Academic literature on the topic 'Female breeding performance'

The aim of the present study was to determine, in the mouse, whether maintaining females as virgins until an advanced reproductive age was associated with decreased reproductive performance and reproductive lifespan compared with females of the same age that were first mated with males at an earlier reproductive age. Randomly selected virgin hybrid (C57BL/6JIco female × CBA/JIco male) female mice were housed individually with a randomly selected 12- to 14-week-old hybrid male either at the age of 28 weeks (normal breeding group; n = 20) or 51 weeks (delayed breeding group; n = 23) for the rest of their reproductive life. Females were checked once daily to determine the day of parturition and to record the litter size and gender of pups at birth for each consecutive litter. At weaning, offspring were weighed and killed. Delayed breeding was associated with smaller litter sizes, both at birth and at weaning, a higher bodyweight of pups at weaning, a higher percentage of litters with at least one newborn pup cannibalised, earlier cessation of female reproductive life and a higher mortality rate of dams during the breeding period. These results show that delayed breeding in the mouse is associated with decreased reproductive performance and a shorter reproductive lifespan compared with females bred at an earlier reproductive age.

AbstractWe investigate how variation in breeding plumes influences pairing patterns, extra-pair copulations and breeding performance in the colonial cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis ibis). The breeding plumes of both male and female cattle egrets varied from almost none, to lush head, back and scapular plumes. Overall, male breeding plumes were longer and darker than those of females, but we observed the full range of plume development in both sexes. Plume development was positively correlated within breeding pairs. Females may be more selective in mate choice since they only paired with males with similar or better plumes and only accepted extra-pair copulations when the male had plumes that were greater than or equal to those of their mates. Males, in contrast frequently paired with females of lower plume development, and did not target well plumed females for extra pair copulations. Females may obtain direct benefits from pairing with well plumed males since these males copulated and fed chicks at a higher rate, although this did not lead to higher fledging success in our study. Well plumed females did not have higher nest attendance, nestling attendance, feeding rates or fledging success. Nevertheless, males appeared to invest more in a breeding attempt when paired to a well plumed female by increasing copulation rates, mate attendance and nest site attendance. Breeding plumes may therefore signal both parental and genetic quality to prospective mates.

A conventional cat breeding colony with 70 queens (female cats) was studied during a 4 year period 1979-1982. During that time the fat content in the diet was increased from 15% to 27% of dry matter. An increase in the number of kittens per litter (from 4·5 to 5·5) and in the annual number of litters per queen (from 1·4 to 2·3) was found. In addition, the mortality decreased from over 20% to 9%. Bodyweight gain under the new diet was such that the males reached 2500 g in 4 months while the females showed this same weight at 5 months of age. Litter size and sex distribution as a function of queen age, litter interval and time of year are presented. It is concluded that husbandry and diet are factors which are of great importance in a cat breeding unit. It is shown that under our conditions it is possible to breed conventional cats with good results.

Nineteen sows culled because of impaired reproductive performance were examined postmortem for abnormalities of the femoral condylar cartilage. All animals had lesions of varying severity, including irregular articular surface, surface tears, and erosion of the cartilage. The etiology of these cartilage lesions is discussed in relation to confinement. Key words: Articular cartilage lesion, osteoarthrosis, confinement, sows

Abstract Understanding reproductive and survival consequences of space use is of general interest to ecologists and vital to successful conservation planning. Hypothesized effects of home-range habitat composition and female attributes on these vital rates have not been adequately evaluated in breeding female Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Thus, we investigated reproductive and survival consequences of home-range variability and individual characteristics for 126 female Mallards studied on 12 study areas in the Canadian prairie parklands, 1995–1998. We used nine variables to discriminate between three reproductive categories (females that did not nest, nested but failed, or nested successfully) and two survival categories (killed by predator and survived the nesting season). Discriminant function analysis separated females that nested successfully from those that did not, with successful females having higher percentages of wood-shrub and planted grass habitat within their home ranges, a lower percentage of seasonal and semipermanent wetlands, smaller home-range sizes, and a higher percentage of wetlands at the study-area scale. We also distinguished females that did not nest from failed nesters; females that did not nest were younger and smaller and had larger home-range sizes, with a higher percentage of seasonal and semipermanent wetlands. Females that were killed did not differ from nesting-season survivors of either individual or home-range characteristics. Características del Rango de Hogar, Edad, Tamaño Corporal y Desempeño Reproductivo de las Hembras en Anas platyrhynchos

