Domestic Animal Endocrinology 29 (2005) 362–370 The effect of feeding strategy during the pre-follicular phase on subsequent follicular development in the pig W. Hazeleger ∗ , N.M. Soede, B. Kemp Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, Marijkeweg 40, PO Box 338, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands Abstract In female pigs feeding level has important effects on reproductive performance. This review is focused on the follicular development after low and high feeding levels during the luteal phase in gilts. Although aspects of diet composition seem to have a role in regulating reproductive performance, the most important aspect appears to be the plane of nutrition. Similar effects are described during lactation in primiparous sows, when their metabolism is challenged to its maximum. Also in this situation feeding level clearly affects weaning to oestrus interval, follicular development, oocyte maturation, ovulation rate and subsequent embryonic survival. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords: Nutrition; Follicle development; Ovulation rate; Gilts; Sows 1. Introduction A low feeding level during the pre-follicular phase is known to have several effects on reproductive processes in pigs. Low feeding levels of sows during lactation may negatively affect subsequent weaning-to-oestrus interval, ovulation rate and embryo survival [1–4]. These effects of a negative energy balance seem to be related to the suppressive effects of a low feeding level on LH pulsatility and follicular development [5,6] and have been suggested to be mediated by changes in insulin levels [7]. However, although insulin-stimulating di- ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +31 317 483661; fax: +31 317 485006. E-mail address: wouter.hazeleger@wur.nl (W. Hazeleger). 0739-7240/$ – see front matter © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2005.03.007