Ivan Stančić

Ovarian activity and uterus organometry in delayed puberty gilts

About 30% of the total number of gilts selected for reproduction at the large breeding farm units in Vojvodina (Republic of Serbia) are culled due to prolonged pre-insemination anoestrus (estrus not detected until 8 mo of age). The aim of this study was to provide the answer to the following question: do the culling gilts reach cyclic ovarian activity at all? One hundred seventy five culled gilts in which external estrus manifestations were not detected by 8 mo of age were sacrificed and their reproductive organs were examined for determination of sexual maturity (ovaries exhibiting pre-ovulatory follicles 8 to 11 mm in diameter, corpora hemorrhagica, corpora lutea and corpora albicantia). Uterine weights and horn length were also determined. Functional ovaries were observed in 107 (61.1%) examined gilts, with 62 animals having one and 45 having two puberty ovarian cycles (57.9% and 42.1%, respectively). Pathomorphological changes which could result in prolonged pre-insemination anoestrus were not observed on the reproductive organs of sexually mature gilts. Our results indicate that most of the culling gilts have reached cyclic ovarian activity. The main reason for culling due to the absence of external estrus manifestations in sexually mature gilts could be inadequate estrus detection technology.

Ovarian reaction and estrus manifestation in delayed puberty gilts after treatment with equine chorionic gonadotropin

BackgroundProlonged pre-insemination anestrus (i.e. delayed puberty) is a major contributing factor for culling up to 30% of the replacement gilts at large breeding farm units in Vojvodina. It is imperative to determine if these gilts are acyclic (prepubertal) or cyclic, but just fail to exhibit behavioural estrus. Recent investigations demonstrate that treatment with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) can increase the diestrous phase duration in sexually mature gilts. Based on these finding, the aim of the present studies was to determine the reproductive status of delayed puberty gilts following injection with eCG.MethodsTwo experiments were conducted on a swine breeding farm in Vojvodina. In Exp. 1, 20 prepubertal (acyclic) gilts, and 120 sexually mature (cyclic) gilts were injected with a single injection of 400 IU eCG + 200 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or with 1000 IU eCG (cyclic gilts), at d5, d11 or d17 after spontaneous estrus detection, to determine their ovarian reaction and induced estrus manifestation. In Exp. 2, sixty delayed puberty gilts (estrus not detected until 8 month of age, av. 258 days) were culled from breeding herd and slaughtered to determine their reproductive status based on ovarian anatomical features. The second group of gilts (n = 60) was treated with a single 1000 IU eCG injection to determine their reproductive status, based on the interval between eCG injection to estrus detection and duration. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance and Duncan’s test in the software package Statistics 10th.ResultsOvulations were induced in 90% of acyclic (sexually immature) and, on average, 93.3% of cyclic (sexually mature) gilts after the eCG injection. On average, 4 days after the eCG injection, estrus was detected in 85% of the treated acyclic (sexually immature) gilts and in 95% (19/20) of the cyclic (sexually mature) gilts, treated with eCG on day 17 after spontaneous estrus detection. The interval from eCG to induced estrus detection was prolonged (av. 25 days) in 95% (19/20) of the sexually mature gilts treated with eCG on day 5 and in 90% (18/20) of gilts treated on day 11 after spontaneous estrus detection (Exp. 1). Forty anestrous gilts reached cyclic pubertal ovarian activity. Estrus manifestation was detected in 56 gilts (93.3% of the total 60 treated prolonged anestrous gilts, av. 259 days of age), after a single 1000 IU eCG injection. Thirty-four gilts (60.7% of the total gilts in estrus) with prolonged eCG to estrus interval (av. 24.7 days) were considered spontaneously cyclic (sexually mature), but behaviourally anestrous before treatment. The remaining 22 (39.3% of the total gilts in estrus) were considered truly sexually immature (acyclic) before the treatment or were eCG injected in the late luteal or proestrous phase of spontaneous estrous cycle (Exp. 2).ConclusionsIn 66.7% of the delayed puberty gilts, pre-ovulatory follicles (PoF), corpora hemorrhagica (CH), corpora lutea (CL), or corpora albicantia (CA) were found on the ovaries upon post mortem examination. These gilts were considered as sexually mature before slaughtering. In 60.7% of the delayed puberty gilts, behavioural estrus was detected an average of 24.7 days following eCG injections. These gilts were considered as eCG treated during the luteal phase (diestrus) of the spontaneous estrus cycle. Both findings suggest that delayed puberty gilts actually reached cyclic pubertal ovarian activity (sexual maturity) before culling from the breeding herd.

Ovulation Rate in Gilts Treated with Different Hormone Protocols

In this study different hormonal protocols were used, in order to determine their effectiveness in ovulation value rated postmortem by the inspection of the ovaries of treated gilts. The total of 48 prepubertal Swedish Landrace gilts were used in the study, aged 150 to 160 days, 30 sexually mature gilts, aged 180 to 210 days, with a pre-established one spontaneous estrus (first pubertal), 30 gilts aged 210 to 240 days, with a determined two spontaneous (first and second pubertal) estrus, and 40 long-term anestric gilts, aged 280 to 290 days. The following hormone protocols were conducted: 400 I.U. eCG - one-time; 750 I.U. ECG - one time; 1000 IU eCG- one-time; 1500 IU eCG- one-time; 250 ηg PGF2α- one time; 20 mg Altrenogest and the combination of 20 mg Altrenogest and 1,000 I.U. eCG at the end of treatment with altrenogest. An overview of the reproductive organs of slaughtered gilts was carried out in the Laboratory for Reproduction of Domestic Animals at the Faculty of Agriculture, Novi Sad. It was found that the ovulation value of the treated gilts depends primarily on the dose of ECG and reproductive status of gilts at the moment of initiation of hormone treatment.

