Authors : Alicia Dominguez , T.A.M. Rosales and C. Lemus
Abstract: A possible relationship between vagina size and reproductive activity of sows with different parity number, was evaluated in 491 Landrace � Duroc � Yorkshire of none, first, second and third parity from a commercial farm. There were significant differences (p< 0.001) between sows of first parity and the other two, being lesser the length of vagina from nulipare sows (25.17 cm) with no relevant differences between females from 1-3 parities (28.34 cm). Average growth of vagina-cervix length between none and one parity was 3.22 cm. These results suggest that vagina growth is stabilized after first farrowing. When vagina-cervix length was related to total and alive born piglets, these interdependences were not significant (p>0.05) among them for any parity. It is suggested that vagina-cervix length is not a relevant factor for selection of sows and therefore this trait is not indicative of a good or bad reproductive activity of sows in the future either. In this connection, other factors of a greater fiability should be taken into account from the point of view of the animal productive development.
Alicia Dominguez , T.A.M. Rosales and C. Lemus , 2007. An Approach to Relationships Between Vagina Length and Prolificity of Sows . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 1152-1154.