title: Use of ultrasound scanning in swine for detection of pregnancy and some pathological conditions.
abstract: The adaptation of ultrasound scanning to the diagnosis of pregnancy and other physiological conditions in swine was examined. The scanner was equipped with a 3.5-MHz transducer. The probe was placed against the skin in the area of the abdominal flank of a standing sow and moved between the first and third posterior teats. The 2,257 sows were all presumed to be pregnant and underwent a single echography examination between 18 and 90 d post-insemination. For pregnant sows, the accuracy rate of diagnosis averaged 98.7 %. The majority of errors were made between 18 and 21 d of pregnancy in sows which subsequently gave birth to fewer than five piglets. This technique allowed us to detect only 54 % of non-pregnant sows. Nevertheless, a high accuracy rate was obtained when examination was performed within 7 d before the return of estrus (80 %). Conditions at the time of the examination were also an important factor. Ultrasound scanning opened up possibilities for observing other conditions such as cystic ovaries and metritis.
authors.affiliation: I.T.P., 149 rue de Bercy, 75595 Parix Cedex 12, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Botero
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martinat-Botté
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bariteau