Ovarian follicle development and genital tract characteristics in different birthweight gilts at 150 days of age

In the last decades, selection for improved prolificacy has resulted in higher litter sizes and has thereby increased the proportion of low birthweight (LW) piglets. It is well documented that LW piglets have lower growth performance, muscle accretion and poor carcass quality. However, little is known about the relations of birthweight with subsequent reproductive performance in gilts. This study investigated the effects of birthweight on reproductive tract and ovarian follicle development in 150-day-old gilts. Twenty eight female pigs of different birthweight ranges (high-HW: 1.8-2.2 kg; low-LW: 0.8-1.2 kg) from higher parity commercial sows were reared until 150 days of age, and their body weights were recorded at weaning, end of nursery and end of the grower--finisher phase. The animals were killed and their reproductive tracts collected for biometrical and histomorphometrical analysis. LW gilts showed significantly lower body weights and growth rates during all phases of production compared to their HW counterparts (p <.01). Most biometrical measurements of the reproductive tract were similar between the experimental groups, except vaginal length and the gonadossomatic index (relative ovarian weight), which were affected by birthweight class (p <.05). LW females also showed fewer medium size (3-5 mm; p <.01) ovarian follicles, pre--antral follicles (p <.07) and more atretic follicles per ovarian cortex area (p <.05). Therefore, besides the effects on post-natal growth performance, birthweight affects vaginal length and the follicular dynamics process, which may impair the reproductive performance of replacement gilts.