Vaginal microbiota following estrus synchronization and during early gestation in gilts
In swine, reproductive failures such as low conception rates, reduced litter size, and stillbirths are major causes of culling and lost productivity. While most work has focused on gut microbiota, bacterial communities in the reproductive tract have been shown to influence reproductive performance. Moreover, estrus synchronization protocols are widely used to manage breeding in modern production systems, yet little is known about how microbial communities shift during these key early stages. To address this gap, this study aimed to characterize changes in vaginal microbiota of gilts following synchronization through to breeding and early pregnancy, as well as evaluate associations between vaginal microbiota and reproductive performance.