Relationships Between the Uterus Horns Length and Puberty Attaintment in Gilts

Abstract

Intensive pig production represents one of the basic requirements in order to fulfill conditions necessary to achieve the effective reproduction or to timely provide sufficient number of good pregnant gilts in order to replace and repair the sow herd base. Reproductive efficiency of gilts and the gilt management is one of the primary factors of a successful production of piglets. This efficiency, among other things, expresses the number of pregnant gilts, desirable genetic traits, body weight, age at first estrus, the status of sexual maturity, longevity and a good general health. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between length of uterus horns and the time of reaching puberty in gilts. The data used during the comparative analyses of morphological parameters were the length of uterus horns without weight, ligaments, cervices and ovaries. For the testing data 592 animals were used. The studies were conducted in warm and cool periods of the year. The animals were sacrificed at 210 days of age. On the basis of morphological structure of the ovary and the stage of sexual maturity the following has been determined: the animals before reaching puberty, animals with first and second estrus cycle. It was determined that the gilts that have made a second estrus cycle have greater significant difference (p lt 0.01) in length of uterus horns (172.90cm) compared to others. The results show that the female fattening gilts in relation to breeding gilts had significantly greater (p lt 0.01) length of uterus horns (131.31cm). According to the studies based on the season a statistically significant (p lt 0.01) difference in the length of uterus horns was determined. In first and second estrus cycle the higher percent of animals that have reached puberty was achieved in breeding gilts (38.38 and 39.47%).