Nutritional approaches to arresting the decline in fertility of pigs and poultry

Authors: Edited by J.A. Taylor-Pickard and L. Nollet
Continued genetic development of pigs and poultry has been the foundation of profitable production within a competitive market. However, the challenges of these production increases have undoubtedly taken their toll on reproductive function in all breeding livestock, with the incidence of infertility increasing at an alarming rate. For example, it has recently been estimated that over 40% of sows are culled due to fertility problems, compared to just 2% with feet and leg issues.

This edited collection of papers is taken from a series of seminars, devoted to bringing together some of the world’s leading authorities in the field of pig and poultry reproduction. The fundamental aim being to re-examine the current trends in productivity in the pig and poultry industries, and to identify nutritional means to improve fertility. It considers the effects of essential nutrients in optimising productivity, and discusses innovative applications of nutrition that will help to enhance fertility. The success of such innovations within entrepreneurial integrated systems is also covered, together with the importance of producing a quality chick and piglet at birth/hatching. Finally, the role of management and the need for least cost production is discussed.

Nutritional Approaches to Arresting the decline in Fertility of Pigs and Poultry is aimed at nutritionists and animal producers as well as students and researchers studying animal and applied biological sciences

Availability: In Print
Publication date: 2006
Binding: Hardback
Extent: 196 pp.
ISBN: 9076998884

Book Contents

• Nutrigenomics in pig and poultry production: Feeding the genes for fertility
• Recent advances in sow reproductive function
• Organic or inorganic selenium for hyperovulatory first-parity sows? Antioxidant status, hormonal response, embryo development and reproductive performance
• Piglets survival: importance for efficient productivity
• Nutritional management of reproduction
• The role of the boar in maximising reproduction: effects of nutrition and management
• Recent developments of fertility in turkeys
• Examining the impact of nutrition on the fertility of broiler breeders
• Broiler breeder nutrition and management: What’s new?
• Nutrition of the newly hatched chick: An opportunity to maximize broiler performance?
• Striving for a feed conversion ratio of 1.00 - The challenges we need to overcome
• Keyword Index