A meta-analysis was carried out to evaluate the association between backfat thickness and sow body condition in gestation and lactation. The database assembled 14 publications from 2000 to 2006. The meta-analysis was accomplished by graphical analysis, correlation, and analysis of variance. The correlation between backfat thickness (BT) and body weight was 0.16 (P<0.01), with protein mass was 0.48 (P<0.01) and leptin concentration was 0.88 (P<0.01). The correlation between the backfat variation during and in lactation (VBTl) and body weight was -0.21 (P<0.01), with body weight variation in lactation was 0.34 (P<0.01) and with fat mass variation in lactation was 0.70 (P<0.01). The correlation between BT and born alive litter size was 0.46 (P<0.01), between VBTl and piglets body weight at seven days of age was 0.95 (P<0.01). In the gestation, the BD was influenced by the body weight and protein mass. However, in lactation the VBTl was influenced by the body weight variation and fat mass. The leptin concentration at farrowing was positively correlated with backfat depth. The BT was influenced by born alive litter size and piglets birth weight. The VBTl was influenced by piglets weight at seven days old and litter weight gain. In conclusion, there is a significant relation between backfat thickness and body variables of the sows in gestation and lactation.
fat mass; leptin; piglets; protein mass; weight
