Studies in sow reproduction. 2. The effect of lactation length on the subsequent reproductive performance of the sow

Abstract

SUMMARYForty litters were weaned from their Landrace × Landrace × Large White dams at 2-day intervals to give a range of lactation lengths from 4 to 42 days. A significant (P<0·001) negative curvilinear relationship was observed between lactation length and the interval from weaning to first oestrus. This period was increased by 4·2 days with the reduction of lactation from 42 to 4 days. The relationship between lactation length and the interval from farrowing to remating was significant (P<0·001) and positively linear over the whole range of observations. A decrease of 1 day in lactation length reduced this interval by 0·91 days. Very short lactations were associated with reduced litter size at the following farrowing; sows weaned after lactation lengths between 4 and 21 days had an average litter size of 9–6 piglets born per litter in the next parity, whereas sows weaned following lactation lengths between 21 and 42 days had an average of 12·7 piglets born in the next parity (P<0·01).