VAGINAL LENGTH IS NOT RELATED TO SUBSEQUENT LITTER SIZE OF GILTS Tarocco C., Kirkwood R. Journal of Swine Health and Production 2002, 10(3), 125-126.
The following study determined the relationship between the vaginal length and subsequent litter size of 151 gilts (24-28 weeks of age) housed in groups of 12-15. Vaginal length was measured using a calibrated Melrose catheter at the time of artificial insemination at the second oestrus. Subsequent litter size was affected by gilt age (P<0.02) and genotype (P<0.05). However, vaginal length (range 14-27 cm) did not influence subsequent litter size in either the general linear model (P=0.52) or the mixed model (P<0.63). There was no significant relationship between gilt age and vaginal length. The findings imply that the measurement of vaginal length in gilts bred at second oestrus does not provide an indication of subsequent litter size.
