J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1986. 62:1203-1209.
© 1986 American Society of Animal Science
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The Effect of Confinement on Days to Puberty in Gilts1

J. S. Caton2, G. W. Jesse3, B. N. Day3 and M. R. Ellersieck4

University of Missouri, Columbia 65211

Abstract

In the late fall and winter of 1982 to 1983, 112 crossbred gilts were used in a factorially arranged experiment to determine the effect of confinement on the age at which a gilt reaches first estrus (puberty). Two environments (confinement and nonconfmement) and three ages at movement to non-confinement (100, 140, and 180 d) were studied. No differences were detected (P>.05) between confinement and non-confinement in the proportions of gilts reaching puberty by 210 d of age. Gilts were older at puberty (P<.05) in confinement than in non-confinement (192.0 vs 187.7 d) and had a longer interval (P<.05) from first boar contact to first estrus (12.1 vs 7.8 d). Age at puberty (192.1 vs 187.0 vs 190.5 d) and the porportion reaching puberty (56.4 vs 45.7 vs 65.8%) were not different (P>.05) between age-of-movement groups. However, a higher (P<.05) proportion of the non-confinement gilts reached puberty within 10 d after the beginning of boar exposure than confinement (44.6 vs 26.8%). Moving gilts from confinement to non-confinement (pasture) at 180 d appeared to be the most effective method tested for inducing puberty in gilts.

Footnotes

1 Contribution from the Missouri Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 9811. Approved by the Director.

2 Present address: Dept. of Anim. and Range Sci., New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces 88003.

3 Dept. of Anim. Sci.

4 Agr. Exp. Sta. Statistician.






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Copyright © 1986 by the American Society of Animal Science.