Sonographic Assessment of Fetometric Parameters in Pigs of Different Prolific Genotypes for Gestational Age Estimation.

ABSTRACT: The slaughter of pregnant sows remains a relevant concern in modern swine production, with prevalence rates reported from 1.5-13% in Europe. Considering fetal sensitivity during late gestation and legal restrictions on transport and slaughter, reliable assessment of fetal age is of considerable practical, ethical, and legal relevance. In this study, 70 pregnancies from low-prolificacy (purebred German Saddleback) and medium-to-high prolificacy genotypes (purebred German Landrace and Duroc × German Landrace hybrids) were repeatedly examined using transabdominal ultrasonography, with a total of 15 examinations per pregnancy. Seven fetometric parameters-rosto-occipital distance, bi-parietal distance, orbital distance, sternum length, thorax diameter, body diameter, and crown-rump length-were

SUBMITTER: Janelt F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12837421 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature