Pregnancy diagnosis in sows based on serum oestrone sulphate concentration.

Serum oestrone sulphate concentration was measured in samples taken from 1275 sows of four breeds or crossbreeds (large white, landrace, large white cross landrace and monarch hybrid) during the period 25 to 30 days after mating. A simple, direct radioimmunoassay using 20 microliter serum was employed for the estimation of oestrone sulphate and pregnancy diagnoses were made on the basis that more than 0.5 ng oestrone sulphate/ml serum indicated a pregnant sow and less than 0.5 ng/ml indicated non-pregnancy. Overall accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis based on oestrone sulphate was 98 per cent; this was not influenced by breed or day sampled (within the range tested). For pregnant sows, there was a positive correlation between serum oestrone sulphate level and litter size, although individual values could not be used to predict litter size for particular sows. Oestrone sulphate concentration was also measured in samples taken from pregnant monarch sows during the last third of the gestation period and the level was more than 0.5 ng/ml in 99 per cent of samples taken on day 77 or later. Thus, measurement of serum oestrone sulphate level in samples taken more than 76 days after mating could be used as a confirmatory test of pregnancy.

Plasma hormone levels and reproductive behaviour in anoestrous ewes after treatment with progesterone and PMSG.

Plasma progesterone and gonadotrophin levels were studied in anoestrous ewes treated during June or July with a subcutaneous progesterone implant and/or an injection of oestradiol or PMSG. Of 32 ewes treated with progesterone during July, 9 showed a gonadotrophin surge after removal of the implant, and 10 ewes showed oestrous behaviour during the following 4 days. Six ewes conceived at this induced oestrous. Progesterone treatment during June was much less effective, with only 2 of 19 treated ewes showing a gonadotrophin surg and oestrous behaviour. Administration of PMSG at the time of implant removal in the June experiment was followed by a gonadotrophin surge and oestrous behaviour in 18 of 19 ewes, and 15 ewes conceived at the induced oestrus. An injection of PMSG, without progesterone pretreatment, stimulated a gonadotrophin surge and ovulation, but did not result in oestrous behaviour. The treatments employed appeared to initiate cyclic ovarian activity in the July experiment, but not in the June experiment.