillbirths, mummified fetuses, weak newborn piglets, weight at birth of the piglets effectively housed, weight at 21 days of life and weight at weaning were evaluated. Seropositive dams had a greater risk of having weak newborn piglets (RR = 1.67, 1.02 < or = CI 95% < or = 2.72) and also of having more weak newborn piglets per litter (P = 0.01). Other variables examined were not different (P > 0.05).