{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T13:58:29Z","timestamp":1785419909163,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783900800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100007263","name":"Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100007263","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/02smfhw86","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Previous work demonstrates that short -term increases in feed allowances (i.e., \u201cnutritional flushing\u201d) can improve ovulation rate. Furthermore, precision livestock farming equipment like electronic sow feeder (ESF) systems are becoming more commonplace to enhance individual sow management in group housing. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of short-term increases in feed allowances on growth and sexual development in previously feed-restricted gilts using an ESF. Prepubertal crossbred gilts were acclimated to an ESF and allocated to one of three feeding regimens, ad libitum (AD, n = 14), restricted (RS, n = 14; 2.72 kg\/d), or 2.72 kg\/d, until 7 days after puberty (NF, n = 14), followed by ad libitum feeding. Estrus detection and feeding regimens commenced at 160 days of age and continued for 48 days. Reproductive tracts were harvested between 8 and 11 days after second estrus. Average daily gain was improved in NF gilts compared to RS gilts (p = 0.04) Ad libitum-fed gilts were less feed efficient than the other treatment groups (p &lt; 0.01). Improved ovulation rate was observed for NF gilts compared to RS gilts (p = 0.05). Feed disappearance decreased as estrus approached for AD and NF gilts (p &lt; 0.01). For the regimens herein, age at puberty onset was not impacted; however, feed conversion was improved for the level of restriction implemented. Moreover, employing ESF technology may support current estrus detection methods by monitoring feeding behavior for AD-fed gilts.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci13070677","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]],"date-time":"2026-07-13T08:53:58Z","timestamp":1783932838000},"page":"677","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effect of Short-Term Increases in Feed Allowances on Growth and Sexual Development in Previously Feed-Restricted Gilts"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-4228-0853","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tyler","family":"Niblett","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-1844-7948","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kimberly","family":"Williams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Virginia Tech-Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Suffolk, VA 23437, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marguerite","family":"Cross","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Virginia Tech-Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Suffolk, VA 23437, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexis","family":"Clapp","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Virginia Tech-Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Suffolk, VA 23437, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9161-9452","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mark","family":"Estienne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Virginia Tech-Tidewater Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Suffolk, VA 23437, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"PigCHAMP (2025). USA and Canadian 2024 Year End Summary, PigCHAMP, Inc."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"69","DOI":"10.54846\/jshap\/357","article-title":"Financial Impact of Average Parity of Culled Females in a Breed-to-Wean Swine Operation Using Replacement Gilt Net Present Value Analysis","volume":"11","author":"Stalder","year":"2003","journal-title":"J. Swine Health Prod."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"238","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2012.11.004","article-title":"Influence of Age at First Estrus, Body Weight, and Average Daily Gain of Replacement Gilts on Their Subsequent Reproductive Performance as Sows","volume":"151","author":"Roongsitthichai","year":"2013","journal-title":"Livest. Sci."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anireprosci.2018.05.025","article-title":"Heritability Estimates and Effect on Lifetime Reproductive Performance of Age at Puberty in Sows","volume":"195","author":"Li","year":"2018","journal-title":"Anim. Reprod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"281","article-title":"Growth, Body State and Breeding Performance in Gilts and Primiparous Sows","volume":"66","author":"Bortolozzo","year":"2009","journal-title":"Soc. Reprod. Fertil. Suppl."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Patterson, J., and Foxcroft, G. (2019). Gilt Management for Fertility and Longevity. Animals, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani9070434"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"886","DOI":"10.2527\/1991.693886x","article-title":"Effects of Pre- and Postpubertal Feeding on Production Traits at First and Second Estrus in Gilts","volume":"69","author":"Beltranena","year":"1991","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.54846\/jshap\/1072","article-title":"Lessons Learned from Managing Electronic Sow Feeders and Collecting Weights of Gestating Sows Housed on a Large Commercial Farm","volume":"26","author":"Thomas","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Swine Health Prod."