Animal Husbandry and Feed Science ›› 2019, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (10): 91-94.doi: 10.12160/j.issn.1672-5190.2019.10.019

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Improving the Reproductive Performance of Sows by Using Ultrasonic Backfat Measurement Technique

LI Rui-xiang1, HAN Li-kang1, WANG Xin-jun2, MENG Wei-hong2, WANG Shuo2   

  1. 1. Animal Epidemic Prevention and Control Center of Weinan City of Shannxi Province,Weinan 714000,China;
    2.Jinqiao Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. of Tongguan County of Shannxi Province,Tongguan 714300,China
  • Received:2019-09-17 Online:2019-10-30 Published:2019-12-17

Abstract: Backfat thickness is an important indicator for improving the production and productivity of the porcine herd, it can be used to evaluate the carcass composition of animals, especially for carcass fat. Animal energy storage is mainly in the form of adipose tissue, and body weight loss is mainly caused by fat metabolism. In the process of modern pig raising, sow reproductive performance is one of the important indicators to measure the economic benefits of the pig industry. Body fatness is a significant index for measuring the body condition of sow. Body fatness is closely related to the fat content of sow, which can effectively reflect the nutritional reserve. The sow′s body fatness condition is closely associated with its reproductive performance, while the reproductive performance of sows directly determines the breeding economic efficiency of the pig farm. With the rapid development of the large-scale pig industry, more and more pig farms have begun to accurately adjust the sow′s body condition through backfat measurement. Based on the determination of backfat and combined with the different physiological stages of the sow, the corresponding feeding standards and nutritional standards are formulated to improve the reproductive performance of the sow to maximize the production efficiency. This paper introduced the ultrasonic backfat measurement technique and its key points, and reviewed the relationship between backfat thickness and reproductive performance of sow, in hoping to provide reference for improving the reproductive performance and meat quality of sow.

Key words: backfat, determination, reproductive performance

CLC Number: