A note on the significance of boar salivary pheromones to the male-effect on puberty attainment in gilts

Abstract

ABSTRACTEighteen Large White gilts were allocated to one of three treatments so that there were six gilts on each treatment. The treatments were (1) daily exposure to a nasal spray of boar saliva reinforced with 16-androstene steroid pheromones, (2) daily exposure to a nasal spray of saline and a mature boar for 20 min, and (3) daily exposure to a nasal spray of saline only.The experiment began when the gilts were between 158 and 165 days of age, and was terminated when they reached 240 to 247 days of age, the gilts were slaughtered soon afterwards.The results indicate that if salivary pheromones operate in the overall effect of the male on puberty attainment in gilts, the effect is of minor significance. Exposure to a mature boar confirmed the phenomenon of the 'male-effect' on puberty attainment in gilts.