Successful induced breeding of black carp was performed by using Pituitary Gland (PG) extract and synthetic hormone FlashTM. For PG, the female received two doses at the rate of 2 mg/Kg and 8 mg/Kg body weight respectively; where male received only single dose at the amount of 2 mg/Kg body weight. For Flash, the male and female was received only one dose at the amount of 0.3 ml/Kg body weight for male and 0.25 ml/Kg body weight for female respectively. The ovulation period was 12 hours for PG and 11 hours for Flash after lost injection. In total 6.1 Kg of hatchling was obtained from 23 kg of female black carp under the two treatments. While, the ratio of hatchling and female fish body weight was 1 : 4.28 for PG and 1 : 3.34 for Flash. The study also indicates that the spawn Production of black carp and nursery operation ware profitable. In the spawn production, the profit rate was 872.76% ware observed and the cost benefit ratio recorded as 1: 8.72. In cases of profit from spawn production and nursery operation combined of black carp, the return was 247.95%. While, cost benefit ratio was 1 : 2.47. For income generation through hatchery and nursery operation for sustainable aquaculture extensive study is needed in this regards.Bangladesh J. Zool. 43(1): 73-83, 2015

Environmental conditions frequently affect the reproduction of many mammal and bird species by modulating maternal body condition. In our long-term study of European rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L., 1758), we investigated the effects of winter weather conditions and body mass on reproductive performance and reproductive timing. Specifically, we tested whether winter temperature affects both reproductive timing and reproductive performance of female rabbits or whether females compensate for low body mass after winter by a shift in the timing of the onset of breeding. Winter body mass loss was higher in years with lower winter temperatures, and the onset of breeding was delayed after these conditions. However, mean size and mass of the first litter of each season and seasonal fecundity were not reduced after harsh winters. At the individual level, females with lower winter body mass started to reproduce later, but we did not find any effects on litter size and mass. In contrast, breeding body mass was a strong predictor of the females' reproductive performance. We also found high between-year variation in mean body mass in late winter but not in mean breeding body mass. In conclusion, our results suggest that the negative effects of winter weather on the body mass of females, which should potentially affect their reproductive performance, were compensated for by delaying the onset of breeding.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to describe emus’ breeding performance in Brazil at different ages, grouped in couples or colonies. The duration of the breeding season and the production of eggs per female housed were recorded, and the productivity and breeding variables were associated with the variation of the photoperiod. The total production of the flock was 180 eggs, and the breeding season lasted 167 days (April-September), a period with an average of 11 h and 11min of daylight. The breeding season lasted 113, 133 and 82 days, the numbers of eggs produced per female were 7.29, 25.67 and 17.3, and productivity values were 31.6, 38.6, and 45.4% in the groups of birds with ages of two, four and seven years, respectively. The breeding season in 2016 occurred between April and August in Brazil. Older birds tended to start breeding later. The production rate observations indicated that earlier peak production was associated with lower egg production potential. Finally, there was a tendency for better breeding performance of birds housed in couples than in groups with more birds.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the availability of breeding bucks as well as growth and reproductive performances of Black Bengal goat under community based breeding program. A total of 30 goat rearers in three areas of Sakhipur upazilla were selected based on the survey result. Selected goat rearers were trained on scientific rearing, management and community-based breeding of Black Bengal goat and also build up community link with them. Three Black Bengal breeding bucks have been distributed among three potential farmers in three villages under Sakhipur upazilla. The management and performance of Black Bengal goats were monitored closely and analyze the impact of community based breeding program. The analysis of the growth performance showed that male kids attained significantly (p<0.05) higher birth weight (1.28±0.04 kg) than that of female kids (1.06±0.02 kg). The body weights of male at 3, 6, 9 and 12-month were 5.41±0.28, 9.18±0.32, 12.87±0.35 and 16.91±0.46 kg whereas female reached significantly (p<0.05) lower body weight as 4.97±0.16, 8.02±0.21, 10.91±0.23 and 14.21±0.34 kg at the same ages, respectively. Average daily body weight gain up to 12 months of age was also significantly (p<0.05) higher in males (43.42±1.17 g/day) than females (36.53±2.49 g/day). On the other hand, season had a significant effect (p<0.05) on the body weights of Black Bengal goat at 0 (birth), 3, 6, 9, 12-month of age. In case of reproductive performances, it was revealed that age at sexual maturity was 199.32±2.41 days; age at first kidding 393.23±1.38 days; service per conception 1.17±0.04, and litter size was 1.76±0.08 in community based breeding program. Beside these, post-partum heat period of Black Bengal goat was found 47.50±0.87 days. Comparing with the findings of previous research works, these results suggested that community based breeding program has not only reduced the scarcity of good quality breeding bucks but also improved the growth and reproductive performances of Black Bengal goats. Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2020. 49 (1): 13-21

