Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Fetal Growth and Fetal Weight Calculation in Sows during Gestation
Ultrasound examinations offer the possibility to monitor fetal growth and estimate fetal weight, but reference data for such techniques in pigs are rare. The aim of this study was therefore to identify suitable anatomical fetal structures for monitoring physiological growth dynamics by ultrasound ex...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/16 |
| _version_ | 1797447350428368896 |
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| author | Andreas Vernunft Anja Eggert Klaus-Peter Brüssow |
| author_facet | Andreas Vernunft Anja Eggert Klaus-Peter Brüssow |
| author_sort | Andreas Vernunft |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ultrasound examinations offer the possibility to monitor fetal growth and estimate fetal weight, but reference data for such techniques in pigs are rare. The aim of this study was therefore to identify suitable anatomical fetal structures for monitoring physiological growth dynamics by ultrasound examinations and to estimate fetal weight using appropriate mathematical models. For this purpose, 198 fetuses of 15 primiparous Landrace sows were examined by ultrasound on days 36, 50, 64, 79 and 92 of gestation in live sows and in utero after slaughter. Biparietal distance (BPD), rostro-occipital distance (ROD), corpus vitreum diameter, heart length, abdominal circumference (AC) and transverse and sagittal abdominal diameter were determined by ultrasound in utero, and the fetuses were subsequently ex uteri determined and weighed. Reference curves for the continuous increase in fetal parameters over the pregnancy were established. Weight estimation could be performed with linear models at a known stage of pregnancy using one or a combination of parameters. Cubic equations were developed to describe the relationships between body measurements and weight over the course of gestation. BPD, ROD and AC have been shown to be the most suitable parameters for fetal weight estimation, but in live sows, only the fetal head parameters could be easily and reliably determined. These techniques could initially be of interest for research into fetal growth, but future application in veterinary practice is also conceivable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:54:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0322c90e95ba4e5f8aa66be0557e9d03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:54:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-0322c90e95ba4e5f8aa66be0557e9d032023-11-30T20:44:26ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-12-011311610.3390/agriculture13010016Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Fetal Growth and Fetal Weight Calculation in Sows during GestationAndreas Vernunft0Anja Eggert1Klaus-Peter Brüssow2Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, GermanyResearch Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, GermanyFaculty of Biological and Veterinary Science, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 87-100 Torun, PolandUltrasound examinations offer the possibility to monitor fetal growth and estimate fetal weight, but reference data for such techniques in pigs are rare. The aim of this study was therefore to identify suitable anatomical fetal structures for monitoring physiological growth dynamics by ultrasound examinations and to estimate fetal weight using appropriate mathematical models. For this purpose, 198 fetuses of 15 primiparous Landrace sows were examined by ultrasound on days 36, 50, 64, 79 and 92 of gestation in live sows and in utero after slaughter. Biparietal distance (BPD), rostro-occipital distance (ROD), corpus vitreum diameter, heart length, abdominal circumference (AC) and transverse and sagittal abdominal diameter were determined by ultrasound in utero, and the fetuses were subsequently ex uteri determined and weighed. Reference curves for the continuous increase in fetal parameters over the pregnancy were established. Weight estimation could be performed with linear models at a known stage of pregnancy using one or a combination of parameters. Cubic equations were developed to describe the relationships between body measurements and weight over the course of gestation. BPD, ROD and AC have been shown to be the most suitable parameters for fetal weight estimation, but in live sows, only the fetal head parameters could be easily and reliably determined. These techniques could initially be of interest for research into fetal growth, but future application in veterinary practice is also conceivable.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/16fetal biometryfetometryfetomorphometryfetal weight estimationfetal growth monitoringpig |
| spellingShingle | Andreas Vernunft Anja Eggert Klaus-Peter Brüssow Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Fetal Growth and Fetal Weight Calculation in Sows during Gestation Agriculture fetal biometry fetometry fetomorphometry fetal weight estimation fetal growth monitoring pig |
| title | Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Fetal Growth and Fetal Weight Calculation in Sows during Gestation |
| title_full | Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Fetal Growth and Fetal Weight Calculation in Sows during Gestation |
| title_fullStr | Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Fetal Growth and Fetal Weight Calculation in Sows during Gestation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Fetal Growth and Fetal Weight Calculation in Sows during Gestation |
| title_short | Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Fetal Growth and Fetal Weight Calculation in Sows during Gestation |
| title_sort | ultrasonographic monitoring of fetal growth and fetal weight calculation in sows during gestation |
| topic | fetal biometry fetometry fetomorphometry fetal weight estimation fetal growth monitoring pig |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/1/16 |
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