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THE EFFECT OF FEED LEVEL DURING OESTRUS ON OVULATION RATE IN THE GILT

Summary.: The effect of feed intake during the oestrous period and during previous oestrous cycles on ovulation rate, pituitary weight and pituitary LH potency, has been investigated. Control gilts were fed 1·8 kg food/day from puberty to the third oestrus. Increasing feed intake to 3·6 kg for 1 day, on the day following mating did not significantly affect ovulation rate, pituitary weight or residual LH potency. Increasing feed intake to 3·6 kg on the day ofmating significantly (P<0·05) increased ovulation rate by 1·3±0·15 ova, but did not affect pituitary weight or residual LH potency. Gilts fed 3·6 kg food/day from puberty to the third oestrus had significantly higher ovulation rates than gilts fed 1·8 kg food/day (13·2 versus 11·1 ova; P<0·05), and significantly heavier dried pituitary glands (47·8 versus 38·3 mg; P<0·01). Residual pituitary LH potency was not affected by feed level.