Selection of livestock was purposed to increase productivity. A performance test was conducted using 25 males and 25 females of Sumba Ongole (SO) cattle. The performance test were conducted in three periods (2014, 2015 and 2016) for about 535 days. Descriptive statistics ws used to analyze data of body weight. Cattle with age between 300 to 600 days were used for evaluation. Result showed that heritability value of yearling weight (YW365) was 0.77+0.68 as a high category. The highest breeding value of YW365 were 66.05 kg (male) and 41.89 kg (female). The average of corrected final weight (CFW) weight were 172.55+34.22 kg (male) and 159.80+37.73 kg (female). The performance test in this study obtained six A class (1 bull and 5 cows) based on the standard minimum of body measurements for SO cattle.

[ES] Cualquier mejora en el conocimiento de la nutrición y el manejo de los futuros conejos reproductores debe considerarse como prioritario en la producción cunícola. Sin embargo, los principales esfuerzos en investigación se han centrado en estos animales durante la fase de reproducción propiamente dicha. La hipótesis inicial de esta tesis fue que alcanzar un desarrollo temprano adecuado durante la gestación, lactancia, engorde y recría, con la ayuda de programas ajustados de alimentación en algunos de estos períodos, mejoraría el rendimiento reproductivo y la vida útil de los futuros conejos reproductores. Para evaluar esta hipótesis, se llevaron a cabo dos tipos de ensayos, tanto en conejos hembra de líneas maternas como en machos de líneas seleccionadas por velocidad de crecimiento y destinadas a la inseminación artificial. El primero de estos ensayos se centró en los diferentes patrones de crecimiento, desde el nacimiento hasta el final de la fase de recría, y su influencia en la carrera reproductiva y la vida útil del conejo. En el segundo tipo de pruebas, se evaluó el efecto del uso de diferentes dietas o programas de alimentación durante el período de recría en la productividad a corto y medio plazo. Los resultados muestran dos fases importantes en el desarrollo temprano, de acuerdo con sus efectos sobre el rendimiento reproductivo y la vida útil. Mostrar un mayor desarrollo corporal desde el nacimiento hasta los 63 días de vida parece tener una influencia positiva en el grado de madurez y la productividad al comienzo de su vida reproductiva, además de poder mejorar su supervivencia a corto plazo, pero con posibles efectos negativos en la esperanza de vida a largo plazo. Sin embargo, el desarrollo durante el período de recría (desde los 63 días de vida hasta el comienzo de la carrera reproductiva) parece tener un mayor impacto en la productividad y la esperanza de vida de nuestros futuros conejos reproductores. Las hembras más engrasadas en la primera inseminación tuvieron tamaños de camada más pequeños y un mayor riesgo de ser sacrificadas que las magras (P<0.05). Además, los machos que mostraron una mayor ganancia media diaria durante el período de recría tuvieron un número y porcentaje de eyaculados viables más bajos a lo largo de su vida productiva y mayor riesgo de muerte o sacrificio. Estos resultados podrían indicar que la clave para llevar a cabo un desarrollo adecuado durante el período de recría debería basarse tanto en conseguir que los conejos alcancen un grado de madurez apropiado, tanto fisiológica como reproductivamente, así como evitar un excesivo engrasamiento al inicio de su vida productiva. En los ensayos destinados a evaluar los programas de alimentación durante la recría, el uso de una restricción alimentaria en hembras, y especialmente el uso de dietas fibrosas (de 8.5 a 10 MJ ED/kg MS) permiten un desarrollo corporal gradual y adecuado a la edad de cubrición, con suficientes reservas corporales para afrontar el comienzo de la vida reproductiva y mejorando tanto su rendimiento reproductivo como su vida útil. El éxito de estos programas de alimentación de recría depende del momento y la duración de la aplicación de estos, mejorándose con la aplicación de un cambio a un pienso enriquecido energéticamente alrededor del primer apareamiento. En los machos, se observó que un programa de alimentación durante la recría adecuado debería adaptarse a la capacidad de ingesta de estos y a sus necesidades nutricionales en períodos concretos de la recría, consiguiendo así mejoras en algunos parámetros del semen al inicio de su vida reproductiva. En conclusión, tanto un desarrollo temprano adecuado desde la gestación hasta el comienzo de su vida reproductiva, como el uso de programas adecuados de alimentación durante la recría podrían mejorar significativamente el rendimiento reproductivo futuro, así como la esperanza de vida, tanto en conejos he
[CAT] Qualsevol millora en el coneixement tant de la nutrició com del maneig dels futurs conills de criança ha de considerar-se com a prioritari en la producció de conills. No obstant açò, els principals esforços en investigació s'han centrat en aquests animals durant la fase de reproducció pròpiament dita. La hipòtesi inicial d'aquesta tesi va ser que aconseguir un desenvolupament primerenc adequat durant la gestació, lactància, engreix i criança, amb l'ajuda de programes ajustats d'alimentació en alguns d'aquests períodes, milloraria el rendiment reproductiu i la vida útil dels futurs conills reproductors. Per a avaluar aquesta hipòtesi, es van dur a terme dos tipus d'assajos, tant en conills femella de línies maternes, com en mascles de línies seleccionades per a la velocitat de creixement i destinades a la inseminació artificial. El primer d'aquests assajos es va centrar en els diferents patrons de creixement, des del naixement fins al final de la fase de criança, i la seua influència en la carrera reproductiva i la vida útil del conill. En el segon tipus de proves, es va avaluar l'efecte de l'ús de diferents dietes o programes d'alimentació durant el període de criança, en la productivitat a curt i mig termini. Els resultats obtinguts semblen indicar que podríem diferenciar dues fases en el desenvolupament primerenc, d'acord amb els seus efectes sobre el rendiment reproductiu i la vida útil. Mostrar un major desenvolupament corporal des del naixement fins als 63 dies de vida sembla tenir una influència positiva en el grau de maduresa i la productivitat al començament de la seua vida reproductiva, a més de poder millorar la seua supervivència a curt termini, però