Effect of active immunization against LHRH or LH in boars: reproductive consequences and performance traits.

Forty crossbred boars were equally divided into eight groups at birth. Four groups were immunized (200 micrograms/boar) at 12 wk of age against either luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) conjugated to human serum globulin (LHRH-hSG) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), LHRH-hSG in muramyldipeptide adjuvant (PEP), procine luteinizing hormone (LH) conjugated to hSG (pLH-hSG) in CFA or ovine LH (oLH) in CFA. Equal doses of boosters were given in either PEP or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) at 16 and 18 wk of age. Two groups of boars were immunized with either hSG + CFA or hSG + PEP (adjuvant controls). Two groups were castrated either at the time of weaning (castrate weaning) or at 16 wk when immunized boars were given their first booster injections (castrate booster). All pigs were slaughtered at 24 wk of age. Serum levels of LH and testosterone (T), LHRH or LH antibody titers, as well as testicular and accessory sex gland weights and histology were determined. By wk 16, LHRH antibody titers began to rise in those boars immunized against LHRH-hSG. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone antibody titers on wk 18, 20 and 22 were greater than those at wk 16. By 22 wk of age, LHRH-hSG boars had non-detectable plasma LH and T and reduced weights of testes and acessory sex glands. Boars immunized against oLH did not respond to treatment, whereas pLH-hSG boars showed a reduction in serum T levels and accessory sex gland weights. Immunization had no effect on average daily gain, hot carcass weights or loin eye area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)