A single, episodic event of unilateral/bilateral scrotal swelling in a group of adult boars at an Austrian boar stud.

BACKGROUND: Scrotal swelling is a clinical situation which can be caused by different aetiologies. In this case report, we describe a multi-week episode of unilateral and bilateral scrotal swelling in boars at an Austrian boar stud and its diagnostic work-up. CASE PRESENTATION: In the summer of 2020, the herd veterinarian of an Austrian boar stud reported that over a period of six weeks, five out of 70 boars presented with unilateral severe swelling of the left scrotum and three out of 70 boars with bilateral severe swelling of the left and moderate swelling of the right scrotum, respectively. A complete history was obtained and an on-site evaluation of the facility was done. Five boars were necropsied, and a variety of samples harvested for further diagnostic investigations. Infectious differential diagnoses associated with unilateral swelling of the scrotum or the testis were excluded through serological and tissue testing. In three of the five boars, histopathology revealed complete acute haemorrhagic necrosis of the left testis concurrent with strongly congested blood vessels. Review of the collected information with a group of experts in the field of boar stud management resulted with consensus that, most likely, trauma was the etiologic event causing the clinical signs and pathology. Coincident with discussion of implementing video recording cameras in the boar housing area, no further clinical cases followed. As this case occurred during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose that the distress and travelling restrictions may have contributed to frustration among boar stud workers, which was consequently expressed as misbehaviour against boars. CONCLUSIONS: Once all known infectious causes of unilateral swelling of the scrotum were excluded, a critical diagnostic work-up focused on non-infectious causes. Non-infectious causes, such as trauma, need to be carefully evaluated, as it may also include human misbehaviour against boars. Summarizing all findings of this case report, the authors hypothesize that a blunt trauma was the reason for the series of mainly unilateral swelling of the scrota of boars.

Ultrasound measurements of uterine height, horns diameter and presence of intraluminal fluid to investigate uterine involution in lactating sows housed in farrowing crates.

The uterine involution of sows housed in farrowing crates was investigated during lactation using B-mode trans-abdominal ultrasonography. The objectives were to describe uterine involution, detect any delay or uterine disorders and assess possible associations between involution and subsequent reproductive performance. Three parameters were measured: uterine height (H), horns diameter (D) and the percentage of sows with intraluminal fluid (F). During lactation (3-4 weeks), H decreased from 11.0±1.6 the first week to 5.9±1.5 cm the last week (p<0.001), and D from 2.6±0.7 to 1.4±0.2 cm (p<0.001). Between days 1-7, H and D decreased significantly faster, i.e. respectively 0.38 cm (p<0.0001) and 0.20 cm (p<0.0001) per day than between days 22-28, i.e. respectively 0.02 cm (p=0.49) and 0.00 cm (p=0.75) per day. F decreased significantly (p<0.0001) from 78% at the beginning to 16% at the end of lactation. Between days 1-7, F decreased significantly (p<0.001) faster than during the last week of lactation (p=0.41). Between days 22-28, H of sows from parity ≥3 were significantly higher than those of sows from parity 1 and 2 (p=0.007). During that period, F was significantly higher in sows of higher parity. This effect of parity on F was significantly higher during the entire lactation period in sows of parity ≥6. Some sows were monitored after weaning. There was no significant relationship between the 3 parameters measured at the end of lactation and the subsequent performance. A small number of sows was suspected of endometritis (2%) and one case of fœtoplacental retention was detected. In conclusion, B-mode ultrasonography is a suitable tool to monitor uterine involution in lactating sows. When examination is conducted during the last week of lactation, it may help the farmer to verify whether uterine involution is complete, and to decide whether a sow should be either culled or maintained on farm.

Comparison of reproductive performances of local and improved pigs reared in south Benin.

Benin's domestic production of pork is deficient because of the animals' low productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the zootechnical performances of pigs reared in south Benin. Data on zootechnical performances and reproduction management were collected from 63 farms in the departments of Ouémé and Plateau. These data were analyzed with SAS software, and the Fisher test was used for the significance of the breed, sex, and parity number effect on the zootechnical performances. It appears that estrus detection was mainly based on the observation of signs of vulvar changes and behavior of the sow. These estruses were detected at any time and without the boar. The local sows were mated as soon as estruses were detected while improved sows were mated 36 h after. The pregnancy detection was performed by control of return of estrus, 21 days after the mating by the majority (80.6%) of the respondents. The litter size, the number of piglets born alive, and the weaned piglets of improved sows were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than those of local sows. These parameters increased with the parity number until the 4th parity and decreased after. The litter size was highly correlated with the number of piglets born alive and weaned piglets. The farrowing interval was longer in local sows than in improved sows. The weights at birth, at 1 and 2 months old of improved piglets, were significantly higher than those of local piglets (P < 0.001). The knowledge of these performances will allow actions to be taken for their improvement.

Crossbreeding and consanguinity management in pig farms in the departments of Ouémé and Plateau in Benin.

BACKGROUND: The improvement in pig zootechnical performances is a common practice in Benin. This improvement of the performances is made by the choice of the best reproducers in farms and the crossbreeding between the different breeds. AIM: This study aims to characterize practices related to consanguinity management in pigs reared in Ouémé and Plateau. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Crossbreeding and consanguinity data were collected from 60 farms in these two departments. Frequencies and averages were calculated and compared between departments, genetic types, and origin of progenitors. RESULTS: The majority of the investigated pig farmers in both departments were married men of primary or secondary education level. Most of them cross animals without a specific crossbreeding scheme. These crossings were performed to a greater extent (p<0.05) in Ouémé (94.28%) than in Plateau (52%). In general, farmers cross improved animals of high breeding values with the crossbred ones. These crossings were mainly performed to improve zootechnical performances. Renewing animals were commonly chosen from the farm or were provided from nearby farms. The majority of pig breeders in Ouémé (100%) and Plateau (86.67%) obtained reproductive animals from nearby farms. Males and females were sometimes bought from the same farm or from farms that pig breeders have sold reproductive animals in the previous years. In the case of selection within their own farm, male and female progenitors are separated at puberty by the majority of the breeders of Plateau (42.11%) and Ouéme (50%). Inbred mating was reported by breeders. More than half of breeders mate animals having a parental link in both departments. The mating was performed between animals of the same mother in 37.93% of farms in Ouémé and in 45.46% in Plateau. The main consanguinity consequences mentioned by the breeders were the high mortality at birth and weaning, piglets' weakness at the birth, the slow growth, and the decrease in litter size. Sows with at least one parent from external farm had a litter size at birth and weaning and a live-born piglets' number significantly higher than sows with both parents from the same farm. CONCLUSION: Rigorous monitoring of crossing and the filial links are necessary for pig farms for ensuring the improvement of zootechnical performances.