amb possibles efectes negatius en l'esperança de vida a llarg termini. No obstant açò, el desenvolupament durant el període de sembla tenir un major impacte en la productivitat i l'esperança de vida dels nostres futurs conills reproductors. Les femelles més greixades en la primera inseminació van tenir grandàries de ventrada més xicotets (tant nascuts com deslletats) i un major risc de ser sacrificades que les magres (P<0.05). A més, els mascles que van mostrar un major guany mitjà diari durant el període de criança van tenir un nombre i percentatge d'ejaculats viables més baixos al llarg de la seua vida productiva i major risc de mort o sacrifici. Aquests resultats podrien indicar que la clau per a dur a terme un desenvolupament adequat durant el període de criança hauria de basar-se tant a aconseguir que els conills aconseguisquen un grau de maduresa apropiat, per a afrontar els futurs desafiaments productius, com evitar un excessiu greixatge a l'inici de la seua vida productiva. En els assajos destinats a avaluar els programes d'alimentació durant la criança, l'ús d'una restricció alimentària en femelles, i especialment l'ús de dietes fibroses (de 8.5 a 10 MJ ED/kg MS) permeten un desenvolupament corporal gradual i adequat a l'edat de cobriment, amb suficients reserves corporals per a afrontar el començament de la vida reproductiva i millorant tant el seu rendiment reproductiu com la seua vida útil. L'èxit d'aquests programes d'alimentació de criança depèn del moment i la durada de l'aplicació d'aquests, millorant-se amb l'aplicació d'un canvi a un pinso enriquit energèticament al voltant del primer cobriment. En els mascles, es va observar que un programa d'alimentació durant la criança adequat hauria d'adaptar-se a la capacitat d'ingesta d'aquests i a les seues necessitats nutricionals en períodes concrets de la criança, aconseguint així millores en alguns paràmetres del semen a l'inici de la seua vida reproductiva. En conclusió, tant un desenvolupament primerenc adequat des de la gestació fins al començament de la seua vida reproductiva, com l'ús de programes adequats d'alimentació durant la criança podrien millorar significativament el rendiment reproductiu futur, així com l'esperança
[EN] Any improvement on the knowledge of both nutrition and management of the future rabbit breeders should be considered as crucial. However, main research efforts have been focused on animals during reproduction phase. The initial hypothesis of this thesis was that achieving an adequate early development during young rabbits' gestation, lactation, fattening and rearing, with the help of fitted feeding programmes in some of these periods, would be improved reproductive performance and lifespan of the future breeding rabbits. To evaluate this hypothesis, two types of trials, both in rabbit females from maternal lines selected for litter size at weaning and males from paternal lines selected for growth rate and intended on artificial insemination, were carried out. The first of these trials were mainly focused on the different growth patterns, from birth to the end of the rearing age, and their influence on rabbit's reproductive career and lifespan. In a second type of trials, the effect of the use of different diets or feeding programs during the rearing period in the performance in the short- medium-term was evaluated. The results obtained from the evaluation of the different growth patterns trials seem to indicate that, we could differentiate two parts on the early development according to their effects on reproductive performance and lifespan. To show a greater body development from birth to 63 days of life seems to have a positive influence on the maturity degree and productivity at the beginning of their reproductive life, as well as being able to improve their survival in the short-term, but it could be even negative for long-term lifespan. However, the development during the rearing period (from 63 days of life to the beginning of reproduction career) seems to have a higher impact on the productivity and lifespan of our rabbit breeders. Fatter rabbit females at first insemination had smaller litter sizes (born and weaned) and a higher risk of being culled (+13% per positive change in mm of perirenal fat) than lean ones (P<0.05). Also, rabbit males that showed a greater average daily gain during rearing period had a lower number and percentage of profitable ejaculates through it productive life (-10.1 and -4.9% per each 10 g of daily gain increase, respectively; P<0.05) and higher risk of death or culling (+16.2% per each increase in one standard deviation unit on live weight; P<0.05). These results could indicate that the key to carrying out an adequate development during the rearing period should allow the rabbits to reach an appropriate degree of physiological and reproductive maturity to face the future productive challenges, avoiding an excessive fatness at the beginning of their productive life. The use of a feeding restriction in rabbit females, and especially the use of fibrous diets (from 8.5 to 10 MJ DE/ kg DM) lead a gradual and adequate body development at mating, with enough body reserves to face the beginning of reproduction life and improving their whole reproductive performance and lifespan. The success of these rearing feeding programs depends in the moment and duration of application of them and improved with the application of a nutritional flushing around first mating. In rabbit males, it was observed that an adequate rearing feeding program should adapt it to the male's intake capacity and their nutritional requirements rearing period, especially to their high DP needs at the beginning of rearing period or when their requirements were close to maintenance, to improve some semen parameters at the beginning of their reproduction life. In conclusion, both the adequate early development of future rabbit breeders, from their own gestation to the beginning of their reproductive life, and the use of appropriate rearing feeding programs could significantly improve their future reproductive performance, as well as their life expectancy, both in rabbit females and males.
Martínez Paredes, EM. (2019). Rearing programmes for breeding rabbits. Effect of early development and feeding on future reproductive performance of rabbit females and males [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/124969
TESIS