Neki biohemijski parametri krvi krmača prvopraskinja u laktaciji

Cilj rada bio je da se ispitaju vrijednosti odabranih biohemijskih parametara krvi krmaca u laktaciji. Istraživanjem je obuhvacena ukupno 21 krmaca prvopraskinja komercijalnog hibrida sa farme industrijskog tipa. Sve ispitane krmace držane su u uobicajenim farmskim uslovima i hranjene obrocima prilagođenim proizvodnoj kategoriji i broju prasadi u leglu. Uzorci krvi uzeti su punkcijom v. cava cranialis , na pocetku i kraju laktacije (drugi i 28. Dan nakon prasenja). U uzetim uzorcima određene su koncentracije ukupnih proteina, albumina, globulina, ukupnog bilirubina, kalcijuma i fosfora. Koncentracije ukupnih proteina, albumina, globulina i fosfora imale su trend opadanja od pocetka prema kraju laktacije (88.24±3.93 naprema 83.53±2.56, 41.95±2.13 naprema 38.68±1.56 i 46.33±2.35 naprema 44.79±1.89 g/L, odnosno 3.27±0.25 naprema 2.94±0.22 mmol/L), dok je kod kalcemije i bilirubinemije ustanovljen suprotan trend (2.88±0.10 naprema 2.99±0.13 mmol/L, odnosno 4.75±0.77 naprema 6.81±1.01 µmol/L). Između ispitanih parametara nisu ustanovljene statisticki znacajne razlike u navedenim terminima uzorkovanja. Dobijeni rezultati mogu ukazivati na pojacan katabolizam proteina krvi i djelimicno narusavanje funkcionalnog kapaciteta jetre, najvjerovatnije zbog aktivacije homeoretskih mehanizama podrske laktaciji. Ovakvo stanje se, zajedno sa smanjenjem koncentracije fosfora, može nepovoljno odraziti na uspostavljanje postpartalne ovarijalne aktivnosti i trajanje intervala zalucenje-estrus.

Reproductive Performances of Holstein Cows with Different Milk Fat to Protein Ratio during Successive Stages of Lactation

Aim of study was to determine relationship between the energy status of cows, expressed through different milk fat to protein ratio values (FPR 1.3), and their reproductive performances (interval from calving to first artificial insemination; calving to conception interval; insemination index; pregnancy duration; intercalving interval) during succesive stages of lactation (day 15 th to 45 th ; day 46 th -75 th ; day 76 th -105 th ; day 106 th to 135 th of lactation). The study included a total of 350 fresh calved Holstein cows (121 primiparous, 115 secundiparous and 114 cows which calved three or more times), kept and fed in usual farm conditions. Milk samples were taken during morning milking, and FPR value was calculated from concentrations of milk fat and protein for all milk samples. Reproductive parameters were calculated from farm data. Values of all reproductive parameters, except pregnancy duration, had generally increasing trend in all groups during successive stages of lactation. During successive stages of lactation, cows with optimal FPR values had generally better reproductive performances, compared to cows with increased or decreased FPR values, which indicates importance of FPR monitoring during early lactation for timely detection of cows predisposed for poor reproductive results.

Casereport - Agalactia of mare, agammaglobulinemia and arthritis in foal

Lactation is physiological state of the organism and the final process of the female reproductive cycle. Milk in the first days after birth (colostrum), in addition to the necessary nutrients contains antibodies, with whose ingesting only a newborn individual receives passive immunity that protects it from various infections over time. Mammary gland dysfunction and a lack of breast milking is called agalactia. Due to the occurrence of agalactia in mother, newborn animal is denied of intake of colostrum in its body. Thus prevents ingestion of nutrients and passive immunity, which results in the occurrence of various diseases especially infectious etiology. This paper describes the treatment of agammaglobulinemia in foal after ascertaining the occurrence of primary agalactia in mare. There is described the possibility of substitution, ie. benefits of breast milk substitutes, and the procedure of diagnosis and treatment of carpal arthritis in foal.

Research of immune response in unvaccinated piglets against porcine circovirus type 2.

Infection of pigs caused by porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is present throughout the world. The aim of this study was to determine, based on the follow-up of the class IgG titers in piglets and fattening pigs, the duration of colostral immunity against infections in pigs caused by PCV2. The study included 28 piglets, whose titer was determined by using indirect ELISA test in intervals up to 110 days of age. The observed average values of IgG in piglets aged 21 days (8.47 log2) and 35 days (6.69 log2) in our surveys indicate very high titers of maternal antibodies, and that the piglets at this age are, to some extent, protected from infection caused by PCV2. Absence of the specific anti PCV2 antibodies was determined in 14.29% (21 days old) and 15.38% (35 days old) piglets at this age. The average titer of antibodies, specific for PCV2, in blood serum of piglets on the 50th day decreased to 3.74 log2, what indicates that in the majority of piglets (61.54%) catabolism of colostral antibodies occurred. On the 80th day of the piglets life there were no seropositive specimens, which unambiguously indicates that in this age, there was a complete catabolism of colostral antibodies and the disappearance of passive immunity. In all the 110 days’ old fattening pigs, an average antibody titer recorded a sharp rise (12.78 log2). Possible reasons for this sudden increase in PCV2 antibody titers in the blood serum of fattening pigs is is a widespread presence of this infection in our region, as well as the fact that there exists a part of pigs population which is not immune to PCV2 infection. The results of this research are important for choosing the optimal moment for vaccination, considering that high titers of colostral antibodies of class G on the 21st and 35th day of piglets’ life have been proven. This data points out to a possible interference with vaccine immunogens in the case of vaccination in this particular age.