title: Ovarian cysts and their consequences on the reproductive performance of swine herds.
abstract: The aim of this work was to determine the incidence of ovarian cysts in the breeding herd and their consequences in the reproductive performance of the herd. Data from 1990 cyclic sows from two farms, with 0-12 parities, lactation length between 6 and 47 days and weaning-estrus interval between 0 and 32 days were evaluated by ultrasound examination for cyst incidence. As cyst was considered an anaechoic structure with smooth and thin walls with a diameter larger than 2 cm that remained visible for at least 5 days after estrus onset. Cyst incidence was found to be 2.4%. Sows with ovarian cysts have a greater return to estrus rate (34.0 x 7.7%, P<0.01), and cysts were associated with around 10% of regular and irregular return to estrus patterns on both farms. The adjusted farrowing rate (52.2 x 90.0%, P<0.01) and anestrual sows that were not pregnant (10.6 x 0.6%, P<0.01) were also influenced by the appearance of ovarian cysts, but they did not influence litter size (P>0.05). The incidence of cysts was not influenced by parity (P>0.05). Sows with shorter lactation had a greater incidence of cysts (P<0.05). Sows with a weaning-estrus interval shorter than 3 days had a greater incidence of ovarian cysts (P<0.05). The time of the year had no influence on the incidence of ovarian cysts (P<0.05).
authors.affiliation: Setor de Suínos, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, no. 9090, CEP 90540-000, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. ccastagna@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Cezar Dobler
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Castagna
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.forename: Fernando Pandolfo
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Bortolozzo
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wentz
authors.forename: Guilherme Borchardt
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Fabrício
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruschel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D008098:Litter Size; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014886:Weaning