Two distinct experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 was conducted to investigate the effects of nutritional conditioning and flushing as a means of improving reproductive performance of female mink. In Exp. 2, vegetable oil and corn syrup were fed during lactation to ascertain whether this nutritional regimen would improve growth of kits and to maintain the female's condition. Ninety-nine Standard Dark kit females in Exp. 1 were assigned to a group (IBC) that was restricted-fed a low energy breeding diet (14.6 MJ/kg DM) beginning in September to keep the animals in lean condition throughout the winter. Concomitantly, a control group (IA, N=51) was full-fed a higher energy diet (16.3 MJ/kg DM) until subjected to short-term conditioning with the breeding diet in January and February. All mink were individually conditioned to average under 900 g weight, which is considered an opti a weight before the meating season. At the beginning of the breeding season one-half of the mink in the experimental group (IBC) were exposed to nutritional flushing (hereafter designated IC) while the other one-half of the mink (IB) were moderately-fed for the entire mating period, as was the control group (IA). Flushing consisted of slight restriction of feed for 2 weeks followed by full feeding from March 1, 3 days before the mating season, until second mating. On April 15, all groups were further divided in half: one-half was fed moderately, while the other one-half was fed to appetite. This experiment failed to improve litter size significantly. Average litter sizes at birth for groups IA, IB and IC were 6.16, 5.74 and 6.48, respectively. However, the relationship between litter size and weight change (%) during flushing was significantly positive and followed a quadratic curve (p = 0.010, R² = 13.8 %). As a consequence, weight increase during flushing (9.32%) was too low and suggests a need for higher energy density during flushing. Conception rate of mink in this experiment was very high (96.7%), apparently as a result of individual conditioning of the mink. Percentage of stillborn kits was higher than normal (highest in the flushing group) but the difference was not significant statistically. Litter sizes at birth based on full (F) and restricted feeding (R) were 5.88 and 6.40, respectively (p=0.07). In relevant field observations on two commercial farms, it was noticed that obesity of females prior to mating lowered reproductive performance. Blue Iris females weighing over 1400-1500 g at mating often did not conceive and had few if any kits at weaning. In Exp. 2, lactating Blue Iris females with kits were fed either lard or vegetable oil as a fat source (40 % of total fat) and cereal (wheat:barley) or corn syrup supplement as a carbohydrate source (40%). Positive effects of vegetable oil on kit weights and of corn syrup on weight loss of dams were revealed. Weight of kits fed lard and vegetable oil were 315 and 332 g (p=0.06) at 6 and 572 and 598 g (0.03) at 8 weeks of age, respectively. Weight losses of dams from parturition to 6 weeks of age averaged 283 and 154 g (p=0.06) for cereal treatment and the corn syrup supplemented treatment, respectively.
Graduation date: 1992

Among the goat breeds of India, Osmanabadi goat breed is one of the most popular goat breed of the arid and semi-arid region of Maharashtra state. Historically this breed is known to exist on Deccan Plateau since decades. The name Osmanabadi is derived from its origin, i.e. Osmanabad district in Maharashtra state. The breeds is distributed mainly in 2 southern states of India viz. Western Telangana and North Eastern Karnataka state and are having largest contribution to meat production in Southern India as their meat is very tasty when compared with local breeds. The Osmanabadi breed is suited to all types of rearing systems, the most ideal being the semi-intensive system (grazing and closed enclosure) where higher production has been observed compared to extensive (grazing system) and intensive systems (zero grazing system). Osmanabadi goats reared in the Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana border region had been analysed with reproductive parameters and found that, the female kids attend puberty at the age of 349.8 ± 6.9 days with 17.45 ± 0.23 Kg body weight. The average gestation period found was 152.24 ± 0.24 days. The mean age at first kidding was found to be 494.4 ± 8.1 days. The average duration of post-partum anoestrus period was 67.34 ± 6.31 days which was responsible for short inter-kidding interval which shows high profile reproductive efficiency. The mean kidding interval recorded as 232.62 ± 5.45 days. Majority of kidding resulted in single births (87.27%) and with only 12.73% of multiple births. Breeding season and kidding season of Osmanabadi goats was observed from the month of June to September and November to February as a major.