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The Effects of Two Levels of Energy and Seasons on Reproductive Phenomena of Gilts

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station²

Abstract

THE practice of over-feeding breeding animals has long been thought to be detrimental to maximum reproductive efficiency. For this reason many breeders limit the feed intake of their gestating gilts and sows to prevent obesity. This practice of limited feeding is generally carried out without considering the requirements for individual nutrients. Considerable evidence has been obtained during the last decade which indicates that a nutritional regimen of full feeding augments ovulation but is not contributory to intrauterine survival (Christian and Nofziger, 1952; Fowler, 1954; Robertson et al., 1951b; Self et al., 1955); however, in all of these studies restricted feeding was practiced which limited the intake of all nutrients and may have produced subclinical deficiencies of the essential nutrients required for maximum development. It would seem probable that a self-fed ration could be devised which would prevent excessive obesity by lowering the level of a single nutrient, such as one providing energy, without reducing the intake of other nutrients and be favorable to both the rate of ovulation and the survival of the embryos.

¹ Present address: Animal Husbandry Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia.

² Department of Animal Husbandry.