J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wise, T.
Right arrow Articles by Christenson, R. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wise, T.
Right arrow Articles by Christenson, R. K.

Journal of Animal Science, Vol 75, Issue 8 2197-2207, Copyright © 1997 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Relationships of light and heavy fetuses to uterine position, placental weight, gestational age, and fetal cholesterol concentrations

T. Wise, A. J. Roberts and R. K. Christenson
USDA-ARS, Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA.

With emphasis on increasing litter size to improve productivity and profitability, lightweight pigs born will increase in number as litter size increases and may be problematic due to reduced neonatal survival of lightweight pigs. To study developmental aspects of lightweight fetuses, fetal and placental weights were evaluated at three stages of pregnancy (30, 70, and 104 d) from white composite gilts (n = 88, 123, and 135, respectively) in relation to uterine position of light and heavy fetuses. Fetal cholesterol concentrations were analyzed at the beginning (d 70) and end (d 104) of the in utero growth phase (last third of gestation). At 30 d of gestation, no differences were noted between fetal weight and position within the uterine horn, but at 70 d and 104 d of pregnancy, heavy fetuses were found at the tubal ends and light fetuses at the cervical ends of the uterus. Using the criteria of +/- 1 SD or +/- 2 SD of the mean and lower and upper 10 or 20% of fetal weights for each gestational age, light and heavy fetuses in conjunction with their placentas were different from population means at all stages of gestation. Cholesterol concentrations were lower in light fetuses (d 104) and increased in heavy fetuses. In 28 litters (d 104) selected for extremes in within-litter fetal weights, concentrations of IGF-I increased with fetal weight (P < .01), which suggests that growth and development of lightweight pigs may be limited by critical endocrine components.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
N. Imboonta, L. Rydhmer, and S. Tumwasorn
Genetic parameters for reproduction and production traits of Landrace sows in Thailand
J Anim Sci, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 53 - 59.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
R. L. McPherson, F. Ji, G. Wu, J. R. Blanton Jr., and S. W. Kim
Growth and compositional changes of fetal tissues in pigs
J Anim Sci, September 1, 2004; 82(9): 2534 - 2540.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
M. J. Argente, M. A. Santacreu, A. Climent, and A. Blasco
Relationships between uterine and fetal traits in rabbits selected on uterine capacity
J Anim Sci, May 1, 2003; 81(5): 1265 - 1273.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1997 by the American Society of Animal Science.