Poor sow retention due to reproductive failure is a common reproductive inefficiency amongst piggeries. This shows that traditional methods of gilt selection are inadequate and a marker of reproductive success is needed. The aim of this study was to determine whether circulating levels of AMH and E2 at D80 and D160 are associated with uterine and ovarian traits at D160. Uterine weight, horn length and horn diameter were measured, and ovarian follicle counts were determined histologically. There was a negative relationship between both D80 and D160 AMH levels and D160 ovarian follicle populations. There was also a positive relationship between D80 E2 levels and uterine capacity in gilts that were pubertal at D160. The findings indicate that D80 and D160 AMH could be used to predict ovarian reserve and that D80 E2 levels may be indicative of uterine capacity in precocial gilts.
Keywords: AMH; E2; gilt selection; gilts; ovarian reserve; sow retention; uterine capacity.