Diseases of the reproductive system

Primary ovarian diseases are rather uncommon in swine. The vast majority of ovarian disorders are secondary to risk factors related to management or environment. Uterine diseases, particularly inflammation, typically present for diagnosis based on clinical signs such as pathological vulvar discharge. The diagnostic procedure addressing herd fertility problems is comprehensive and must include a critical assessment of the tripartite contributors to herd reproductive performance: farrowing personnel, breeding personnel, and sow and semen management. Diagnosticians must be aware of the multitude of factors and their interrelatedness that might be causative of the problem, including facility type, the building environment, seasonality, nutrition, sanitation/hygiene, and disease-related occurrences or interventions. When initiating a herd reproductive investigation, a first step is to assess production records, paying particular attention to the ratio of regular versus irregular returns (suggested target 4: 1) to obtain initial insight as to whether the causes are likely infectious or noninfectious.