Study on Reproductive Performance of Breeding Sows and Ultrasound Monitoring of Ovarian Follicle Activity and Ovulation of Post-Weaning Sows in a Commercial Pig Farm of Central Ethiopia.
In the recent years, backyard and commercial pig farms have increased in number, particularly in the periphery of the big cities of central Ethiopia. Consequently, the situation governing both swine production and consumption of pork in Ethiopia is changing, where pork products are beginning to draw a lot of attention in the market. This is mainly due to an ever increasing human population, and an increasing number of tourists and other foreigners who come to Ethiopia for various business activities. Moreover, pork is increasingly becoming a favorable source of meat for young Ethiopian and Diasporas who have experiences of foreign trips and travelling.
Pigs are one of the most prolific and fast growing livestock species that can convert food waste to valuable products.12 Pig production is becoming an increasingly important economic activity on account of high production efficiency per unit area of land.
In sows, suckling and subsequent weaning have a profound effect on ovarian rebound. The physical stimulus of suckling blocks the hypothalamus to inhibit GnRH release. Sows show estrus soon after weaning when the frequency and intensity of the suckling stimulus ceases17 that results from the resumption of cyclic ovarian activity post-weaning.18 The percentage of sows showing estrus within 2 days post-weaning (5.8%) in the present study was less than that previously reported for females with WEI up to 2 days.4 In the present study, piglets were weaned at the age of 30 days.
Vet Med Open J. 2017; 2(3): 76-82. doi: 10.17140/VMOJ-2-119
