What role does veterinary ultrasound play in sow reproduction?

     1. Anatomical Diagram of the Porcine Reproductive System

     2. Inspection Items

During the breeding process of sows, farmers are primarily interested in whether successful mating has taken place after insemination. Veterinary Ultrasound examinations can be used to: assess the pregnancy status of sows, confirm conception, estimate the number of foetal, evaluate the development of piglets, monitor the progress of birth and assess the recovery of the uterus.

    a.Early pregnancy diagnosis, accurate Exclusion of pregnancy with empty amniotic sac:

Traditional manual palpation requires more than 30 days after mating to confirm pregnancy, which not only has high error rates but also carries the risk of mechanical miscarriage. With the help of veterinary ultrasound, pregnancy can be accurately confirmed as early as 25 days after mating, with the amniotic sac and foetal heartbeat clearly identifiable with over 98% accuracy. The optimal time for a pregnancy test is between 25 and 30 days after mating, when the amniotic sac is most clearly visible as a regular, circular dark cavity, making it easier to identify. If the sac develops beyond this period, its shape becomes irregular, making detection less straightforward than in the early stages. Nevertheless, it remains easily distinguishable from the empty uterine cavity when compared to imaging.

    b.Prenatal monitoring to confirm normal foetal development

In the middle of gestation (days 30–90), veterinary ultrasound examinations can be performed to determine the number, size and viability of the foetal and to assess the uterine environment:

• Accurate estimation of the number of fetuses as a basis for subsequent nutrition and delivery
• Enables early detection of abnormalities such as foetal death or polyhydramnios, allowing early intervention to reduce miscarriages and stillbirths.

    c.Precise prediction of the expected delivery date to optimize labour management

By measuring foetal parameters such as biparietal diameter and body length in combination with gestational age, this method can accurately predict the expected date of birth, eliminating the inaccuracies of conventional methods that rely solely on the mating date. The 3.5 MHz convex probe is the preferred choice:

• It enables pig farms to allocate farrowing pens and staff in advance, reducing cases of dystocia and piglet crushing.
• It facilitates batch management of piglets and improves survival rates in rearing.

    d.Postpartum uterine examination to expedite rebreeding after an empty gestation

After farrowing, a veterinary ultrasound examination is performed to confirm the presence or absence of lochia in the uterus and to assess the status of uterine contraction. This enables the detection of reproductive disorders such as endometritis and facilitates early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Such measures reduce the culling rate of sows due to reproductive disorders and thus contribute to lower acquisition costs for breeding animals in pig farms.

    e.Breeding stock selection to enhance foundational breeding quality

Veterinary ultrasound examinations can be performed on replacement sows to select high-quality candidates with normal reproductive system development based on an assessment of the development of the ovaries and uterus. In boars, monitoring the eye muscle area and back-fat thickness allows for the selection of superior breeds, thereby improving the reproductive capacity of the farm's breeding herd at an early stage.

     3.Inspection Location

Sows have a double uterus, so examination is possible on both sides. The specific location is the triangular area where the abdomen meets the hindquarters, between the two rear teats. If no embryo is detected on one side, it is important to note that examination of the opposite side is necessary to rule out unilateral pregnancy.

     4.Recommended Veterinary Ultrasound Scanners for Pigs

ECI Technology has specialized in veterinary ultrasound equipment for many years and uses its extensive research and development expertise to manufacture numerous best-selling models. Our devices deliver clear, detailed images for accurate and efficient diagnosis. A wide range of veterinary ultrasound products are widely recognized and popular among livestock farmers, making them the first choice for breeding management in pig farms and ranches. The ECI-1800 veterinary ultrasound device has a special waterproof and cold-resistant probe that works perfectly even at sub-zero temperatures. It is ready for immediate use without delay.

     5.Conclusion

Essentially, the core function of veterinary ultrasound examination is to make every phase of sow reproduction ‘visible and quantifiable’. By replacing manual, experience-based assessments with precise detection, breeding efficiency in pig farms is fundamentally improved. This technology helps shorten the non-productive period of sows, minimise breeding stock losses and reduce operational costs. This is precisely why it has become an indispensable piece of equipment in modern pig farms. As this technology continues to evolve, the pig farming industry will steadily advance towards precision livestock farming, thereby ensuring farming profitability. As this technology continues to evolve, the pig farming industry will steadily advance towards precision livestock farming, thereby ensuring agricultural profitability.