Abstract

Duroc sows farrowed second litters in March and lactated 35 ± 2 days. At 36 hr before weaning, electrocautery of follicles ≥3 mm in diameter (n=8) or sham surgery (n=5) was performed to test the hypothesis that ablation of medium-sized follicles would prolong the duration of postweaning anestrus. Number of follicles and diameters at surgery were: 1.3 ± .6 (> 5 mm diameter), 26 ± 1 (3 to 5 mm) and > 20 (< 3 mm). Blood samples were collected at 15 min intervals for 3 hr beginning at −12, 0, 12, 60 and 96 hr from weaning. Interval to estrus was 3.4 ± .2 days in seven of eight cauterized sows and 3.6 ± .6 days for sham-surgery sows. The remaining cauterized sow was anestrus at slaughter, 40 days after weaning. Number of corpora lutea and pregnancy rate were 15.8 ± .6 and 92%, respectively, and were similar between sham-surgery and cauterized sows. Concentration of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) at 12 hr before weaning was greater in sows subjected to electrocautery than for sham-surgery sows, but FSH values were similar at other sampling times. Concentrations of estradiol were similar at all times for both treatment groups. Luteinizing hormone (LH) was higher (P

Share

COinS
 

URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/pres_schol/7