Uterine size in replacement gilts associated with age, body weight, growth rate, and reproductive status

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The objective of the present study was to determine the association between the uterine size and age, body weight, growth rate, and reproductive status in Landrace × Yorkshire crossbred gilts. Genital organs from 310 gilts (302.6 ± 2.9 days of age, 145.2 ± 1.2 kg body weight) were examined. The gilts were classified into two groups according to reproductive status: non-cyclic (n = 86) and cyclic (n = 224). The uterine weight in non-cyclic gilts was lower than that in cyclic ones (128 ± 8.1 and 694 ± 17.9 g, P < 0.001). Likewise, the length of the uterus in non-cyclic gilts was shorter than that in cyclic gilts (123 ± 2.9 and 252 ± 4.6 cm, P < 0.001). The weight of the uteri correlated with the body weight (r = 0.48, P < 0.001) and growth rate (r = 0.33, P < 0.001) of the gilts but not with their age (P > 0.05). For every 10 kg increase in the body weight of the gilts, an increase of 67 g in uterine weight (P < 0.001) and 21 cm in uterine length (P < 0.001) was observed.

Post‐mortem examination of the reproductive organs of female wild boars (Sus scrofa) in Sweden

“…These results are in accordance with studies of domestic pigs by Heinonen et al. () and Tummaruk and Kesdangsakonwut (). One explanation for this observation is that the uterus, that is the endometrium, mirrors the production of steroid hormones in the ovaries.…”

“…As expected, the results showed significant differences of both weight and length of the studied organs in relation to the reproductive stage. These results are in accordance with studies of domestic pigs by Heinonen et al (1998) and Tummaruk and Kesdangsakonwut (2014). One explanation for this observation is that the uterus, that is the endometrium, mirrors the production of steroid hormones in the ovaries.…”

“…In domestic pigs, multiple follicular cysts can cause infertility (Dalin et al., ), whereas a single ovarian cyst will not influence the reproduction negatively. The prevalence of cystic ovaries found in this study (1.8% for both single and multiple cysts, respectively) is lower compared to studies of domestic pigs (16% cystic ovaries: Ebbert & Bostedt, , 14; % multiple cysts: Dalin et al., , 3.1; % single and 3.1% multiple cysts: Heinonen et al., , 5.0; % single and 5.5% multiple cysts: Tummaruk & Kesdangsakonwut, ). As mentioned before, the higher prevalence found in the domestic pigs could partly be an effect of the selection of the examined material (domestic gilts and sows culled due to poor reproductive performance).…”

“…No other congenital abnormalities were found in the examined animals. This is interesting because in domestic pigs, findings of congenital abnormalities, such as hermaphroditism, uterus unicornis, segmental aplasia and double cervix, are frequently described and therefore not uncommon (Dalin et al., ; Einarsson & Gustafsson, ; Tummaruk & Kesdangsakonwut, , ).…”

Porcine circovirus type 2 DNA detection in the uterine tissue of gilts in relation to endometritis and the number of leukocyte subsets in the endometrium

“…corpora lutea [CL], corpora haemorrhagica [CH], corpora albicantia [CA] and follicles) was used to determine the stage of the oestrous cycle (Tummaruk et al 2009;de Jong et al 2014). The number of CL was counted, and this was defined as the ovulation number (Tummaruk and Kesdangsakonwut 2014). The gilts were defined as being in 'inactive phases' if the ovaries had only small follicles (<5 mm) lacking CH, CL and CA.…”