title: Ovarian activity and uterus organometry in delayed puberty gilts.
abstract: About 30% of the total number of gilts selected for reproduction at the large breeding farm units in Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia) are culled due to prolonged pre-insemination anoestrus (estrus not detected until 8 mo of age). The aim of this study was to provide the answer to the following question: do the culling gilts reach cyclic ovarian activity at all? One hundred seventy five culled gilts in which external estrus manifestations were not detected by 8 mo of age were sacrificed and their reproductive organs were examined for determination of sexual maturity (ovaries exhibiting pre-ovulatory follicles 8 to 11 mm in diameter, corpora hemorrhagica, corpora lutea and corpora albicantia). Uterine weights and horn length were also determined. Functional ovaries were observed in 107 (61.1%) examined gilts, with 62 animals having one and 45 having two puberty ovarian cycles (57.9% and 42.1%, respectively). Pathomorphological changes which could result in prolonged pre-insemination anoestrus were not observed on the reproductive organs of sexually mature gilts. Our results indicate that most of the culling gilts have reached cyclic ovarian activity. The main reason for culling due to the absence of external estrus manifestations in sexually mature gilts could be inadequate estrus detection technology.
authors: University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia. dr.ivan.stancic@gmail.com
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Stancic
authors: Blagoje
authors: B
authors: Stancic
authors: Aleksandar
authors: A
authors: Bozic
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Anderson
authors: Roger
authors: R
authors: Harvey
authors: Dragan
authors: D
authors: Gvozdic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000254:growth & development; D010053:Ovary / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors; D014599:Uterus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology