INFLUENCE OF BODY CONDITION ON THE FERTIL ITY RESULTS OF GILTS FOLLOWING BIOMECHANICAL CYCLE SYNCHRONIZATION

A total of 591 gilts (Large White x German Landrace) were used to stud y the influence of weight and side fat thickness measured by ultrasoni c at the age before start for breeding on the first litter size and fa rrowing rate following ovulation-synchronization and date-oriented fir st insemination. Gilts were 222 d old and weighted 212,5 kg. Side fat thickness ranged from 7,7 to 20,7 mm. 439 gilts had produced a first l itter, the mean number of total born piglets was 9,87 +/- 2, 8. When t he material was split into significantly different weight gain classes , the litter size was increasing from group 1 (467 g of daily gain): 9 ,64; over group 2 (516 g): 9,82 to group 3 (568 g): 10,47 piglets per litter. The gilts with a fat thickness of 13-18 mm yielded higher farr owing rates and piglet numbers per 100 inseminated animals then the gi lts with less fat thickness.