Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of cystic ovaries in replacement gilts in relation to age, body weight, estrus behavior, season, and reasons for culling. Data and genital organs of 336 slaughtered gilts from six commercial herds in Thailand were investigated. The reproductive organs were collected at the slaughter house and transported on ice to the laboratory within 24 h for post-mortem examination. Cystic ovaries were characterized by the presence of single or multiple cysts whether accompanied by any other normal structure or not. Cystic ovaries were observed in 44 of 336 (13.1%) gilts. Of these gilts, 26 (59.1%) gilts had multiple cysts and 18 (40.9%) gilts had single cysts. Gilts culled due to abnormal vaginal discharge were more likely to have cysts than gilts culled due to anestrus (19.4% versus 9.1%, P = 0.043). The gilts that were culled at a body weight of ≥161 kg had a higher incidence of cystic ovaries than gilts culled at a body weight of ≤130 kg (8.1% versus 20.3%, P = 0.045). The incidence of cystic ovaries was lower in those that had not shown estrus than those that had shown estrus (5.2% versus 19.7%, P < 0.001). The incidence of cystic ovaries tended to be higher in the gilts culled in cool (18.6%) compared to hot (10.0%, P = 0.092) and rainy (11.4%, P = 0.129) seasons.
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Acknowledgement
The present study was funded by the Thailand Research Fund (MRG4880127) and the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). Language editing of the manuscript has been coordinated by Chula Unisearch, Chulalongkorn University.
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Tummaruk, P., Kesdangsakonwut, S. Factors affecting the incidence of cystic ovaries in replacement gilts. Comp Clin Pathol 21, 1–7 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-010-1055-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-010-1055-9