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Morphometric changes on the vulva from proestrus to oestrus of nulliparous and multiparous HYPERPROLIFIC sows
Author(s) -
De la CruzVigo Paloma,
RodriguezBoñal Alvaro,
RodriguezBonilla Angel,
CórdovaIzquierdo Alejandro,
Pérez Garnelo Sonia S.,
GómezFidalgo Ernesto,
MartínLluch Mercedes,
SánchezSánchez Raúl
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.14178
Subject(s) - estrous cycle , vulva , statistical analysis , biology , perimeter , medicine , physiology , zoology , pathology , mathematics , statistics , geometry
Abstract The aim of this study was to assess whether vulvar morphometric changes occurring in female pigs during proestrus and oestrus could be objective, accurate and predictive indicators of the onset to oestrus and thus performed artificial inseminations at the most appropriate time. For that purpose, pictures of vulvas from 60 hyperprolific females (30 gilts and 30 sows) during proestrus and oestrus were taken once a day. Vulva measurements (area, perimeter, length and width) on these pictures were performed using the image processing ImageJ software. Gilts and sows showed statistical differences ( p < .01) in all vulvar morphometric measurements between proestrus and oestrus. Statistical differences in vulvar metrics were detected 24 h before the onset to oestrus, affecting all vulvar measurements in gilts, whereas only vulvar width was affected in sows. The image analysis used in this study may contribute to the development of smart technology in swine farming.