Abstracts - Genetics and reproduction

The current study presents an algorithm that extracts novel, objective structural conformation traits and reports corresponding genetic and phenotypic parameters.

Piglets genetically less likely to present swine inflammation and necrosis syndrome signs are also more unlikely to suffer combined skin damage after weaning.

Stillbirths in young, hyper-prolific sows were linked to several factors including large litter sizes, prolonged cumulative birth intervals, and elevated body mass index.

Trial runs were conducted in winter and summer to compare five deep-litter bedding materials.

Breeding for resilience traits based on deviations in longitudinal weight data can decrease pigs’ tail biting wounds, lameness and mortality while improving uniformity at the pen level.

Combining vulva volume features with days from weaning could be a suitable method to detect the onset of oestrous in sows.

Photodynamic inactivation could be a promising contribution to the One Health concept with the potential to reduce antimicrobial resistance in animal husbandry.

Weaning a portion of the litter prior to mating in lactation improved pregnancy rates and embryo survival.

Thawing at 70 °C for 8 seconds maximizes post-thaw sperm quality, especially in those samples stored constantly submerged in liquid nitrogen.

With current low-protein diets, the T allele is expected to be cost-effective only in niche markets where a very high level of marbling is critical.

An hourly feeding regime could optimize sow productive performance, body condition, milk yield, welfare, and piglet growth in swine production.

Changes in gut microbial composition significantly altered the functional capacity of steroid hormone biosynthesis in the gut microbiome.

Low-density lipoproteins can improve the motility and kinetics of boar semen during cooling while it could modulate the sperm's mitochondrial activity.

The frequency of farrowing assistance in sows varied among herds and was influenced by parity number.

The increases in litter size and piglet survival rates due to balanced breeding policies lead to reduced total numbers of dead piglets coinciding with a certain pig production volume.

Postpartum administration of meloxicam to sows reduced clinical cases of disease, increased ADG in pigs, and increased carcass weight at slaughter.

The addition of myo-inositol to semen extender improved the boar semen quality by decreasing the effects of oxidative stress during liquid preservation.

Biological sex mediates, at least in part, the physiological response to heat stress.

Heat stress alters the ovarian proteome and multiple biological pathways and systems in prepubertal gilts; changes that potentially contribute to female infertility.

Melatonin treatment had positive effects on estrous duration and embryo survival, especially in the summer.

Change in electrical resistance in the vagina has the potential to accurately predict ovulation timing, but more work is required.

Injectable progesterone treatment did not benefit the reproductive performance of prepubertal and peripubertal gilts.

The results reveal better sperm quality for untreated boars than for PGF2α-treated boars, which might indicate that the underlying fertility of boars necessitating treatment is inferior compared to boars that can be collected without further treatment.

The semen of older boars contained a higher abundance of harmful bacteria, which contributes to the observed reduction in semen anti-oxidant capacity and overall semen quality in this group.