Steroidome and metabolome analysis in gilt saliva to identify potential biomarkers of boar effect receptivity

Optimal management of gilt reproduction requires oestrus synchronization. Hormonal treatments are used for this purpose, but there is a growing demand non-hormonal alternatives, especially in organic farms. The boar effect an important alternative opportunity to induce and synchronize without hormones. Before puberty, gilts exhibit ‘waiting period’ during which exposure could the first ovulation. We searched salivary biomarkers period receptivity improve detection stimulate with perspective enhancing efficacy effect. Saliva samples were collected from 30 Large-White × Landrace crossbred between 140 175 days age. Gilts exposed twice day subjected 150 Among gilts, 10 detected 4 7 after introduction considered receptive effect, 14 more than 8 contact, six did not show non-receptive. non-receptive analyzed steroidome metabolome using gas chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. Four saliva per analyzed: 25 11 before introduction, 3 later or gilts. Twenty-nine steroids 31 metabolites saliva. Salivary concentrations three significantly different gilts: progesterone glycolate 3α5β20α- 3β5α20β-hexahydroprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenediol, succinate, butyrate 3β5α-tetrahydroprogesterone on introduction. Thus, nine potential identified our experimental conditions. Further studies higher numbers sampling points necessary ascertain their reliability.