The
objective was to quantify relationships between sow body condition and
subsequent reproduction. Multiparous sows were measured at breeding (n=1571) and farrowing (n=887) on
a commercial farm in eastern North Carolina.
Sow body condition measures included: sow body condition caliper (CS),
weight (BW), backfat, longissimus muscle area (LMA) and visual body condition
score (BCS). Sow production traits were: number born alive (NBA), litter birth
weight (LBW), number weaned (NW), piglet survival (PS), litter weaning weight (LWW), wean-to-conception interval
(WCI), farrowing rate andlactation
average daily feed intake. Data were analyzed in SAS using PROCGLM for
continuous traits and PROC GLIMMIX for categorical traits. Breeding CS
had a curvilinear relationship (P<0.05)
with NBA, LBW, NW, PS and WCI, with a
CS of 15 being optimal for NBA, NW and PS and 14 ideal for LBW and WCI.
Breeding LMA had a curvilinear relationship (P<0.05)
with PS, with
51.5 cm2 maximizing survival. Breeding BCS had a curvilinear
relationship (P
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