ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Field experiences with early pregnancy diagnosis by progesterone-based ELISA in sows

 

 

M.H. Boma; G. Bilkei

Veterinary Consulting, Bahnhofstrasse 42, CH - 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland

 

 

---

ABSTRACT

In four Kenyan pig breeding units the pregnancy diagnosis of sows has been carried out in two groups: Group 1 (n = 1911): the sows were transrectaly pregnancy tested between Days 17-22 post-mating by ultrasound. Sows testing non-pregnant immediately received one dose of 400 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) (equine chorion gonadotropin, eCG) and 200 IU human chorion gonadotropin (hCG). On showing signs of oestrous, the animals were subsequently artificially inseminated (AI). Group 2 (n = 1923): sows were pregnancy tested by serum progesterone (P4)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on Day 17 post-breeding. P4 concentrations were categorized as positive (> 5 ng/ml) or negative (< 5 ng/ml). Sows testing nonpregnant immediately received one dose of 400 IU PMSG and 200 IU hCG by injection, and were subsequently artificially inseminated.
The following parameters were evaluated: sows diagnosed non-pregnant, days from first post-weaning insemination until the sows were inseminated at their first return to oestrus; farrowing rate and total piglets born and number of live-born piglets in litters.
The percentage of sows diagnosed non-pregnant in the two groups, as well as the totals of born piglets and of live-born piglets in litters did not differ significantly between the two groups. The number of days from the first post-weaning mating until the sows were artificially inseminated at their first return to oestrus and the administration of eCG and hCG was shorter (P < 0.01) and farrowing rate was higher (P < 0.01) in the ELISA-tested sows.

Keywords: Farrowing rate, litter size, pregnancy, sow

---

 

 

“Full text available only in PDF format”

 

 

REFERENCES

BICHARD, M. 1983. Litter size and sow productivity, in New developments in scientific breeding, No. 3, Farnham Royal England: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux. Pig Improvement Supplement.         [ Links ]

BILKEI, G. 1995. Herd health strategy for improving the reproductive performance of pigs. Proceedings of the 8^th "In-between" Symposium of the International Society for Animal Hygiene. Hungarian Veterinary Journal, 10:766-768.         [ Links ]

DIAL, G.D., MARSH, W.E., POLSON, D.D. & VAILLANCOURT, J.P. 1992. Reproductive failure: differential diagnosis, in Diseases of swine, 7^th ed., edited by A.D. Leman, B.E. Straw, W.L. Mengeling, S.D. D'Allaire & D.J. Taylor. London: Wolfe Publishing.         [ Links ]

GLOSSOP, C.E., FOULKES, J.A., WHITWORTH, A. & CORN-WELL, E. 1989. Use of an on-farm progesterone assay kit to determine pregnancy in sows. Veterinary Record, 124:115-117.         [ Links ]

KAUFFOLD, J. & RICHTER, A. 1997. Two years of ultrasonography in swine gynecology-experiences. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 32:115.         [ Links ]

KRÜGER, D. & BILKEI, G. 2002. Comparison of efficacy and costs between real time ultrasonography (RTU) and gonadotropin estimation for pregnancy diagnosis. Pig Journal, 50: 92-102.         [ Links ]

MOLNAR, G.B. & BILKEI. G. 2003. Effect of modified eros centre on some reproductive parameters of the sow. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 38:236-238.         [ Links ]

PLONAIT, H. & BICKHARDT, K. 1997. Gynekologische Untersuchung der Sau, in Lehrbuch der Schweinkrankheiten, 2^nd ed., edited by H. Plonait & K. Bickhardt. Berlin: Parey Publishing.         [ Links ]

POLSON, D.D., DIAL, G. & MARSH, W. 1990. A biological and financial characterisation of nonproductive days. Proceedings of the 13^th International Pig Veterinary Society Congress, Lausanne: 372.         [ Links ]

 

 

Accepted for publication 10 October 2007-Editor

 

 

* Author to whom correspondence is to be directed. E-mail: bilkei.consulting@gmx.net