Evaluación de las características del moco cervical en cerdas multíparas desde el destete hasta la presentación de celo

Abstract

Characterisation of the cervical mucus was carried out on 19 post-weaning sows until the manifestation of oestrus. Oestrus detection was carried out by means of the immobility reflex, observing the onset of oestrus from the third post – weaning day and reaching its maximum peak on the fifth day. A significant relationship was found between vulvar temperature and the presence of oestrus, as an increase in temperature was observed between days four and five (38.3 ± 0.10°C). Initially, increased cervical mucus was observed in the sows as they approached the day of oestrus. As for pH, it was acidic 24 hours post – weaning (6.7 ± 0.18 pH), increasing progressively to an alkaline state during oestrus (7.5 ± 0.11 pH). With regard to the evaluation of electrical impedance, a reduction in its values was observed from the third post – weaning day (311.3 ± 9.15 ohm), reaching its lowest point on the fifth day, coinciding with the manifestation of oestrus. On the other hand, the elasticity of the cervical mucus changed significantly, starting to increase from the third day, maintaining this tendency until the fifth day of oestrus. In relation to the arborisation of the cervical mucus, positive and highly positive characteristics were evident in the smears on days 4 and 5 respectively. Therefore, the back pressure test can be used with high effectiveness to determine oestrus in sows.