Browsing by Subject "Body condition"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Effects of the feeding level in early gestation on body reserves and the productive and reproductive performance of primiparous and multiparous sows
    (Elsevier, 2022-05-28) Carrión-López, M. José; Madrid, Josefa; Martínez-Miró, Silvia; Hernández, Fuensanta; Orengo, Juan; Producción Animal
    Early gestation may be the best period for sows to recover body reserve losses from previous lactation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of restricted feeding in early gestation on the body status, productive and reproductive performance, and hormonal-metabolic status of primiparous and multiparous sows. A total of 130 sows were randomly assigned to one of three feeding levels: Treatment I, which sows were fed at the level commonly used from day 3 to 28 of gestation (2.5 kg⋅d-1 of a diet with 2.18 Mcal NE⋅kg-1 and 13.72 g CP⋅kg-1), and Treatments II and III, where feed was increased by 25% and 50%, respectively. Sow body status, litter size and weight, early mortalities, reproductive rates, weaning-to-estrus interval, and hormones linked to metabolism were recorded. The highest weight gain, body condition score, and backfat thickness were found in sows fed Treatment III compared to those fed the usual feeding level (Treatment I). No differences among treatment groups were found in litter size or litter weight, although a tendency for more live born piglets and fewer stillbirths was found in sows fed Treatment III. In contrast, litters from sows fed at higher feeding levels had a higher mortality at 72 h compared to those fed at the lowest feeding level (I), which was partly linked to a higher percentage of piglets culled at birth and piglets weighing less than 800 g. There were no differences in conception and farrowing rates, leptin, progesterone, insulin, or cortisol among treatment groups applied in early gestation. In conclusion, increasing the feeding level in sows during early gestation to improve their short-term productive and reproductive performance remains controversial. Further studies are needed to focus on how the restricted feeding level applied could affect the viability and proportion of low-weight piglets.
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    Inter-population variability in growth and reproduction of invasive bleak Alburnus alburnus (Linnaeus, 1758) across the Iberian Peninsula
    (CSIRO Publishing, 2018-03-26) Latorre, Dani; Masó, Guillem; Verdiell Cubedo, David; Tarkan, Ali Serhan; Vila Gispert, Anna; Copp, Gordon H.; Cucherousset, Julien; da Silva, Eduardo; Fernández Delgado, Carlos; García Berthou, Emili; Miranda, Rafael; Oliva Paterna, Francisco J.; Ruiz Navarro, Ana; Serrano, José M.; Almeida, David; Didáctica de las Ciencias Experimentales
    The native European freshwater cyprinid fish, common bleak Alburnus alburnus (Linnaeus, 1758), is an invasive non-native fish in the Iberian Peninsula, where it threatens the valuable endemic fish fauna. Despite the bleak’s invasive status, there is a dearth of studies on the biological traits of non-native populations in Europe’s Mediterranean region, and the present study aimed to compare bleak growth and reproductive traits across the principal rivers of Iberia with those from a native ‘reference’ bleak population in France. Non-native bleak from the River Tagus had the highest back-calculated total lengths (TLs), growth rate and body condition, but the lowest reproductive investment and smallest egg size of all studied populations. Whereas, these latter two traits were the highest in the River Ebro, where fecundity was the lowest for all Iberian rivers. The youngest age and the smallest TL at maturity were observed in the River Ebro. The River Segura had the lowest back-calculated TLs and growth rate, the highest fecundity and proportion of females, and the oldest age at maturity. Population traits of bleak in the River Saoˆne (the native ‘reference’ population) were generally different from those in Iberian rivers, except for the River Ebro. This wide inter-population variability contributes to the species’ successful establishment in novel habitats.
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    Water quality affects the condition of Barbus sclateri Günther, 1868 (Pisces, Cyprinidae) in semi-arid reservoirs from the Iberian Peninsula
    (Murcia: Universidad de Murcia, Servicio de Publicaciones, 2003) Oliva Paterna, Francisco José; Andreu Soler, Asunción; Torralva Forero, María del Mar; Zoología y Antropología Física; Facultad de Biología
    El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar la relación entre la condi ción de los individuos y las variables ambientales en poblaciones de Barbus sclateri de embalses localizados en una zona semiárida del sureste de la Península Ibérica. Estos ecosistemas artificiales están caracterizados por una alta salinidad de sus aguas. Las relaciones Peso-Longitud de los individuos fueron utilizadas para la determina ción de diferencias en la condición entre 6 poblaciones de Barbus scla teri de embalses con diferentes parámetros ambientales. Fueron obte nidas diferencias significativas en la condición entre las poblaciones estudiadas (ANCOVA, p<0,05). La condición de las poblaciones de Barbus sclateri fue dependiente de variables ecológicas relacionadas principalmente con la calidad de las aguas y, consecuentemente, con el sustrato y usos predominantes de la Cuenca Hidrográfica. La con ductividad del agua fue la variable que presentó mayor efecto signifi cativo sobre la condición de los peces. En conclusión, la salinización y la elevada conductividad del agua de los embalses podrían presentar un efecto negativo sobre la condición de los peces. Estos efectos de berían ser considerados cuando dichas poblaciones estén sujetas a la gestión para la pesca deportiva, o inmersas en programas de recupe ración o cualquier otro plan de manejo.