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Hyer, J., and Waller, J. (2014). Comparison of Five Analytic Techniques for Two-Group, Pre-Post Repeated Measures Designs Using SAS \u00ae. SAS Global Forum, SAS Institute Inc."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tjem.2018.08.001","article-title":"User\u2019s Guide to Correlation Coefficients","volume":"18","author":"Akoglu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Turk. J. Emerg. Med."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anireprosci.2006.05.004","article-title":"Age, Body Weight and Backfat Thickness at First Observed Oestrus in Crossbred Landrace \u00d7 Yorkshire Gilts, Seasonal Variations and Their Influence on Subsequence Reproductive Performance","volume":"99","author":"Tummaruk","year":"2007","journal-title":"Anim. Reprod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"797","DOI":"10.4141\/cjas87-082","article-title":"Effect of Long-Term Feed Restriction on Age at Puberty of Gilts","volume":"67","author":"Lunen","year":"1987","journal-title":"Can. J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.2527\/jas1960.191295x","article-title":"Ovulation Rate in Swine as Affected by Increased Energy Intake Just Prior to Ovulation","volume":"19","author":"Zimmerman","year":"1960","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3774","DOI":"10.2527\/1992.70123774x","article-title":"Effect of Feed Intake during Late Development on Pubertal Onset and Resulting Body Composition in Crossbred Gilts","volume":"70","author":"Newton","year":"1992","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1040","DOI":"10.1071\/AN15871","article-title":"Pre- and Peri-Pubertal Feed Intake: Effects on Age at Puberty and Potential Litter Size of Replacement Gilts","volume":"57","author":"Mitchell","year":"2017","journal-title":"Anim. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aninu.2022.06.023","article-title":"Optimizing Feeding Regimen of Replacement Gilts to Improve Their Reproductive Performance and Retention Rate of Their First 2 Parities","volume":"12","author":"Tan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Anim. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"skaa186","DOI":"10.1093\/jas\/skaa186","article-title":"Effects of Flush Feeding Strategy before Breeding on Reproductive Performance of Modern Replacement Gilts: Impacts on Ovulation Rate and Litter Traits","volume":"98","author":"Mallmann","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1017\/S0021859600085580","article-title":"Influence of Plane of Nutrition on Portal Blood Flow and the Metabolic Clearance Rate of Progesterone in Ovariectomized Gilts","volume":"121","author":"Prime","year":"1993","journal-title":"J. Agric. Sci."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3137","DOI":"10.2527\/jas.2012-5778","article-title":"The Relationship of Plasma Urea Nitrogen with Growth Traits and Age at First Estrus in Gilts","volume":"91","author":"Lents","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"440","DOI":"10.1080\/09712119.2013.875915","article-title":"Effects of Dietary Threonine: Lysine Ratios on Growth Performance, Blood Urea Nitrogen, and Nitrogen Balance in Weaned Pigs","volume":"42","author":"Zhang","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Appl. Anim. Res."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anifeedsci.2017.05.014","article-title":"Coated Compound Proteases Improve Nitrogen Utilization by Decreasing Manure Nitrogen Output for Growing Pigs Fed Sorghum Soybean Meal Based Diets","volume":"230","author":"Pan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Anim. Feed Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"84","DOI":"10.1016\/j.toxicon.2018.07.013","article-title":"Growth Performance, Selected Blood Biochemical Parameters and Body Weights of Pre-Pubertal Gilts Fed Diets Supplemented with Different Doses of Zearalenone (ZEN)","volume":"152","author":"Rykaczewska","year":"2018","journal-title":"Toxicon"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3649","DOI":"10.2527\/1995.73123649x","article-title":"Relationship of Rate of Lean Tissue Growth and Other Factors to Concentration of Urea in Plasma of Pigs","volume":"73","author":"Coma","year":"1995","journal-title":"J. Anim. Sci."}],"container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/13\/7\/677\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,15]],"date-time":"2026-07-15T04:16:01Z","timestamp":1784088961000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/13\/7\/677"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]]},"references-count":23,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]}},"alternative-id":["vetsci13070677"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vetsci13070677","relation":{},"ISSN":["2306-7381"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2306-7381","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,13]]}}}