Effect of Temporary Fasting on Reproduction in Gilts

Abstract

Two trials involving 122 gilts were conducted to evaluate the effect of temporary fasting on reproduction. Gilts were mated and assigned to one of the following treatments: 0 hr. off feed (controls), 24 hr. off feed, 48 hr. off feed, and 72 hr. off feed. Animals were slaughtered 25 to 33 days after mating and the numbers of corpora lutea and embryos were determined. Ovulation rate was slightly lower in gilts from which feed was withheld, but the difference was not significant. Embryo survival rate was higher in fasted gilts than in controls in the winter trial. In the spring trial the difference was not significant. These results suggest that the gilts were not actually subjected to stress conditions with respect to nutrition. Differences observed in the winter trial may have resulted because fasted gilts were temporarily subjected to less temperature stress immediately after breeding than were the control gilts which remained in outside pens. All gilts were quite docile and inactive during the period off feed. None showed extreme hunger when allowed access to feed after fasting. Copyright © 1965. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1965 by American Society of Animal Science